16 | Major April sale for Ferdon Genetics 11-year-old Ferdon B Stone Lippy EX92. Anne Boswell Two years after the illustrious 75 Years of Ferdon Celebration Sale, Ferdon Genetics is again encouraging their supporters to chase their dreams. The Ferdon Chase Your Dreams Sale – set for April 22, 2026 – will see 70-80 animals go under the hammer: mainly in-calf heifers, plus a handful of cows, all of which meet Ferdon’s ethos of breeding a functional, profitable herd cow. The well-known cattle stud – established in 1949 by Don Ferguson and today run by his son Warren Ferguson and wife Michelle – milks around 220 cows on 90ha, achieving 500kgMS/cow in a largely pasture-based system. The herd is a mixture of predominantly Jersey cattle, with some Holstein Friesians and Ayrshires. “The 75 Years of Ferdon Celebration Sale went extremely well, so we’re hoping the Chase Your Dreams Sale will, too,” Warren Ferguson said. “The cow sold as Lot 1 in our 2024 sale, Ferdon Victorious Flower EX94, has done really well, winning the title of Supreme Champion at the 2025 Stratford A&P Royal Show. We are going to sell a full sister to her at the Chase Your Dreams Sale.” Since the early 2000s, North American genetics have been used to populate the Ferdon herd. Jersey sire River Valley Victorious-ET has been one bull that has made a positive contribution to the Ferdon herd, with two “outstanding” two-year-olds sold in the 75th anniversary sale – Flower being one of those – and more progeny coming through. “I guess you could say that our cow has evolved to what we call a ‘modern day’ cow,” Warren said. “We don’t chase the BW system; we are all about cow families. And I suppose we are almost at a stage that we could use our own bloodlines again, if we wanted to.” Ferdon’s focus on building exceptional cow families is evident, particularly when it comes to the Viyella family - originating back to well-known Jersey Island cow Lady Viola – the ‘L’ family, and the Flower family. Ferdon Genetics has exhibited cattle for seven decades, with huge success. But breeding magnificent show cows comes with a proviso. “We breed the best functional cow we can,” Warren said. RURAL PEOPLE » Ferdon Genetics “A show cow and a profitable herd cow should be one and the same. Incidentally, our show cows are our highest producing cows as well; Ferdon Comerica Viyella, our most decorated show champion, held the title of highest producing Jersey cow in 2018. She is not just a pretty face – she and her herd mates are built to milk.” Warren, who is a celebrated cattle judge both in New Zealand and overseas, is also still very much part of the show circuit, a hobby shared with his three sons and seven grandchildren. Warren’s attendance at the last Waikato Show, held in October 2025, marked his 60th year of showing. Warren was also the 2026 recipient of the NZ Dairy Event Outstanding Achievement and Service Award. Phone Lee on 021 189 4871 or 07 873 7595 Round Silage & Hay • Discing • Powerharrowing • Undersowing • Aerating • Tractor & Trailer • Truck & Trailer MUDFORD
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