Page 81 - Hereford Magazine 2021

Global Hereford family

descends on New Zealand

International flags were flying at the Boehringer Ingelheim World Hereford Conference.

Words: Kate Taylor

ore than 400 people from across the globe
attended the 2020 Boehringer Ingelheim
World Hereford Conference in Queenstown.
In early March 2020, before the threat of
MCovid-19 put a halt to international travel,
Hereford breeders arrived from across North and South
America, Europe, Scandinavia, UK and Ireland, Australia,
South Africa, and New Zealand, not only to take part in
the official conference proceedings, but also to renew old
friendships and make new connections.
As well as pre- and post-conference tours, in the North
Island and South Island respectively, the conference
programme was based in Central Otago.
The Rabobank welcome reception was followed by a day
of country reports and technical sessions, a day rounded off Outgoing two-term secretary general Jose (Pepe) Bonico from
spectacularly by a trip on the historical Earnslaw steamer to Uruguay with New Zealand president Colin Corney.
Walter Peak for the PGG Wrightson gala dinner.
Day 2 was spent on a field day to Locharburn and Earnscleugh The conference heard reports from all member countries.
Hereford Studs, courtesy of the Brown and Campbell families, to These varied in style and pace, but as well as technical
hear from a range of speakers and influencers, including Pablo issues such as genetics, many included similar messages
Gregorini and the Lincoln research team who are exploring of environmental and animal welfare concerns, increasing
Hereford behaviour on high country, plus genomic testing and regulation and political interference, and the growing threat
its opportunities by Neogen and Allflex international speakers. of issues such as meat substitutes and plant-based proteins.
Dr Amanda Doughty spoke about the use of livestock behaviour Norway, for example, presented on the importance of grazing
monitoring to measure stock health and welfare, and Bill Austin for carbon sequestration, complete with a ‘living landscape’
from Bill Austin’s Ultrasound, who spoke about the importance photo of farmland with the city of Oslo in the background.
of scanning and intramuscular fat (IMF). The future of the breed was also mentioned, with the South
There was also a demonstration from renowned Kiwi African delegate saying they were breeding more rugby
executive chef Simon Henry, who showed the visitors the art of players than young Hereford breeders.
delivering quality grass-fed beef, as well as delicious morning For the marketing manager of the Hereford Cattle Society
and afternoon teas put on by local Rural Women NZ members. in the UK, Laura Bowyer, that future lay in the hands of
Keynote speaker for the event was American Jason branding and social media.
Rowntree, who spoke at Earnscleugh Station about research “Quality has never been an issue for Hereford beef, but its
into regenerative agriculture, and twice at the conference recognition as a premium product has,” she said. At the end
venue on more technical issues around methane and of 2009, her council appointed a London-based food PR and
greenhouse gases (see page 82). marketing agency to raise the profile of Hereford beef. She

Year 2021 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 79
World Hereford
Conference 2020
Queenstown NZ