On Farm Excellence Applauded at HFNZ-Semex On Farm Competition

Rangiora’s Belbrook Farming Ltd should have been used to standing by the end of the 2024 HFNZ-Semex On Farm Competition after having its name called not once, but six times throughout the awards ceremony.  

The awards night, held at Distinction Hotel in Hamilton last night as part of the 2024 Holstein Friesian NZ AGM & Conference, saw Champions announced in six categories, including the Comestar Leader – Three Year Old Cow category in which Belbrook Impress Eruption and Belbrook Impresion Ashlyn placed first and second respectively (Belbrook Farming Ltd, John and Robbie Wakelin).

The annual competition aims to promote the Holstein Friesian breed by judging individual Holstein Friesian cows on type at their home property in natural conditions, without being fitted or halter led.  

This year, 739 Holstein Friesian cows from 90 herds were judged across eight regions, evaluated for their inherent structural correctness using specially developed linear scoring.  

The top two regional placegetters in each of the six classes qualified for the national final, which was judged by Jamie Taylor (Taranaki).

Of the six Champion cows in 2024, four were from the South Island: Rangiora, Timaru and Wallacetown; and two from the North Island: Stratford and Palmerston North.

The Parkes family had a positive competition, with three animals owned by Parkes Brothers Farming Ltd (Picton) and Johnson & Parkes Partnership (Hawera) placing in three classes in the national competition. 

Schnuriger Family Trust (P & S Schnuriger, Rotorua) had four animals place in four classes, and Ferdon Genetics (Otorohanga) and Ferdon-Barron Partnership also had four animals place in the top six, over three classes.

Semex NZ’s Ryan Lett said the HFNZ-Semex On-Farm Competition is always one to look forward to.

“For 21 years now Semex has been running this competition with Holstein Friesian NZ,” Ryan said. “This is a tremendous effort – not only for the length of time it’s been running but for how successful the competition is, from the involvement of all the HFNZ members to the size of the competition.

“And the competition continues go from strength to strength: this year we saw a big increase in the number of cows entered across the country, which was awesome.”

National Judge Jamie Taylor said the opportunity to judge the national competition was huge.

“It certainly was a privilege to be asked to judge this competition.”

2024 HFNZ SEMEX ON-FARM COMPETITION RESULTS 

MAUGHLIN STORM – TWO -YEAR-OLD COW

1. Bushview Sidekick Phoebe (L Vanner, Stratford)
2. Belbrook Crushabul Eireen (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora)
3. Belbrook Handpick Sara-ET (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora)
4. Lawwal Sidekick Clear (K & MK Singh Farms Ltd, Hamilton)
5. Quinedale Octane Camilla (B & H Singh, Taupiri)
6. Raetea Redrock Like (Schnuriger Family Trust, Rotorua)

COMESTAR LEADER – THREE-YEAR-OLD COW

1. Belbrook Impress Eruption (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora)
2. Belbrook Impresion Ashlyn (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora)
3. Ingleside Alina S2F (Ingleside Farms, Wyndham)
4. Busybrook Skick Acia-ET (Joyclas Friesians, Palmerston North)
5. Parlan Sidekick Connie (Parkes Brothers Farming Ltd, Picton)
6. Tahora Tatoo Brittany (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga)

TOWNSON LINDY – FOUR-YEAR-OLD COW

1. Ronnoco SK Odessa (B O’Connor, Timaru)
2. Lyncrest Sidekick Lucy-ET (Lyncrest Dairies Ltd, Invercargill)
3. Charbelle Tatoo Pix (Charbelle Farms, Morrinsville)
4. Tahora Thunder Tori (Tahora Farms, Christchurch)
5. Fermoy Byway Tori (Johnson & Parkes, Hawera)
6. Raetea Pigment Sweety-Red (Schnuriger Family Trust, Rotorua)

HANOVERHILL RAIDER – FIVE-YEAR-OLD COW 

1. Cresslands Peter Maggie (Cresslands Farm Ltd, Rangiora)
2. Hukaview Jacoby Nova (Kenair Partnership, New Plymouth)
3. Anglo DRM Kanga-Red (Port Molyneux Dairies Ltd, Balclutha)
4. Okawa Tyson Shelly (Schnuriger Family Trust, Rotorua)
5. Ferdon Doorman Prim (W Ferguson, C Ferguson, T Barron, Otorohanga)
6. Radly Doorman Dice-ET (Ridgeline Farms 2012 Ltd, Palmerston North)

CONANT-ACRES JY BROKER – MATURE COW 

1. Radly Meridian Ana-ET (Ridgeline Farms 2012 Ltd, Palmerston North)
2. Sherraine Doorman Carrie (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora)
3. Joyclas Sammy Moo S3F (Joyclas Friesians, Palmerston North)
4. Raetea Licorice Brandy (Schnuriger Family Trust, Rotorua)
5. Ferdon Meridian Crystal (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga)
6. Ferdon Windbrook Crystal (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga)

COMESTAR LAURIE SHEIK – VETERAN COW 

1. Velvaleen Gold Rosa-ET (Hall’s Enterprises Ltd No 1, Wallacetown)
2. Bellview Lavanguard Di (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora)
3. Mokoia Danilo Ribena-ET (Full-On Farming, Taupiri)
4. Parlan Stanleycup Lena (Johnson & Parkes, Hawera)
5. Hasty Spring DN Peach (Johnson & Parkes, Hawera)
6. Ruanui Brax Snowflake S2F (H Verwaayen, Dannevirke)