Genetic genius

When I interview Rachel Cox she is driving, on her way to her next meeting. We are both running late; school drop off this Monday morning did not go to plan for either of us.

We laugh about juggling kids, household responsibilities and work, and it occurs to me that there are many reasons why women are excellent in leadership roles: they can retrieve information from the recesses of their mind at a moment’s notice, they can make split-second decisions, and they want the best for everyone. While ‘women multi-tasking’ might be a humorous stereotype, it is often a truism – and essential in keeping the wheels rolling at home and at work.

In her role as Semex NZ Key Accounts and Solutions Manager, Rachel often holds the genetic future of a herd in the palm of her hand – a daunting responsibility indeed.

“I work with Semex representatives in New Zealand to help ensure their key clients’ herds are heading in the right direction,” she says.

“Every farmer runs their operation so differently; I don’t have two clients that are the same. Because of this, I try to ascertain their wants and needs and take into account the factors that contribute to using a specific team of bulls. It’s about getting down to what will benefit the farmer in making more profit and improving their business. I like to take an holistic approach to each of the accounts that I work with.”

And it’s not just the people aspect that Rachel likes; she loves data, too.

 “I love looking at a herd’s reproductive data and seeing the improvement in its genetic gain each year,” she says.

Rachel’s love of genetics began as a child. She grew up in Carterton, where her father Charlie owned Tararua Ayrshires until she was two years old. He sold the farm and they moved onto a lifestyle block, where he grazed Selwyn Donald’s heifers.

“Dad worked for Semex for 30 years, so I grew up knowing all the bull AB codes and how to fill out forms, and went on farm visits in the school holidays,” she says. “That definitely got me interested in the genetic side of farming.”

Rachel showed calves at the local A&P Show throughout primary school and while she was at high school, her brother Bernie started lower order sharemilking at nearby Carterton.

“I did a fair bit of milking for him before school and at weekends,” she recalls.

Rachel attended Lincoln University and completed a Bachelor of Agriculture, throughout which she worked as a relief milker for Graham Stewart (Cresslands Holstein Friesians).

After university she worked as an animal nutrition rep and a vet technician before going back to Cresslands fulltime, where she stayed for around six years.

Following working as a Semex Commission Agent, Rachel went fulltime with Semex in June 2020 as its Canterbury Area Manager, and more recently in 2023 as Key Accounts and Solutions Manager.

Rachel’s work takes her away from home a bit but luckily, she counts travel as one of her favourite things to do.

“I travel throughout New Zealand and sometimes, overseas,” she says. “I was sent to Canada in April 2024 to a global Semex conference, and we travelled around Canada visiting farms and the Semex head office.”

Rachel keeps her interest in cattle genetics strong by breeding her own pedigree cows under her stud, Rokella, and Taonui Holsteins in conjunction with her brother, Bernie Cox.

“I own a Brown Swiss cow and her progeny, and I occasionally do flush work with her,” she says. “Also, Bernie and I own a handful of cows which are dotted throughout Canterbury with friends.

“We selectively pick bulls for these cows, and we were proud to sell a heifer at the Canterbury Collection sale a couple of years ago.

“Bernie and I also own a Jersey cow and calf in Australia, in partnership with Robbie Wakelin, and we are hoping to bring back some of her progeny to New Zealand.”

Rachel says not being able to farm her own cows means it’s important to keep animal numbers at a sensible level.

“Otherwise, it puts pressure on the people who have them,” she says. “Not only that, but Bernie and I have our own personal and financial commitments to take into consideration.”

Rachel is well known for her support of HFNZ Black & White Youth, most recently attending the 2023 European Young Breeders’ School as chaperone for the five-strong Kiwi team of teenagers.

Rachel herself was Holstein Friesian NZ’s youth representative at the World Youth Holstein Conference in Argentina in 2016, so she is well versed in attending international events.

“When Hennie (Verwaayen, past HFNZ President) and Cherilyn (Watson, HFNZ General Manager) brought EYBS to our attention at a HFNZ Black & White Youth Committee meeting, it was a good opportunity for me to give back, and to be able to facilitate that happening – and from memory, there was a lot to facilitate,” Rachel says.

She says as a mother – son James is seven years old – she was able to provide not only chaperonage, but a ‘mothering instinct’.

“I’m friends with all of the team, but it meant that if anyone had an issue I had the maturity to support and guide them,” she says. “It was a huge trip for them, and it was a long way from home. There was also a quick turnaround from a long travel period to heading into the school, all guns blazing.”

Rachel says the trip will forever be a fond memory.

“The highlight for me was seeing the team make the same kind of connections I made when I went to Argentina,” she says.

Rachel’s future is looking busier than ever. She is the secretary of the Holstein Friesian Canterbury/Westland Branch, serves on the Holstein Friesian NZ Black & White Youth Committee and had an active role in the Canterbury Collection Sale in April this year. She is also a participant in the inaugural HFNZ Young Breeders Development Programme.

“Other than that, I’ll just keep growing my career, keep working with Holstein Friesian NZ, and enjoying what life has to offer me with my family and friends,” Rachel says. “The Association has opened a lot of doors for me personally, and the connections and friendships I’ve made through HFNZ, and showing, have been so significant for me.”

Personally, Rachel is enjoying an exciting but settled time in her life. Her partner, David Chaffer, has moved to New Zealand from Australia and they have set up home in Amberly.

Although Rachel doesn’t have much time for hobbies herself, she is having fun following James’ interests.

“He loves fishing, rugby and motorbikes,” she says. “That’s the stage of life we are at right now.”

And James is carrying on his mother and father Andrew Stewart’s love of cows, with his first animal, a Milking Shorthorn, already under his belt.

Rachel says watching the changing landscape of farming has been interesting.

“I think the stereotypical role of a farmer’s wife – cooking, cleaning and looking after the kids – is somewhat incorrect,” she says. “They definitely did those things, but there were also plenty of women driving the genetic decisions in livestock farming, as well as milking and doing the physically laborious side of farming, too. They just weren’t acknowledged for it.

“However, in the wider industry – in the roles of people who support farmers, such as my own role – it really was a male dominated industry in the past.”