Nichol is new PGW chair
A day after the ouster of PGG Wrightson’s chair and his deputy, the listed rural trader’s board has appointed John Nichol as the new independent chair.
A premium line-up of Hereford sires will be offered for sale in Manawatu next week.
Fourteen top Hereford bulls will be offered for sale at the PGG Wrightson Livestock Hereford National Sale on May 14 at the Strahan Land Company, Kiwitea.
Sourced from prominent studs from the North and South Islands, the bulls have been grazing on the Strahan property at Kiwitea for three and a half months to create a level playing field.
“The bulls are looking great despite the adverse weather - no rain, no grass – showing how great the Hereford breed is under all sorts of conditions,” says Robert Kane, chairman of the breed’s show and sales committee.
The bulls' genetics will suit the many different beef breeding programmes in New Zealand today; 70% of the bulls have below average gestation length EBVs, 65% have below average birth weight EBVs, 80% have 600-day weight EBVs in top 30% for the breed and 80% have above average EMA, with 65% in the top 30% of breed.
“A high proportion are performance bulls with top carcase and growth genetics. Some are curve benders (low birth weight EBV to high 600-day weight) and some are ideal for heifer mating or breeding bulls for the dairy market.”
The sale will kick-off with an on-farm parade at 9.30am followed by paddock inspection and judging results.
On the day the bulls will be paraded down a laneway with Chris Douglas compering and giving vendors a brief pedigree summary.
They then can be sighted in the paddock and subsequently sold on site in the marquee with a photo displayed behind the auctioneer.
The on-farm sale starts at 11.30am and will be followed by a Hereford Prime BBQ lunch.
There is an online catalogue and photos of all the bulls are available on the NZHA website.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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