RED POLL NEWS AutumnEdition August2019 - Red Poll Cattle
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RED POLL NEWS Autumn Edition August 2019
DIRECTORY
Patrons Peter Fleming & Robin Shepherd
President Helen McKenzie 06 372 7842
Email rosemarkie@wise.net.nz
Secretary Kirsty Loveday 027 207 6007
redpollassociationnz@gmail.com
Vice-Presidents Ian Fleming 03 329 1787
Email iafleming@scorch.co.nz
Graeme Evans 06 378 2051
Email gljs.evans@xtra.co.nz
Executive Allan Bridson 07 865 8642
Email ahbridson@slingshot.co.nz
Kelvin Lane 06 362 7254
Robert McLeod 027 789 1618
klo70@hotmail.co.nz
Neil Wilton 06 379 7546
Editor Helen McKenzie 06 372 7842
Email rosemarkie@wise.net.nz
Website: www.redpollcattle.co.nz
(Also on Facebook)
The Association accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any published opinion
nor information supplied by individuals or reprinted from other sources. Items may be
abridged or edited.
Closing date for next newsletter is November 10th, 2019
Cover: Mixed age Red Poll cows from Kelvin & Kath Lane’s commercial herd
2
CONTENTS
02 Directory
03 Contents
04 President’s Page
05 Secretary’s Say
06 Patron’s Page I - Robin Shepherd
07 Patron’s Page II - Peter Fleming; International Congress South Africa
08 River Valley Farms Report
10 Editor’s Note
11 Rangitihi Report
12 Tamihana Report
14 NZ AGM & Herd Tour
20 Herd Tour Photos
21 UK Show Photos + 1 NZ photo
22 UK News
29 UK Society Membership Info
30 Evanlea Report
31 News from Canada
33 Crofthead Report
34 A Bit of History – Mrs Airini Woodhouse
35 Rosemarkie Report
36 Biological Farming
39 USA News; Back Cover Photo captions
3
PRESIDENT’S PAGE (& Editor)
Thanks to those who supported my nomination to the role of
President. I believe I am the first female in the role. Mrs Airini
Woodhouse (renowned Bluecliffs Stud) was a Vice President for
some years. I hope to prove your faith in me is justified in the
next year or two! Thanks also to Kirsty Loveday, of Crofthead Stud, for taking
on the role of Secretary and Graeme Evans that of Treasurer.
Wairarapa has had some good rain and a few frosty mornings recently. New
lambs are appearing in earlier districts. The first Red Poll calves of the season
have arrived in the Wairarapa with Evanlea’s first few on the ground.
I have heard that from November (not sure when in November) visas will no
longer be necessary for NZ’ers to travel to South Africa. Don’t forget to check
what vaccinations you may need!
I hope some breeders will respond to Dean Anderson’s email which I
forwarded to all full members. It will be great to see him and Marsha over
here. There is an article from Dean elsewhere in this newsletter.
Not sure where they are at with m. bovis these days. I, and others that I
know, cannot understand why “the powers that be” did not close Cook Strait
to all inter island cattle movements as soon as they had an inkling of its
presence. It has been done before when the pig breeders had an outbreak of
Aujeszky’s Disease. It was not present in the South Island so animals could
only travel to the North Island, not vice versa. First diagnosed in the North
Island in 1976, it was eradicated by 1997, ‘using a combination of serological
surveys, abattoir surveillance, test and slaughter, depopulation, vaccination
and movement restrictions’. Not a quick fix but they won in the end.
Obviously it will take some years for m. bovis to be gone. Perhaps MPI need
to concentrate on one island first and stop stock movement back and forth.
This issue also sees an article by Bruce Nimon about the sustainable farming
practises they use at Kokako farms. There was a lot of interest in this on the
AGM tour.
I wish all herds a successful calving.
Helen McKenzie
President
4
SECRETARY’S SAY
It has been a busy few months trying to get my head and
laptop skills around the secretary’s role. I beg everyone’s
patience as I sort through this. A huge thank you to Anne
McSweeney, not only for her awesome work previously but
also, for answering my random questions about the role.
Association website
There have been some updates to the Red Poll Association website. Please
check your details to ensure they are up to date. In an attempt to minimise
expenditure we have recently changed the association email address. The
new address is: redpollassociationnz@gmail.com
Please update your address book as the old slingshot address no longer
exists.
AGM
You should have received your copy of the AGM minutes by now. If not
please let me know so I can send them out.
Herd Tour and AGM 2020 Dates for your diary
The 2020 herd tour will be in the Wairarapa, Wednesday 29 April to Friday
1 May. The AGM will be held on the morning of Friday 1 May.
Association Centenary 2021
The association will be 100 years old in June 2021. If you have any ideas for
marking this exciting occasion, please feel free to contact me.
Any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me, either
through the association email, or call on 027 207 6007.
Kirsty Loveday
5
PATRON’S PAGE I
Welcome rain is easing off after a very wet day. In the Far
North we have had a dry summer and a drier autumn and have
had what some would call a green drought. There has been just
enough moisture to keep a green sward but not enough to give
an autumn pasture boost. Thank goodness for kikuyu grass which has
produced some fodder. There have been farmers in the area who ran out of
stock water in late May and that is a serious situation. There is no doubt that
our rural economies in New Zealand are water-dependant. In our locality a
number of large dairy farms have been sold to horticulturists planting tens of
thousands of avocados which are trees requiring huge amounts of water. That
will be drawn from aquifers which will probably be stressed in the future.
Municipal water supplies in our part of New Zealand are finding that demand
for water is increasing but supply options are running out.
As a country we have been profligate in our use of water in past years but we
are now having to face reality. Rivers, lakes and aquifers must be cared for,
consumption controlled and quality protected.
As farmers we are often targeted as being the cause of water quality
degradation but the reality is we are just one of many who pollute. Highways,
roads, parking lots, railways and airports all discharge toxic materials which
end up in waterways. Households all generate hazard pollutants of one sort or
another. Industry, commerce and commercial shipping are often major
polluters of drains, waterways and the sea.
Because others are polluters does not absolve us farmers from responsibility
especially as our lively hoods depend upon water but we are entitled to be
aggrieved when our city cousins seem not to consider that they may be also
responsible, which brings me back to where I started; today’s rain has been
very welcome and I treasure it.
Robin Shepherd QSO.
6
PATRON’S PAGE II
Hello All
I am pleased to hear that the Congress in South Africa is going
ahead and that the concept of Red Poll breeders as an
international family is still going strong.
Congratulations to Helen McKenzie, our new President. While Mrs Airini
Woodhouse of the Blue Cliffs herd was a Vice President for several years, I
believe Helen is our first female President since the formation of the Society in
1921. I’m looking forward to finding out what is being considered to
commemorate the founding of the Association in June, 2021.
My physical condition is now such that I find it difficult to communicate with
our New Zealand and overseas friends but you are often in Eleanor and my
thoughts.
Our window with a paddock view is currently overlooking a herd of Speckled
Park cattle – not my favourite outlook I would have to say!
Thanks to Helen for keeping me in the loop and ensuring I have a few words
in the Red Poll News each time.
Peter Fleming
INTERNATIONAL RED POLL CONGRESS
– SOUTH AFRICA, March 2019
Still thinking about it?
The dates for registration and payments have been
extended. Registration and payment of deposit is now the end of July and the
balance is payable at the end of November.
Helen McKenzie has details if you want the forms etc.
Regards
Sandra van Wyk
RED POLL SOUTH AFRICA
7
RIVER VALLEY FARM’S REPORT – June 2019
This part of the year has certainly been challenging… We didn’t do mixed
breed calves this season and that has turned out to be our saving grace. With
prices for stock at the low slow level it is, and the drought meaning that there
is not a lot of feed on the ground. Carrying only what we have produced
onsite has worked out a blessing in disguise. Not just for the healthcare
isolation side but the welfare and nourishment of our herd too.
Last season’s heifers have gone up the block so that is holding 28 breeding
cow’s and the magnificent Orwell. The block also has this season’s bull calves
which we just steered on the weekend gone, beautiful to see that we
guestimate all 6 are around 180kgs. The cows seem to be finding their own
calving pattern which is spreading out, so still have about 5 younger beasts
with their mums. The 30 acres is loaded to the hilt however; very proud that
everything is Red Poll.
Some of the older breeding cows are back in calf so much complaining
happened when weaning took place - lucky for distance between the 2
properties - always lessens the drama LOL I think.
On the home front we now have all this season’s 8 heifers, Santa Pants, the
neighbours old Dinosaur and the 8 black white faces (which are in calf to
Santa). Two of the white faces have had their calves; 1 completely Red like
8
the Sire and the other big surprise, a perfect little black white face just like
her mama!!! Because of the numbers and grass shortage we have decided to
sell all the in calf black/whites with calves at foot. Even though we know these
8 rising 2 year old Hereford are really great mothers, calve easy and love
being around us (being hand fed the hay) this will bring the home property
back to all Red calves. So by next season both properties with hold Red Polls.
Santa is the only exception but he has such an awesome nature, that I am not
ready to let him go. He has won my heart and is pretty fabulous looking.
Everyone has been NAIT tagged and drenched several times- but we must say
that Red polls are excellent growing, hardy cattle with exceptional natures and
gorgeous dispositions. We have gone through all the extra small hay bales we
had stored, purchased 3 big rounds which they have really enjoyed.
The other day we were also fortunate enough to have scored 39 bales of
silage from a local run off block which a lease farmer had left behind. Then
we got to thinking maybe we should increase our herd and lease the vacant
100 acre block. After a brief meeting with the landowner and a heck of a
shock at lease prices (was like a mortgage - we didn’t want to buy it just grow
some more little masterpieces) so as you have probably worked out, we will
just continue on our happy LITTLE quest with smaller numbers, less land but
just as much passion and pride in what we are breeding here.
9
I think we have spent several weekends putting our fence on the roadside
back up because the wind has also been playing nasty games. Quite sure our
fancy neighbours think we are crazy fixing it all the time however they have
no idea how determined we are.
The house is looking much improved with replaced weatherboards, the
painting is on hold until further notice (and better weather).
GP is doing great - you wouldn’t know he had a triple by-pass - so very
relieved and happy to have all this extra time to share.
Hope everyone has a safe and health calving to come.
Best Wishes and Stay Warm
Jamie, Kaye and GP
FROM THE EDITOR
Hi Everyone,
Again thanks to those who contributed to this newsletter.
Don’t forget the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words – so send
me photos! Preferably with captions that explain which animal/s or
person/people it is.
Helen
10RANGITIHI REPORT
Feed got tight but we had enough and that was in large part due to having
parts of the farm in kikuyu grass which manages well enough through the dry
with just occasional showers. We are lucky with having access to good stock
water from stream and springs.
We had our ponds cleaned out during the late summer and the springs
feeding them managed to fill them again.
We have weaned our first crop of calves and twenty of them went to new
owners yesterday after weaning in the yards. They are all well grown and
make for an even looking line of heifers and steers. Once again we are
delighted with the quiet temperament of Red Polls which wean so easily and
are so easy to handle. We still have seven later born calves to wean which are
still getting plenty of milk from their four year-old mothers. The condition of
adult cattle is a testimony to the ability of Red Polls to do well, often in tough
conditions.
Half of the farm has been limed and some has had several treatments with
liquid fert and some with traditional phosphate mixes. Hopefully we will get
some winter growth as temperatures have been unusually warm. During
summer we brought some rough land into new grass which is taking well.
We are helping our daughter Joanne and her partner Rob get into Red Polls
and will be passing on some of our breeding cows to help them get started
and these will be along with heifer calves for future breeding.
Best wishes to you all
Gena and Robin Shepherd
11TAMIHANA REPORT
Winter in most of Taranaki started with a long dry period that made Wintering
cattle a breeze. With no pasture damage, and both grass & supplement
in plentiful supply.
Too good to be true? Yes, sadly, it came to an end at the very end of June,
when the rains started & haven’t stopped since. Still good feed supply, but
it’s hard to avoid pasture damage. I was hoping for a famine somewhere
along the line, as we have 285 large wrapped bales to sell. Usually rely on
conventional [small] hay bales for the Winter, as they are easy to feed from
the quad-bike, which means minimal mess when the ground becomes
saturated, as always happens on the west coast.
However, with so many wraps available, decided to buy an old M.F. 275 four
wheel drive [in good condition], with crowd action loader to shift the big
bales, & are feeding the thirty eight R1 steers & heifers in a cradle feeder that
was purchased at C.D. Field-days, back in March. Can’t wait for the Summer
to shift some dirt with ‘the old girl’.
Numbers are down to thirty cows to calve, starting mid August. All are in calf
to Tamihana Dan’s Jason, or A.B. New herd-sire was born last Spring;
Tamihana Red Max, by Raedean Maximus, will be used this coming mating
season. He’s looking good, with excellent growth rate since weaning.
Have had the pleasure of helping to establish some new herds over the last
couple of seasons, consequently down to thirty cows. Have also had good
demand for bulls, with one chap wanting to lease a yearling. When he arrived
with a friend, after driving about four hours; “Oh”, he said, “These are better
than I expected, can I buy one?” Had his own trailer, so the cheque was
written out there & then.
Hopefully the new President & Secretary will understand that REGISTRATIONS
not ever rising fees, are vital for the survival & hopefully expansion of our
valued by some, Breed Association.
Robin Thomson
12Tamihana CP Selena. Dam of Tamihana Red Max
Red Max sired by Raedean Maximus; with his Dam, Tamihana CP Selena
1398TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & HERD TOUR,
TARARUA & SOUTHERN HAWKES BAY
Sunday 14th April to Tuesday 16th April, 2019
Sunday 14th: 11.00am
A pleasing turnout of members arrived at Kelvin & Kath Lane’s, Kaihinau Stud
in good time. Kelvin had gathered one of his commercial cow mobs into a
roadside paddock for easy viewing. It was nice to see a good number of
animals in one place. There were a few Red Poll cross dairy cows in the mob
too with very nice calves. Kath and family provided the usual great lunch
which was held in their new house (well - refurbished actually, and swapped
with family). It is only a short way down the road from their previous home.
Athol & Betty Sowry indulge in
a refreshing cup of tea at
Lane’s
After lunch we travelled down
the road where Kelvin was
keen for us to see his old
Garthmyl bull, Garthmyl Vidar,
now coming up 9 years old. He
was running with a second
group of cows. Kelvin had
bought two weaner bulls, G. Vidar & G. Victor from the late Ken Elliot’s
Garthmyl Stud at the 2011 Helmsman Sale held in Ashburton.
From Lane’s we travelled on to Athol and Betty Sowry’s Athbey herd just out
of Woodville. Once again a larger number of cows, with some particularly
impressive daughters of Athbey Clarence; good depth of body and consistent
in type. Clarence was by Puketi Phoenix out of Dawn Mist Man’s Cleo (latter
by Willow Lea Southern Man).
Members were asked to pick a new bull or two for Athol from his bull calves
that were still on their dams. An interesting exercise!
14 Bull calves and their dams at Athol & Betty Sowry’s
Some members took time out to cast their eyes over Athol’s light plane and
his pet Allis Chalmers tractor before we retired inside to have afternoon tea.
We stayed the night at a motel in Waipukurau. It must have been a quiet
night as we walked around to a very nice licensed restaurant to find barely
any other customers. We certainly got good service there!
Monday 15th 9.00am: We left Waipukurau to visit Andrew & Ruth Pinfold’s
Woodham Rye herd, at their recently acquired farm, “Totaranui”, at Onga
Onga. What a beautiful farm; a nice mix of rolling and medium hill and fertile
flats with several areas of native bush. Unusually the whole farm is a QEII
covenanted block. Normal farm activities are fine as long as they don’t infringe
on the native areas. A big change from dairying. Andrew and Ruth and their
girls now have a sheep and beef farm with feed crops also grown. They like
the Red Polls because of their foraging abilities.The house is quite historic,
with an absolutely fabulous garden containing a variety of quite rare and
unusual plants. It has its own micro climate and this allows the growing of
several different vireya rhododendrons amongst the other shrubs.
Also plenty of room for pets with the girls’ ponies, rabbits, goats, Ruth’s
horses, two pug dogs and an absolutely beautiful Labrador pup of Andrew’s.
15Some of Pinfold’s purebred females. Dairy & dairy x calves in the background
After some beautiful homemade hummingbird cake and a quick coffee/tea we
headed back out to State Highway 50 and north to Maraekakaho for lunch at
the “Chook & Filly” country pub. Fairly new premises and a rural outlook. Very
tasty lunches and a welcoming ambience.
Red Poll breeders take over at the “Chook and Filly”
16Kokako Farms’ herd on Ohiti Road, Hastings, was our final herd stop for the
Tour. Literally, surrounded by vineyards on the flats, with some nice medium
hills behind. We were met by Bruce and the farm herdswoman, Becky
Hindmarsh. (It was a pleasant surprise to find they still had a Rosemarkie bull
in use, Rosemarkie Mort’s Puriatahu, aka “Big Red”, now a 7 year old – as his
breeders, Warwick and I were pleased to see his feet and body had held up
well; also nice and clean in the sheath. Photo back cover – Editor)
Bruce is overall operations manager for the farms, specialising in the
vineyards, while Becky runs the livestock side of the properties. The owner is
Mr Evan Davies from Auckland. His daughters own the Red Poll stud under the
Kokako Farms prefix. Approximately 1000 lambs are fattened on the farm and
vineyards. Previously some of the land has been leased for grazing young
bulls but that finishes this year. The eventual aim is to have 100 Angus cows
and 50 Red Poll cows. This year the Red Poll stud had 9 heifer and 3 bull
calves. They are also using a young Athbey Stud bull, Athbey Elmo.
Red Poll and Angus cows which run together at Kokako Farms
17The final night’s accommodation was at Porters Hotel in Havelock North. A
modern hotel – fairly upmarket; a nice view from our second floor balcony.
The hotel is literally in the centre of the township. The Annual Dinner was at
the hotel’s Malo Restaurant – also upmarket. The food justified the expense
though!
We moved out to the largish hotel lobby for our after dinner speaker, Bruce
Nimon. Bruce gave us a brief overview of his origins and then spoke on his
involvement in the wine industry and vineyard management.
Bruce was born and bred in the Hawke’s Bay. His dad was a local Angus stud
breeder and contractor. Bruce attended Massey University and completed a
landscaping degree which he put to good use in Australia for some time.
On his arrival back in New Zealand he retrained as a winemaker. He worked in
two local vineyards and then opened a vineyard and winery, “Lucknow”
Estate”. He was kept very busy managing that and it was not unusual for him
to spray a vineyard in the morning and then drive to Wellington for a wine
tasting, stay the night, and back to the vineyard spraying the next day. He
exited the vineyard just before the pinch occurred in the Wine Industry. He
decided he preferred growing the grapes rather than making wine. He was
advised to apply to Evan Davies at Kokako Farms. Evan wished to move
Kokako from being a bulk producer to premium brands. More ground was
added – another 25hectares of gravels. The farm now consists of 100
hectares in grapes, 10 hectares in apple orchards and 200 hectares of grazing
land for the cattle. These three regimes are complementary with the seasonal
labour requirements working in together. The vineyard now grows 100% for
Villa Maria, specialising in Chardonnay, growing the grapes in 5 Villa Maria
Chardonnay parcels of land. They have around 187,000 vines – the equivalent
of 750,000 bottles of wine! Value has risen from $1100 tonne (bulk
production) up to $3,500 today for the premium brand.
The vineyard only does hand pruning – they jokingly refer to it as the Kokako
Weight loss programme. They employ around 6 to 8 back packers.
Temperatures can be between 40 - 50°C in the vineyards in the summer.
From the beginning of spring onwards, they spray, using organic sprays every
10 days. Once the grapes begin to colour up they must stop spraying. 90%
18are machine picked and the rest are handpicked. In 2014 they entered the
Ballance Farm Environment Awards (East Coast) and won the Soil
Management Award.
Kokako Farms is aiming for sustainability in all aspects of the farms. Biological
farming is more expensive, but worth it. Nine pasture species make up a
herbal lay between the vine rows. This encourages humus development.
All those present found Bruce a very interesting speaker.
Tuesday 16th April: 9.00am: the Annual General Meeting was held in the
Exchange room of Porters Hotel – exactly the right size - not too big, not too
small! See your Minutes for details.
Those attending the 2019 Herd Tour Photo: David Brougham
L-R Neil Wilton, Helen Bridson, Alan Bridson, Judy Evans, Graeme Evans,
Kelvin Lane & Kath Lane, Robert McLeod, Anne McSweeney, Helen McKenzie,
Warwick Potts (obscured), Anita & Ian Fleming
19HERD TOUR PHOTOS 2019
Garthmyl Vidar at Lane’s Ruth’s Shire cross mare & daughter’s
pony at Pinfold’s
Farm sign at Betty & Athol Sowry’s RP & Angus weaners – Kokako Farm
Cow & bull calf at Sowry’s Dessert at Malo Restaurant -panacotta
20UK PHOTOS + 1 NZ
Lavenham Kirstie at Suffolk Show, 2019. Lady Wheatfield Future, Three Counties 2019.
Getty’s Show manager, Denise Thomas & Owner Anthea Daw & daughter, Imogen
Judge, Terry Mancey
Little Linton Ferdinand, National RP Show Hopeham Fauzie, Norfolk Show 2019. Owner
Champion & Interbreed Native Champion at Sarah Barnes & Judge, Denis Jenkins
Hertsfordshire Show, 2019.
Pinguis Duke, Cheshire Show 2019; owner John Cow at Rosemarkie. Photo: Ruth Pinfold
Williams, Judge Joy Broughton
21UK NEWS from the Secretary, Ray Bowler
My travels May – June 2019
Similar to last year these 6 weeks were very busy what with shows and
visiting members, together with a visit into Scotland. I don’t propose to do a
diary as last year but rather a summary of where I went and who I visited
with specific detail as required.
Starting with Wednesday May 15th I drove up to Ayr in Scotland picking up
Joy Broughton & Mark Martin on the way. The reason for the visit was to
accept an invitation by Neogen Europe to visit their laboratory, and office
facility, to look around and hear about the Igenity Beef Profile scheme that we
are evaluating all our bulls by. There were 12 members of the Society
attending who all had a fascinating day coming away with a far better
understanding of the scheme. Neogen were excellent hosts as was the
weather in Ayr as after the day at Neogen we were able to have a walk along
the sea front, harbour and into the town for a drink in the Robbie Burns pub,
the Tam O’Shanter Inn. Friday saw the drive home which, including dropping
off Mark & Joy, took me just over 12hrs - oh what fun our motorway system is
at times.
Monday 20th saw me driving back up north again to attend Beef Expo at
Junction 36 Auction Mart, Kendal. This was on the Thursday but I went early
to enable me to visit members in the area who I don’t get to see very often.
Leaving home at 8.00am I called in to visit Nick & Su Holsey, Hepworth,
Huddersfield. They milk about 70 Aryshire and Ayrshire Cross Red Polls
together with a small suckler herd of cross bred cattle, again mainly Red Poll
crosses. A few of the milking cows are now 100% Red Polls. AI has been used
in the past but they are now looking for a Red Poll bull to use on the sucklers
and to be a sweeper bull on the dairy cows. The cows are milked through a
robot milking machine, cubicle housed and fed mainly forage with
concentrates fed in the parlour according to yield. In the summer the cows
have access to grazing between morning milking and about lunch time. The
herd averages just over 7,000litres per cow but what I was particularly
impressed with were the yields of the Red Polls which were up to average
with one pure-bred cow having achieved over 8,500litres in her previous
lactation, her sire being Bowland Zeus who we consider being one of our
22more beefier bulls, the dual purpose characteristics certainly coming through.
Thank you to Nick and Su for lunch, much appreciated. Monday evening saw
me with Simon & Sally Temple, who were providing the cattle for the stand at
Beef Expo. Simon is cutting numbers back due to various health issues,
however the quality of the retained stock is of a very high standard. It was a
pleasure to walk around the stock in the evening sunlight and to have a
fantastic evening meal, thank you.
Tuesday 21st saw me travel to the farm of Peter Fowler situated in the
Yorkshire Dales between Sedburgh and Dent. I have met Peter on several
occasions but had never been to his farm. The farm is managed on a day to
day basis by Kevin Milburn who has been born and bred in the area. It is a
typical dales farm with a mixture of hill and moorland. It is harsh country but
the cattle thrive up there. The herd consists of 15 cows plus followers
together with a flock of about 150 Dales-bred ewes. Nobodys Eclispe has been
the herd sire for the past 3 years but now needs moving on as his daughters
are coming into the herd, hopefully I will be able to sell him. Peter has
recently purchased a new bull, Appleton Huggabull from Tony Barratt. He will
start work immediately, let’s hope he gets his mountaineering legs as he will
have to walk and climb long distances to catch his ladies! The weather was
perfect for me, I walked up the hill onto the moor in glorious sunshine to view
the cattle in a stunning surrounding, however I wouldn’t want to be there
when it rains, as it frequently does, but on that day fantastic. People ask me
what I like about the job, well on days like that you don’t need to ask.
In the afternoon I went to Richard & Rachel Clowes’s farm in Blacko, again
what a place to visit in the sunshine. I have been there a few times before; in
fact we had a Field day there a few years ago. Nothing much has changed
there apart from a percentage of the herd has been mated with a Bazadaise
bull to produce a beefier calf for sale as weanlings. Richard is very happy with
the maternal traits of the cows but for sale locally needs a continental cross
calf. So far he is very impressed with the calves.
Wednesday 22nd saw me visiting the Limestones herd of Bill Grayson. Bill
grazes his cattle on numerous sites for the Lancashire and Cumbria Wildlife
Trusts together with several sites for the National Trust. Recently he has gone
23into partnership with Sally Hempsall, who has been assisting him run the sites
for several years but is now taking over more responsibility particularly for the
cattle that graze the famous Ingleborough Hill. Again what glorious weather
for walking in this splendid countryside, I did wonder at times if we would
ever find the cattle on the hill tops but sure enough there they were as happy
as Larry, very content in their environment. Apparently, according to Sally, by
the time we got back to Bill’s for lunch we had walked some 10 miles up hill
and down dale, not something us southern softies are used to, well yours
truly in any case.
I collected Mark Martin from Arnside train station, Mark had come up to assist
me in setting up and manning the stand at Beef Expo the following day. We
all went to view a selection of Bill’s cows and calves that were grazing land
overlooking the marshes and Morecombe Bay. Later in the season the cattle
will go onto the marshes to graze but not until the calves are big enough to
look after themselves a bit as they can soon be lost down there.
4.00pm saw us arrive at Junction 36 Market to set up the stand and settle in
the cattle which had been delivered by Simon’s stock-lady Nicole. That was
easier said than done as the Society has a new display stand for this year and
it was the first time we had put it up, I think we should have had a run
through before-hand as it wasn’t as easy as we thought and took a few
attempts to get it correct – I’m getting expert at it now having put it up and
down on several occasions.
Beef Expo. A very busy and bustling day talking to numerous persons about
the breed. Our pitch was on the main walkway into the show which was good
as everyone had to pass by. The cattle were first class with a pen of two 18
month old steers creating lots of attention. In the other pen was Bowland
Yolande and her 3mth old calf. She is an outstanding cow and still looks
impressive despite her 11yrs. She has won numerous championships at
various shows through the years, with probably her best accolade being Breed
Champion, at the National Show at Suffolk in 2015.
John Williams also came up to assist on the stand but if I’m honest it was
disappointing that no other members attended the event. This is the
showpiece event for the industry; we must continue to attend, we may not
get any new members on the day but it’s surprising how many new members
24we get from the event even several years down the line. As you know the
event moves around the country so that everyone has the chance to attend at
some time. Thank you to Mark & John for assisting with stand duty and for
Simon for providing the cattle and attending on the day to give his support.
Friday 24th saw me driving back south to set up the stand at the
Hertfordshire Show, St. Albans as this year it was our National Show. I
dropped Mark off on the way. A big thank you to Gill Martin for providing me
with an excellent lunch. I’m not going to say much about the National Show
as a report on that will be elsewhere in this Newsletter [UK only - Editor] but
what a fantastic event it was, culminating with Sam Taylor and Little Linton
Ferdinand being named Breed Champion who also went on to become Inter-
breed Champion the next day. The whole weekend was excellent. Thank you
to Terina and Joy for organising the marquee and to Sally Grimwood for doing
sterling work in providing light refreshments the whole time. Also thank you to
all the exhibitors for attending, with I feel, a particular thanks to Anthea & Jeff
Daw and to John & Sandy Davies for coming all the way from Somerset to
exhibit. Also thanks to Mark Cheetham for judging.
One day at home and then it was off to the Suffolk Show on Tuesday 28th
May. Again I’m not going to go into any detail about the show as it will be
reported on elsewhere. There were 38 quality animals forward with
congratulations going to Lady Getty, and Denise Thomas and her team for
being Champion with Lavenham Kirstie. A big thank you to Terry Mancey for
judging. The 29th & 30th were taken up at the show, meeting and greeting
various members, and potential new ones - a very successful and worthwhile
event. As at the Hertfordshire Show it was very pleasing to see such a good
number of animals shown by the Colleges. The students are certainly doing an
excellent job. It’s a pity Writtle didn’t attend this year but hopefully they will
be back next year.
A couple of weeks off from travelling now to catch up on office work and
teaching commitments at Writtle but Thursday 13th June soon came around
which saw me travelling to Malvern to the Three Counties Show. Wow what a
journey, torrential rain all the way which was still coming down when I
arrived. The show ground was awash, it’s good that there are many roadways
25there or else it could be horrendous. The three day show was spoilt by the
atrocious weather. It didn’t actually rain for the judging but made up for it at
other times. Congratulations to Anthea & Jeff Daw for being Champion in the
main show with Wheatfield Future, shown suckling her 2 nd calf and to Pat
McLaughlin with Marsh House Winifred’s Eliza being Champion in the Rare
Breed Classes the following day. A few weeks previously Pat rang me to ask if
I could show Eliza for her. I said of course I could. I didn’t expect to win at all
so it was a real surprise to become Champion. To cap it off Stephen Williams,
with Pinguis Frederick, teamed up with me in the Inter-breed pairs and we
were made Champions of that, great news for all concerned and for the breed
in general.
Thank you all who exhibited and to Andrew Kirk for judging the first day and
John Butler for judging day 2.
Monday 17th June saw me on my way to visit Daniel Powell at Halway
House, Shrewsbury. Daniel is a new member who has gone into the breed in
a big way. He has previously had a suckler herd of some 100 Simmentals and
up to 500 Angus finishing cattle. However due to difficulties with calving and
the price of concentrate feed Daniel has decided to go organic and to rear all
the cattle on forage only. He did his research and has decided that Red Polls
are the way forward as the maternal animal with the Angus as the terminal
sire, however at present he is building up his numbers so is breeding
everything pure. 48 cows calved this spring with a further 25 bulling heifers
going to the bull as well, his aim being to have about 160 suckler cows in 3
years’ time. 36 heifer calves have been born this spring so he is well on the
way. Cattle have been purchased from the dispersed Dodds, Quidney and
Longdendale herds together with bulling heifers from the Dodds and Pochin
herds. The cattle graze on re-seeded fields plus some excellent permanent
pasture which are herb and clover rich. Electric strip fencing is moved twice
daily to provide an abundance of fresh grass with excellent quality silage
made for the winter. The aim is for no concentrates to be fed. Recently
purchased Woldsman Freddie had been running with the herd but a very
unfortunate injury to one of his feet had meant he had had to be slaughtered,
2 young Angus bulls from the fattening yard were running with the herd at
present but a Red Poll replacement bull was hoped to be purchased in the
26near future – Subsequent to my visit Daniel has purchased Nobody’s Eclispse
from Peter Fowler.
This herd is an exciting prospect for the future of the breed, it will be very
interesting to see how the enterprise progresses.
On my way to the Cheshire show later in the afternoon, I called in to see John
William’s cattle, in particular Boseley Poppy 44th who was purchased by John
at the Boseley dispersal sale. Poppy has very interesting blood lines which the
Breeding Committee thought should be preserved so John purchased her. She
has calved a very nice bull calf, Pinguis Jacob, whose sire is Boseley
Buccaneer, a Mistley Linking Licias son, who again the Breeding Committee
thought had interesting blood lines. The idea is that Jacob will have semen
collected from him, as long as he is of a good type and passes inspection,
which can then be used by society members through AI. It has been decided
that Poppy will be inseminated with Kirton Controller semen who once more
the Breeding Committee thought should have blood lines preserved from. It
was thought that we didn’t have any more semen from Controller however
with the dispersal of the Boseley Herd last autumn, Simon Phelps had some in
his flask which he donated to the Society together with numerous straws of
other semen which we had limited stocks of. It will be interesting to see how
young Jacob develops - at present he has had an excellent start in life so
watch this space.
I then went to the Cheshire Show at Knutsford to set up for the show the
following 2 days. I should have said that all day on the Monday it had
continued to rain heavily and wow what a state the show ground was, mud
everywhere, vehicles getting stuck getting onto the ground it was carnage it
really was.
Tuesday 18th show day, it finally stopped raining for the actual judging. The
rings were very wet but actual showing went very well. Congratulations to
John Williams and Pinguis Frederick for becoming Champion, thank you to Joy
Broughton for judging. A steady number of members to talk to but the
weather had certainly put the public attendance down considerably.
27Wednesday 19th and oh my, the weather was awful, it had started raining
during the night and hadn’t stopped, everywhere was awash with mud like
you’ve never seen. Still the show must go on, in fact it stopped raining again
for the actual showing on day 2. The second day of the show is Rare Breed
day which is great for us as we get a second chance in the show ring. Helen
Arthan had asked me if I would take her yearling heifer, Chorlton Lane I – I
into the ring as she had played up the previous day, I think she may have
been bulling, anyway I said I would. Amazingly she was 1 st in the heifer class,
then Female Champion and then Breed Champion and to cap it off she was
Reserve Inter-Breed Champion as well. What a fantastic result for Helen and
for yours truly but to be honest all I did was to take her into the ring,
admittedly I did show her off well though.
Well after a very wet and soggy 2 days I then went to stay with my Brother,
just outside Halifax, for a couple of nights R & R.
Friday 21st saw me start on my journey south. On the way I called in to see
Ebony Prior, Worksop. Ebony has only been a member for just over a year
purchasing 2 in-calf cows, suckling heifer calves from the Prescott’s last year
and 4 animals at the Melton Sale in the autumn. Ebony’s parents used to milk
Red Polls up until about 15yrs ago when they retired. Ebony has now taken
over the farm and wanted to start keeping Red Polls again. At present the
small herd looks well, it will be interesting to see how things progress over the
next few years.
Next port of call was to new members Paul and Alison Wisden, Braunston-in-
Rutland. They recently purchased 11 heifers at the Melton spring sale.
Previously having a herd of pedigree Herefords they have decided to go onto
a forage based system but have found that the Hereford can’t do this, they
need to have some concentrates to finish so after much research have
decided to try the Red Polls. Four of the heifers purchased were in-calf for
autumn calving, the others being bulling heifers requiring a bull. They wanted
a quiet, halter trained youngster, Capel Manor Horace, fitted the bill. He will
certainly be in his element in his new home. The plan is to have of herd of
about 25 cows producing forage reared beef for sale to local restaurants,
another project which will be interesting to follow in the coming years.
28Tuesday 25th June, up to Norwich, to the Norfolk show for the next 2 days.
I’m not going to go into too much detail as that will appear elsewhere but
what a pleasant change to have glorious weather. Congratulations to Sarah &
Gerald Barnes and assistants Lara Cakebread and Amber-Marie Adams for
winning the Breed Championship for the 3rd time running, with Hopeham
Fauzie, what an impressive bull he is. Well done to Lara for winning the
College Challenge and to Emily Groom for being best Red Poll Young handler
in the Open Beef Young handler classes. A very good entry of 34 animals
forward, thank for to Denis Jenkins for judging.
Two days talking to members, new and old, brought to an end a very busy
period for myself but all very satisfying and rewarding doing what I love to do
visiting farms, talking to members, viewing fantastic cattle many in some of
the most glorious parts of the country, long may it continue.
Ray Bowler
Society Secretary [UK]
Red Poll Society (UK)
If you would like to join to the Red Poll Cattle
Society (UK) contact secretary@redpoll.co.uk
or write to:
The Secretary,
1 Nabbott Road,
Chelmsford,
Essex CM1 2SW
The overseas membership subscription is £30 sterling; includes three issues a
year of the newsletter.
The newsletter is also available to view on line gratis.
29EVANLEA REPORT
Times are a changing down on the farm. Judy has just retired from teaching
and I am worried that she will now find out how little work I do these days.
The weather has been very good as we have still got spare grass available in
July. On a normal season crops would be fed off from mid June.
It is nice to have an old fashioned season with frosts to harden the grass and
get rid of surplus bugs that have had a good year with a warm climate earlier
in the year.
The cows are in good order if not a little too well fed. Only hay at this stage
but balage when, or if, the weather decides to cut up rough.
Calving due to start at the end of July and looking forward to a good crop of
calves this year.
I am going to cut down on cow numbers next year and will have some surplus
animals available. This will enable me to have more spare time and to do
other things.
All young stock are still on grass only but will be on supplementary feed by
the middle of July.
Spent a holiday in New Caledonia mid May and thoroughly enjoyed the break.
Next holiday will be South Africa next March for the World Congress.
Graeme & Judy Evans
30News From Canada
We primarily sell bulls to the commercial cattle breeders (usually 20 plus per
year) as well as lot’s of heifers when there is a demand. If you recall when I
gave an update at the Congress there are not very many breeders in Canada
with most in Ontario and the east coast. Having said that we have a herd of
65 cows and calves as well as 24 replacement bred heifers so when we cull
this October we should end up with 80 plus going into calving season. Our
farm registers more calves than all the rest of Canada so you can see why we
try to get small herds established with our heifer sales.
Cattle ranching is quite different here as we calve in March, hopefully after the
real cold weather has passed (minus 30’s in February) and still have a bull calf
ready for breeding by the next June to August for the commercial market.
Cattle are separated into bunches and turned out on new pasture with their
bull on June first. Bulls are pulled mid July and calves are weaned in
October. We rotational graze and with three different groups it means we are
moving cattle almost every day from the start of June till September. We
usually start feeding the animals sometime in October till next June.
With the long feeding season we need between 600 and 800 of the big round
bales and that is what we try to do during July and August. Mostly put up a
legume / grass mix hay and some greenfeed. If it gets to late then we have
to wrap silage as the weather gets cooler and the days shorter so the
hay/greenfeed will not dry. Talking about the length of days during the
growing season in June/July when the grass should be growing up to an inch
per day, the sun comes up at four am and sets at ten pm but it only really
gets dark for a couple of hours. But we pay for it in the winter when we only
get six hours of daylight.
Will attach some pictures. One is the cows sunning themselves at fort below,
one is first turn out on new grass and the last is two week later .
Dean & Marsha Anderson
31February 3rd 2019. Minus 40°C. Dean & Marsha’s cows, Canada
Cows & calves enjoying the new grass at Anderson’s, Canada
32CROFTHEAD REPORT
Our stud is now 2 years young and the amount of learning that has gone on
in those last 2 years is immense. Robert is constantly surprised by the
differences in the soil and land management between our previous home
(Taranaki) and the lovely Wairarapa.
The bulk of the fencing is nearly complete and we still have all our fingers
(just in some cases), and are looking at building a wee home for ourselves
soon. However, the industry being what it currently is, starting soon will
mean completing around early 2021.
Our herd has grown with the purchase of 2 rising 3-year-old heifers from
Rosemarkie and 2 rising 5-year-old cows from Tamihana. This completes our
buying in (or so he tells me) and we are now learning the meaning of
“homegrown”. Fourteen to calve, and given the poor season we had last
year, we are hoping the lessons learned will prove worthwhile and that the
season will be much smoother than last year. Our girls are looking pretty
healthy and certainly a lot leaner that last season which seemed to the
biggest concern. The bull is Halcyon Hills Tawari, a rising 2-year-old, so a
little bit of an unknown element there but he is a bit narrower in the shoulder
than previous bulls. Fingers crossed.
Robert had a fabulous time on the herd tour; not just because he got away
from me for a few days. I was sorry not to be able to join in this year.
A word to the wise – attend the AGM or you will be given a job, apparently.
Huge thanks to the Hawkes Bay members for hosting a great event.
With a fairly mild Winter to date we hope you are all keeping nice and warm
and may all your calves come on warm, sunny days
Kirsty & Robert
33Crofthead Montana Ruby
A BIT OF HISTORY
Red Poll Cattle
TO BE JUDGED BY WOMAN
National Library (Papers Past) Bay of Plenty Times, 30 July 1932
Mrs P R Woodhouse, of “Bluecliffs”, South Canterbury, who will be the judge
of the Red Poll cattle at the Royal Show in Palmerston North in November, will
be the first woman to judge stock at Royal shows in the Dominion.
--------
I quote from the breed history, ‘Mrs Woodhouse remembers: - “My first
assignment was for the Royal Show at Palmerston North in 1932. I would not
have chosen a Royal for my initiation but I survived this and subsequent
shows, both Royal and provincial.”
J.M. Campbell’s Adderstone Quality was awarded the male Championship.
Fielding Agricultural High School’s Tutamai Amaranth carried off the female
championship
34ROSEMARKIE REPORT
A bit muddy this year, certainly compared with the last two. We hosted a NZ
Clydesdale Horse Society judging day a few weekends ago and the weather
was perfect.
We’ve bought a Raedean Maximus sired weaner from a local herd owned by
Ollie Wylie and Tina Theedom – not as far ahead as the one in Robin
Thomson’s Tamihana Report photo but still a nice calf. He was out of a 2 yr
old dam. Will be interesting to see how he compares with the four bulls we
kept entire – not all will be staying!
The bulk of the cows are in good condition present. Looks like one of the R 3’s
may be dry. She lost a very small calf last year so will be heading to the
Works if nothing happens this year. We’ve just scored some rough grazing
from a lifestyle neighbor so the 18 month animals, steers and heifers, think
they’ve died and gone to heaven – will not need to feed out to them for a
while.
I’m hoping that I might keep an R3 as a house cow this year. I plan to leave
the calf on and just take it off for the night, get some milk and then run with
mum till next time. The heifer had a calf with contracted tendons last year.
Tried to save it but no joy. Had L15 in the bale to milk for the calf. She was
very good and did not kick so I’m hoping might oblige for me this year. I’m
willing to offer bribery and corruption in the form of baleage.
Red Poll weaners at Rosemarkie in May 2019. Photo: Ruth Pinfold
35BIOLOGICAL FARMING
by Bruce Nimon, Kokako Farms
My journey along biological farming started with Kokako farms vineyard in
2007, weed problems I had never seen in a vineyard before, crop issues
based around sugar accumulation or the lack of and soil born diseases
affecting rootstocks. About the same time my wife and I purchased a small
lifestyle block of 25ha and we wanted to run it organically so the information
gain served two purposes.
A very good friend and an amazing women Nicole Masters put me in touch
with a group a people ABF Association of Biological farmers, I went on to
serve on their committee for several years.
First thing in our chemical system that had to stop was glyphosate. Years of
weed spraying the strip under the vine created a bacterial soil system that
housed every problem weed you can imagine.
Two great books to help on weeds are, “NZ Common Weeds in Colour”
complied by E.A Upritchard for the NZ Weed and Pest Control Society and
‘Weeds and Why They Grow’ by Jay L. McCaman.
One helps identify what you have, the other helps to work out why! For us it
was compaction, bacterial, low in calcium and high in copper that had nettle
running the place.
After time, and some knowledge gain, we had a system repairing itself. I then
took over the Hill farm and started running the same practices where possible
on the farm. Likewise on my own farm we progressed to Organic registration
with Organic Farms NZ.
All urea use must stop; it’s poison. Herbicide use (selective and non-selective)
has a huge cost to the soil and must be reduced and paid for with biology
boosting inputs.
When I have to use any input (soil or animal) I ask myself this question,
“What is the impact to my soil biology?” Second question is, “Is there an
alternative that has less impact or even a beneficial impact”?
36I am a realist and sometime you have to do certain things in farming so I then
just look at how I can pay for those sins!
Pasture is the easiest of all farming systems to adopt biological farming.
Permanent crops like grapes are a lot harder and slower.
Pasture mix and pasture rotation are the best way to change a system.
Holistic grazing is gaining mainstream following, even a modified version of
this can return animal health results, calving ease, pregnancy rate increase,
worm burden reduction. There is a saying “Graze a third, trample a third and
leave a third”. This works once you have biology to break down the tramped
third and the left third grows grass much faster than pasture taken to the
boards. “Grass grows grass” was the term I used when talking at the Herd
Tour. If a mature grass plant is grazed to 50%, the roots continue to grow, if
70% of that same grass plant is grazed then 50% of the roots stop working
for 17 days, if 90% of the grass is grazed then 100% of the roots stop
working for 17 days.
Herbs in pasture, for me, are a must; the list of potential plants is massive.
But it can be as simple as untreated plantain seed put into feed for cows. The
manure pats become fantastic plantain nurseries. Plantain is copper mining,
has a long tap root that breaks up sub-soil pans, helps animals fight worm
burden, reduces water pugging... the list goes on.
My go to list is Plantain, Chicory, Sub clover, Red clover, Strawberry clover,
Gala Broome, Tall fescue, Cocksfoot, Timothy, multiple White clover options.
For smaller farmers there are alternative health options based around animal
licks. Also, “Natural Sheep Care” by Pat Coleby is a must have book. What an
amazing lady and her options can be used on cattle, horses and of course
sheep. Her book was my bible getting our home block organic and sheep to
thrive.
The Coleby lick can be purchased from
http://www.fertilefields.co.nz/drupal/free_choice_minerals
Cattle are far easier to train on the lick compared with sheep and the results
show a lot faster. But these products are just that, ‘products’ and you have to
37understand and change the system. Often back to the way Granddad did
things.
“What is the cattle wormer you use doing to the worms in your pasture?”
There are options that are worm and dung beetle friendly. How fast a cow
pat breaks down is a great gauge on your soil biology health, low numbers of
fungi equal slow break down, slow return of that nutrient into the cycle, more
inputs required to lift the system. Round and around you go.
Dung beetles were an option at home, it’s a slow long game as it takes three
plus years them to establish, but now I have an army of helpers taking
manure 150-200mm underground. Free slow release fertiliser.
My 10 cents worth; if you’re interested then follow ABF on Facebook, go to
one of their field days and you will come back changed forever. Nicole
Masters is the best person in NZ/Australia/USA on this stuff but she is in so
much demand offshore it’s hard to get to see her. She does have a great DVD
for sale, and often contributes to FB ABF discussions.
Regenerative Agriculture is profitable, the total number of stock you run will
change, so will your shareholding in Ravensdown or Balance Agri-nutrients, so
will the stress levels around weather forecasts and lack of rain or too much
rain. Soils with high organic matter holds more water, are warmer in winter
and higher in soil moisture in summer.
Reduced input farming is possible also, you have to decide to get off the train,
look for alternatives as the answers will not be at PGG, RD1, Farmlands or the
like, because they have nothing to sell you so have no advice to give on the
system, its management or the outcomes.
Association of Biological farmers
https://www.facebook.com/nzbiofarmers/
Digging Deeper DVD
https://www.integritysoils.co.nz/product/digging-deeper-dvd/
38USA NEWS
Record breaking floods, record breaking acres not planted, went from winter
to summer-had no spring, most hay harvested 3-4 weeks late so quality is
poor, corn and soybeans 3-4 weeks behind normal in maturity. Mother
Nature has a way of assuring us we are not in control. BUT the Red Polls are
looking good.
We have just reorganized the National office. Just as in NZ the Red Poll
breeders in the US are small in number but very dedicated to preserving this
unique and valuable breed.
If any of you get to the US make sure you stop in to see a few Red Poll
breeders. You are always welcome.
Dan Schmiesing
PRESIDENT’S/EDITOR’S THOUGHT (She does think occasionally!)
Just wondered if there would be interest to put together a Red Poll calendar –
not to be a printed version, just to go out on email, either NZ photos only or
Overseas as well?
No expense to the Association as those wanting it can just print off a copy for
themselves.
Let me know or just send me some good photos – animals to be standing
well; clean bottoms, calves tagged and no one else’s legs under its belly if a
stand-alone animal! Picture to be high resolution digital or good 35mm. Not
cropped or compressed please. Can be historic but in colour if possible.
Photos Back Cover:
Top: Cows with bull calves at Athbey Stud. Foreground is Athbey Wilfred by
Athbey Louis out of Athbey Wilhelmine (Note: not his dam behind him)
Bottom: Rosemarkie Puriatahu (G22-12) by R. Trounce Morton ex R. Ego
Puriri. Senior herd sire at Kokako Farms. (Had pour-on that morning!)
3940
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