Page 153 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

The Hereford Year
25 YEARS

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM

NZ HEREFORD • BENCH M A RK A W ARDS •
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM• HEREFORD
BENCHMARK AWARDS 2020

THE BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM HEREFORD BENCHMARK PROGRAMME HAS
A TRULY COMMERCIAL FOCUS; RECOGNISING ELITE HEREFORD ANIMALS
THAT DISPLAY EXCELLENCE IN FERTILITY AND LONGEVITY – BOTH PROFIT-
GENERATING TRAITS OF SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE TO THE BEEF INDUSTRY.

THE BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM Benchmark Awards continue THE 2020 BENCHMARK ANIMAL QUALIFYING
to recognise excellence within the Hereford breed by identifying CRITERIA IS AS FOLLOWS:
superior and functional high-performing females and their sires. BENCHMARK DAMS
On the animal enquiry page of the NZ Hereford Association’s 1. First calf before three years and one month of age.
website, www.herefords.co.nz, breeders and commercial 2. Average calving interval of 391 for first three calves, 382 for first
farmers can search online for benchmark animals by simply four calves, 378 for first five calves and 375 for first six calves.
entering the desired benchmark status (e.g. platinum, gold, 3. Maternal value in top 10% of Trans-Tasman Hereford analysis.
silver or standard) in the selection parameter called ‘Select if’. 4. Calves must be reared by own dam, have a 200 day weight
With the use of this selection, commercial farmers can entered and dam must have a registered calf born no more
select proven superior Hereford genetics to use within their than two years prior to current group run cutoff.
beef breeding operations. The programme is profit-driven and 5. Calving Ease direct in top 85% of Trans-Tasman Hereford
recognises cows that produce a live calf, unassisted, on time, analysis.
each year, and rear that calf to an average or above average 6. In the top 20% of Trans-Tasman Hereford analysis for Export/
weaning weight. This is what makes a commercial cow herd Maternal and Hereford Prime/Maternal Selection Indexes.
viable and gives the commercial beef farmer confidence in
registered Hereford breeding programmes. PLATINUM DAMS
A new platinum benchmark dam was added to the roll of The dam of three Benchmark dams. Can be any combination of
honour in 2020. Glenbrae Anna 1025 from the Central Hawke’s gold, silver or standard.
Bay-based stud of the Taylor family, receives the award for
having three different daughters all reaching Benchmark status. GOLD BENCHMARK DAMS
In the Gold Benchmark category congratulations go to Brian 1. Seven or more calves with calving interval averaging no
and Penny Coutts for breeding their first Gold dam with Wyborn more than 373 days.
Alice 5-1009. Other breeders to achieve Gold Benchmark 2. Other criteria as for Benchmark Dams.
Dams were Craigmore with four, Koanui and Orari Gorge with
two each and Capethorne with one. SILVER BENCHMARK DAMS
Congratulations to all recipients in the 2020 Boehringer 1. First calf before two years and two months.
Ingelheim NZ Hereford Benchmark Awards. 2. Other criteria as for Benchmark Dams.

BENCHMARK SIRES
Sires having produced three or more Benchmark Dams.

BENCHMARK DAM BREEDERS
Breeders of five or more Benchmark Dams.

Please note due to the current Benchmark dam EBVs and calving
records taken from the January EBV group run, some young
cows with calves already registered for 2019 will be awarded this
year, while others without 2019 calves registered by January will
not be recognised until next year.
LEFT: Colin & Sue Corney, Colraine Herefords, being presented
with a 2019 Gold Benchmark Certificate for Colraine Irane 10 65 by
Boehringer Ingelheim sales and key account manager, David Dodge.
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