Page 9 - NZ Hereford Magazine 2023

From the
president

Welcome fellow food producers to our 2023 magazine. I hope you enjoy
the read and are challenged and invigorated by it.
Our rural sector is certainly facing challenges, with constantly
changing legislative requirements and the uncertainty that creates.
Adverse weather events, tree planting on productive land, sometimes
unfavourable public opinion, and ongoing Covid-related issues have
caused difficulties for many of us. Facing uncertainty is not new to us,
and by nature we’re a resilient bunch. While the level of pressures seems
unprecedented, I know we can continue to do what we do best – run
highly productive and efficient farms.
The 2023 Allflex Coast to Coast tour held in March after our AGM in
Christchurch was a much-anticipated event. It wasn’t easy to organise
and reorganise after Covid delays, so we’re delighted it went ahead and
everyone got to see amazing scenery and cattle. As they say, good things
come to those who wait (you’ll have to wait until next year’s magazine to
read about it).
I want to congratulate members for the level of adoption of DNA SNP
testing. We recognise it adds extra cost, but believe it’s the way of the
future, allowing us to remain competitive, with accurate data and EBVs
and for breeders to choose their own direction, whether it be carcass
growth, calving ease, gestation, or feed efficiency. No doubt green EBVs
will be in our future; we’ll be well placed to use them.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand trials data is starting to become available.
We congratulate those who have had bulls selected for these trials. We
acknowledge Herefords have done well in both trials so far and are likely
to continue to do so with a database of 14,000 calves born every year. That
reflects the quality of the Hereford breed here in New Zealand and gives
commercial breeders confidence they’re using market-leading genetics.
A personal highlight for me was attending the European Hereford
Conference in France, held alongside a huge agricultural show, with 500
Charolais alone going through the show ring. There were many other
breeds and it was an amazing sight. We were left in no doubt New Zealand
is not alone in facing environmental pressures. It was a great opportunity
to network with other breed societies from around the world and we look
forward to collaborating and sharing information in the future. We also
thank the French Hereford Society for looking after us so well.
I accepted an invitation to judge Herefords for the UK Hereford Society
at the Shrewsbury Autumn Show. For those of you who may have been
worried, I did follow the dress code and presented myself in keeping
with the occasion, minus the cheesecutter hat, which I just couldn’t quite
do! I really enjoyed the experience and also the hospitality shown to us
in England, Ireland and Wales, where Robyn and I travelled and visited
some studs.
I now have some acknowledgements I would like to make. I would like to
take the opportunity to thank Rebecca Paterson for her work done over
the past four years with our youth programme. Your time and effort have
been much appreciated. We welcome Ella Holland and Sage Harding on
board and look forward to them continuing to recognise and develop the
potential in our youth.
Thanks very much to Posy Moody. We appreciate the excellent work
you do in the ever-changing and fast-moving Hereford breeding space.
Welcome to Suzanne Kennedy who joined us in an administrative role
and has fitted in well.
Thank you to my fellow councillors. It’s a big commitment to be part
of the council and I appreciate your time, effort and energy and your
dedication to the breed. Also, thank you to our loyal sponsors, Boehringer
Ingelheim, Datamars, Blue Wing Honda and PGG Wrightson, and welcome
FMG, who became a new premier sponsor of NZ Herefords at the start of
the year. Your enthusiastic support means a lot to us.
As we face the future, we can see efficient feeding and farming will
continue to be important. With our adoption of technology and our
forward thinking and innovative breeders, we are well placed to meet
the market.
I wish you a successful 2023.
Gray Pannett