More than 100 breeders, sponsors and supporters gathered at the Ascot Park Hotel to honour standout achievements across the breed - from production and progeny to youth involvement, photography and showring success. The awards night was part of this year's HFNZ annual meeting and conference.
The 2025 Valden Cow of the Year was awarded to Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP, owned by Cummings Family Trust (Helen and Jock Cummings, Wyndham) and bred by Rivendell Holsteins (Owen and Cathy Copinga).
Chosen from six finalists, 2012-born Beatric was deemed to be the cow that had contributed the most to the Holstein Friesian breed on a continual basis.
"It has been a huge honour to have Beatric from Owen and Cathy Copinga," Helen says.
"Winning the Valden Cow of the Year was a huge surprise and an honour." Beatric was a much-loved part of the herd, she adds.
"She is certainly one awesome cow - she is a strong minded and strong-willed type of cow. Being awarded the Valden Cow of the Year is an honour and a privilege."
The winner of the 2025 Mahoe Trophy was Busybrook Pokerface S3F, bred by Nathan and Amanda Bayne (Henley Farming Company Ltd, Oamaru).
The Mahoe Trophy is awarded to the New Zealand-bred Holstein Friesian sire whose sire proof, as at the April 2025 AE Run, earns the most points for traits, daughter production, conformation and management.
D & J Gloyn (Deborah and Jeremy Gloyn, Rongotea) were the junior team winners of the 2025 HFNZ-Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Progeny Competition, with S-S-I PR Renegade- ET on 331 points.
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Glenui Zambezi 'Lincoln' ET, bred by Tony and Lesley Landers in Taranaki.
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S & J Ray (Stephen and Judith Ray, Balcutha) won the senior team with Seagull-Bay Supersire-ET on 484 points.
These awards are presented to the Junior and Senior Progeny teams with the highest points for classification based on the 2024/25 seasons inspections, scores for udder overall and final score, production worth and protein BV.
CView Trust (Stefan Buehler, Hawera) was the overall winner of the 2025 Nutritech Performance Awards with $6,136.21.
This prize is awarded to the herd owner with the highest dollar earning herd average for their region based on the Fonterra A+B-C payment system for the 2023-24 season.
In the Black & White Youth Awards, Rylee Parkes of Blenheim won the Kingsland Trophy, awarded to the Senior Black & White Youth Member who earned the most points in the 2024 All NZ Calf Class Competition. Rylee was also the overall winner of the 2024 All NZ Black & White Youth Calf Class Competition.
Waihi’s Jacoba Gread was the winner of the 2025 Pitcairns Trophy, and the 2025 Frank Pfister Award for the second year running, which is awarded to the highest scoring youth member at an official Holstein Friesian NZ Judging School.
Three Distinguished Service Awards were also presented at the awards dinner, recognising the dedication and passion of HFNZ members Katy Button, Judith Ray and Helen Cummings.
This award recognises individuals who have made a lasting impact through their dedication, leadership, and service to the Holstein Friesian community.
Standout Performer
Timaru-based Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd is celebrating a standout performance at the 2025 HFNZ-Semex On Farm Competition, with their Holstein Friesians earning places in three of the six national classes.
Winners were at the HFNZ annual awards evening, hosted at Invercargill’s Ascot Park Hotel as part of the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ AGM & Conference. Among the standout results was Tronnoco Lambda Lilith, who took out the Comestar Leader – Three Year Old Cow title. In the Conant-Acres JY Broker – Mature Cow class, Tronnoco Sonic Glory and Tronnoco Modesto Cairo were awarded first and second respectively.
Owned by Tony and Keri O’Connor, Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd has cemented its position among New Zealand’s leading Holstein Friesian breeders through consistent excellence in type and structure.
The HFNZ-Semex On Farm Competition promotes the Holstein Friesian breed by judging individual cows at their home properties in natural conditions—without fitting or halters—allowing animals to be assessed in a true production environment.
This year’s event saw 780 cows from 106 herds evaluated across eight regions. Judging was based on structural correctness using a specially designed linear scoring system. The top two animals in each region advanced to the national final, judged by Luke Gilbert of Hamilton.
Of the six national Champions crowned for 2025, four hailed from the South Island—Rangiora, Timaru and Christchurch—with two from the North Island—Hamilton and Morrinsville— highlighting the strength of the breed across the country.
Semex NZ’s Ryan Lett said it was a pleasure to be part of the HFNZSemex On-Farm Competition.
LIC Sires
LIC Livestock selection manager Simon Worth says it’s an honour to have the co-op’s sires recognised.
“Having two of our sires acknowledged in these prestigious awards reflect years, often decades, of hard work by our breeders and livestock selection team to breed the best bulls for New Zealand dairy farmers.
“Bulls who have won these awards in the past have often gone on to sire some of the highest-performing cows in the national dairy herd, and it’s great to see these benefits being delivered back to our farmers year after year, “ says Worth.
Pokerface was sired by the renowned Lightburn Blade Gusto and his dam comes from LIC Hall of Fame sire, San Ray FM Beamer.
Pokerface is known for producing daughters with high production, strong fertility, udders, and capacity. Though he’s no longer available for purchase, Pokerface’s legacy in the New Zealand dairy sector will live on as a sire of sons in LIC’s breeding programme.
