Page 130 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

Our Breeders

Good old-fashioned catch up

in Taranaki

WORDS / PHOTOGRAPHS JANELLE DOWNS

PICTURED: After-lunch views at the home of Janelle and Lance Downs, Tawanui Herefords.

AS PART OF THE TARANAKI HEREFORD CLUB’S focus to be the past few weeks. Lance and I were put under a bit of positive
more proactive, current and engaging, we held a day tour in peer pressure from Cam Heggie from PGG Wrightson, NZHA
late January. The focus was to showcase a range of cattle in president Colin Corney, and past president Phil Barnett, to enter
promotion of the season’s upcoming bull sales, as well as sharing one of our sale bulls that were destined for our on-farm sale in
breed objectives and having a good old-fashioned catch up. June, into the PGG Wrightson National Hereford Sale. I did happen
We began our day with some brisk coastal wind and a lovely to see Lance bailed up in the corner of the kitchen at lunchtime
BBQ breakfast at David and Andrea Steele’s Davandra stud in by Colin, no doubt sharing his words of wisdom and positive
Hawera. David has spent some time in the past two years doing encouragement to support the sale. Breeding a bull of national sale
embryo flushing and transfers within his herd. It will be exciting quality has always been an ultimate goal for us, so it was lovely to
to see how these new calves develop. have some positive affirmation from breeders out of the district. As
We then moved to Peter and Min McDonald’s immaculate a result, we decided to take the plunge. We had two days to make
farm and Gay Learning stud in Stratford. Peter had a very the decision before Tawanui Cub made his way down to the North
impressive Kokonga ANZAC bull on show and many agreed Island grazing unit. Very exciting but nerve-racking for us!
he has the potential to be a very influential sire. I know there We had lunch with a lovely view from the deck of our family
are several people anticipating the progeny of this bull, which home before heading off to view some handy bulls at Jacqueline
should be hitting the ground in August next year. and Robin Blackwell’s Mangaotea stud. Jac also had some
The tour then proceeded to Janelle and Lance Downs’ Tawanui beautiful cattle on show and I think we could all agree her line of
stud where the sun decided it was time to break through the clouds in-calf heifers was exceptional and she should be proud of the
and show the amazing weather Taranaki has been graced with in herd’s direction. Although, I do feel for Jac with the Mangaotea

PICTURED: Cows and calves at Nic and Marcus McLeod’s Horizon Herefords.

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