Page 89 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

Our Breeders

Century and a half for

Herefords in New Zealand

WORDS / PHOTOGRAPH NZHA

IT IS 150 YEARS since the first importation of a pedigree Hereford In the New Zealand Studmasters Annual Review on the
into New Zealand. The bull, Duke of Edinburgh, was bred in 100th anniversary of the first Hereford import, an article was
England by Queen Victoria and imported by R & E McLean of written discussing the “likely developments of the future”. The
Auckland in 1869. Other pedigree Hereford cattle followed in author was certainly accurate with his opening statement: “the
small numbers during the next 20 years and then increased only thing certain about future is change”. But how accurate
steadily until Herefords were popular and well established by were his predictions? We take a closer look at two of them.
the turn of the century.

The first bullet point receives an 8/10 rating from one of
our New Zealand Hereford Association councillors. This has
certainly been the case with NZHA leading technological change
• The role and function of the breed and administering the process for breeders. The last sentence
associations will change from almost is still very much an aim of today’s council. Back then, how
exclusively that of keeping the could they have imagined another role of the association would
Herdbook to one of ensuring that be to promote the breed via social media and that the majority
technological advances are being taken of communication with breeders is electronic rather than written
up by all members of the association. letters, telephone calls and visits to studs and shows?
This will be a leadership task with
clearly defined goals and a complete The second bullet point also received 8/10. The need for
understanding of requirements of the cooperation between all parties is exceptionally true and
breeding industry and export markets could still be improved upon, especially the link between stud
for beef.
breeders, beef producers and consumers, although we expect
in another 50 years there will be a considerable shift in this
• Co-operation between all parties department, with consumers dictating the requirements more
concerned with beef production — stud than ever.
breeders, commercial herd owners,
meat trade, research and University
personnel will become much more BELOW: Two Te Rangitumau two-year-old heifers, Leonora 22nd
(left) and Amethyst 181st (right), who was a descendant of the
vital in the years ahead and will be original imports. Taken August 1901.
encourage and welcomed by all for the
future wellbeing of the nation.

87