Page 28 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

we visited a farm that had been taken away from the family
by the state during the communist years. The family escaped
to Holland, returning after communism ended, and as they
had proof of owning a farm pre-communism, they were gifted
a farm during the democratisation process. The cows were in
good condition with obvious Canadian bloodlines, large framed,
and quality calves at foot. Generally, the farmer spring calved
but mated his heifers for sale to calve in the autumn to suit the
market. He used AI and purchased sires from the stud, which we
visited on the final day; however arable was the major source of
income from the 3200ha farm.
The final day included a lot of driving but finally we saw a
Hereford herd of 450 cows with six sires. The breeder rotated
six sires out of a pool of 25. Surplus bulls were housed in
several old barns (probably hundreds of years old) where they
were fed a diet of finely ground grain to fatten them. From a
New Zealand perspective they were a good commercial herd
with some evidence of Canadian influence; eye pigment was
lacking in all the Herefords we saw in Hungary.
During our drive to the airport the following morning, we
considered how fortunate we are as a nation to have our
independence and freedom to farm. While the Hungarian soil
looked extremely fertile, their growth as a farming nation has
been hampered by politics from neighbouring countries.

RIGHT: Cows and calves with a Canadian influence on a family stud
at Visnyeharserdo.

SPECIALISTS FACILITY NOW
EMBRYO
TRANSFER

IN CATTLE AVAILABLE

REPRODUCTION

‘YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR BUSINESS’

SUPPORTING THE BEEF INDUSTRY SINCE 1996

Export approved semen collection facility • Bull fertility and evaluation testing
Synchronization and AI programming service • On farm semen collection

Reliable storage and despatch • New Zealand wide service

Xcell Breeding and Veterinary Services 143 Rangiora Woodend Road, Woodend 7610,
North Canterbury ph 03 312 2191 www.xcell.co.nz

26