| 31 2026 the big year for Red Dairy Breeds While red breeds form a small percentage of New Zealand’s national herd, there are still large numbers in Russia, Scandinavia and Kenya. Russell Fredric Manuwatu farmer and International Red Dairy Breeds Federation (IRDBF) director Russell Tocker is part of a group planning the organisation’s international conference being held in New Zealand March 2026. Russell and his brother Zac, along with their parents Jerry and Ireen, milk 700 cows on 380 hectares at Tiakitahuna bordering the Manuwatu River. Their farm is a combination of a dairy and dry stock unit in which Russell, 32, and Zac 34, are share milkers and equity partners. Of the 700 cows, 140 are pedigree milking Shorthorns and 30 pedigree Ayrshires. Held three yearly, except during the covid pandemic, the last IRDBF conference was held in Estonia in last year. After attending the conference, Russell toured Estonia, Latvia, Denmark and Lithuania late June/early July 2023. The federation covers all red dairy breeds which, in New Zealand, are almost exclusively milking Shorthorns and Ayrshires. The Tocker family hosted the New Zealand Shorthorn Association 106th annual conference farm visit on their farm in 2019. IRDBF held its inaugural meeting and conference in June 2016 at Hamar, Norway. Forty six delegates from seventeen countries gathered to adopt a set of guidelines for objectives, structure, management, and member responsibilities. Its governing board of five members comprises three from Europe, and two from the rest of the world of which Russell is currently one. Russell expects about 50 delegates to register for the New Zealand conference. “It’s quite a prestigious event,” he says. “It’s quite a big thing to show off our uniqueness and our New Zealand dairy industry as well.” Outside of the two-day conference at Palmerston North, the itinerary includes farm visits and tourist activities during the pre and post-conference tours, starting in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Canterbury, Mackenzie Basin, and finally Central Otago and Queenstown. While red breeds form a small percentage of New Zealand’s national herd, there are still large numbers in Russia, Scandinavia and Kenya, Russell says. Among their positive traits, they are favoured for their longevity in the milking herd. “They don’t have a high replacement rate, and that’s around the world as well. They like them because they’re have longevity.” Internationally, the genetics of milking shorthorns and Ayrshires have branched off in many countries during the past two centuries, Russell says. “Our New Zealand Ayrshires and New Zealand milking Shorthorns are pretty unique because we’ve been focusing on breeding for milk solids and fertility for spring calving over last seventy or eighty years, so it’s quite unique compared to other populations around the world. RURAL PEOPLE » Russell Tocker “We are really high in protein and fat by comparison and we are driving on cow efficiency in grazing per hectare, whereas overseas if they’re in a barn, they want the most out of each cow so their production is way bigger, but it doesn’t always mean those cows are as efficient or they live as long” Despite the Tocker family’s passion for the red’s, each breed has its place, Russell says. “For us, we like the Jersey’s for the good butter fat and the Friesians are good for their good bull calves. They all have their own strengths and the red calves are actually really good for beef as well.” “I’ve always enjoyed them and have just been lucky to be exposed to them really. It’s my passion, it’s what I love, it’s what drives me to keep doing better.” Grass, Wholecrop, Maize, Stacking, Bagging, Buying & Selling, Round Bales, Hay & Baleage, Conventional Bales & Ground Work For all your harvesting needs Proud to Support Russell Tocker Call Murray: 021 414 227
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