Humble achievers
"I'm not what you would consider a Formula One farmer, but I must be doing something right,” says Fonterra farmer Francis Smits, who is quick to point out that he and his wife Regina have a simple set up on their Reporoa farm.
“Wattle is the cornerstone of our breeding programme,” Taylor says of their Muritai Holstein Friesian stud. Wattle, now 15 years old, has contributed to the New Zealand and Australian AI industries, supplying 23 sons and grandsons to four AI companies to date.
Possibly the most well-known bull being used currently is Muritai App Whistler S3F marketed by LIC. Whistler, a grandson to Wattle, was marketed in the DNA Proven team for two years and is now in the Premier Sires team.
One of Wattle’s sons, Muritai Talent Warrior-ET, is being marketed in Australia as well as New Zealand by the international AI company, Semex, “He is expecting his first daughters to calve this year in Australia,” Mr Taylor said.
She also has three grandsons being marketed in the CRV Ambreed InSire team this year as well as a grandson in Vision Genetics.
It was named the Valden cow of the year at the Holstein Friesian New Zealand Annual Conference last month.
Wattle has completed 11 lactations during her career to date filling the vat with 77,996 litres of milk in which there was 2,785kg of protein (3.6%) and 3,452kg of fat (4.4%). For each lactation she has averaged 6,500 litres with 520kgMS (8%) over 232 days.
Wattle’s 17*ET (Star Brood status) was achieved by measuring the performance of her daughters and sons. The ‘ET’ notes that she has had Embryo Transfer daughters and sons contribute to her Star Brood status.
The Valden cow of the year award, presented for the first time at the 2012 Holstein Friesian New Zealand Annual Conference, recognises cows that have made a significant contribution to the Holstein Friesian breed, either within their own herd or nationally.
The award takes into account their longevity within a herd, lifetime lactation (using the Production Worth index as a measure), protein production, daughter production performance, sons and grandsons marketed by AI companies, show successes, type and conformation and Star Brood status.
“It was nice to see older cows get recognition,” says sponsor, Raeden Jackson, Valden Holstein Friesian Stud. He says that the quality of the finalists was such that there was still plenty of merit for the second and third place getters.
“There is a lot of prestige winning this award,” Taylor says, noting that the top six finalists were all well-known cows.
Top six cows
1st. Muritai Dalton Wattle EX 17*ET;
2nd. Multiple show winner, Melan Leduc Rowena EX2, owned by Robin & Sheryl Faulkner of Levin;
3rd. A member from the same family as Wattle, Muritai Leader Willow EX3 4* owned by Wayne & Leeanne Taylor;
4th. LIC Hall of Fame cow, Whinlea Kai Ebell VG86 24*ET, owned by John & Jenne Kennedy of Winton;
5th. Record protein producer Tahora Ohio Perfect EX2, owned by Rodney & Sarah Hudson of Levin;
6th. Ranui Tiede Fleur EX4 owned by Bryan & Annette Beeston of Ashburton.
