Page 145 - Hereford Magazine 2021

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM

NZ HEREFORDS

BENCHMARK AWARDS 2021

The Boehringer Ingelheim Hereford benchmark programme has
a truly commercial focus; recognising elite Hereford animals that • B E N C H M A RK A W A R DS •
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM• HEREFORD
display excellence in fertility and longevity – both profit-generating
traits of significant importance to the beef industry.

he tight criteria set for the Boehringer Ingelheim
benchmark awards continues to identify only
the highest performing females in the Hereford
breed. It’s interesting to witness the gradual shift
Tin the parameters, which is entered into ILR2 in
order to compute the results. Only two years ago the top 20%
of Trans-Tasman Hereford analysis for Hereford Prime and
export maternal indexes were 120 and 120, however when
calculated earlier this year, they were 128 and 127 respectively.
In addition, the maternal value cut-off for benchmark dams,
which were top 10% for five-year-old dams earlier this year, Colin Corney presents David Henderson of Craigmore Polled
was 39.5 while in 2019 it was only 37. Herefords with a 2020 Gold Benchmark Certificate.
While there were no new platinum benchmark dams,
congratulations to the Morrison, Chesterman and Douglas
families for their dams, which have transitioned from being
silver to gold benchmark dams this year, and to the Ward
family with their dam Kairaumati Pearl 1155 making a leap
from standard to gold.
With the use of this selection, commercial farmers can
select proven superior genetics to use within their breeding
operations. The programme is profit-driven and recognises
cows that produce a live calf, unassisted, on time, each year, and
rear that calf to an average or above average weaning weight.
The profit-driven ($ value) of the 2020 selection indexes, Colin Corney presents Kelvin Port of Bushy Downs Herefords with
Hereford Prime and export maternal indexes incorporated a 2020 Silver Benchmark Certificate.
into the benchmark qualifying criteria, reinforces the purpose
of the benchmark programme: to identify those superior, 5. Calving ease direct in top 85% of Trans-Tasman Hereford
high-performing cattle. analysis.
By going to the technical tab or clicking ‘online search’ on 6. In the top 20% of Trans-Tasman Hereford analysis for export/
the NZ Herefords website, beef breeders can search for the full maternal and Hereford Prime/maternal selection indexes.
list of benchmark animals, their EBVs, pedigrees, and owners’
contact details. PLATINUM DAMS
Note: only new silver benchmark dams are listed this year. The dam of three benchmark dams. Can be any combination
For a comprehensive list of benchmark dams refer to the NZ of gold, silver or standard.
Herefords website, www.herefords.co.nz.
GOLD BENCHMARK DAMS
The 2021 benchmark animal qualifying 1. Seven or more calves with calving interval averaging no
criteria is as follows: more than 373 days.
2. Other criteria as for benchmark dams.
BENCHMARK DAMS
1. First calf before three years and one month of age. SILVER BENCHMARK DAMS
2. Average calving interval of 391 for first three calves, 382 1. First calf before two years and two months.
for first four calves, 378 for first five calves and 375 for first 2. Other criteria as for benchmark dams.
six calves.
3. Maternal value in top 10% of Trans-Tasman Hereford BENCHMARK SIRES
analysis. Sires having produced three or more benchmark dams.
4. Calves must be reared by own dam, have a 200-day weight
entered and dam must have a registered calf born no BENCHMARK DAM BREEDERS
more than two years prior to current group run cutoff. Breeders of five or more benchmark dams.

Year 2021 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 143