40 | Lockwood still doing 15,000 steps a day Woodleigh Elegance. One of the current herd sires at Woodleigh, shows the extraordinary growth rate of Woodleigh calves. Bernadette Cooney Former politician and diplomat, Sir Lockwood Smith, 75, remains deeply engaged in farming and policy work from his 330-hectare beef farm in Kaipara. Situated between Matakohe and Ruawai, the 220 cow breeding herd, Woodleigh Belgian Blues, was built up from an Angus-Friesian base. Lockwood shows no signs of slowing down, juggling farm responsibilities with membership of the UK Trade & Agricultural Commission, chairing the board of the Riddet Food Research Institute in Palmerston North, not to mention serving on the Trust that recently opened our War Memorial Museum, Te Arawhata, at Le Quesnoy, in France. “But, I’m still doing 15,000 steps a day around the farm while working late into the night with the Trade Commission.” Woodleigh Belgian Blues was established by Lockwood in 1987, alongside his 29-year political career, where he held various ministerial portfolios including agriculture, trade, tourism, and education, culminating in his appointment as Speaker of the House from 2008 to 2013. Lockwood’s ancestral ties to the region date to 1862 when his family were the first European settlers at Matakohe. The farm’s history traces back to Lockwood’s father and uncle, who had to re-establish it after returning from World War II. His father started a Romney stud and with Lockwood’s uncle later developed the Woodleigh Angus stud. “In 1959, at the age of 10, I took over recording and running my father’s Romney stud and a few years later the Angus stud.” Inspired by world renowned NZ scientist, Dr C P McMeekan, Lockwood’s livestock farming interests took him to Massey University in 1966, where he pursued agricultural science, graduating a Massey Scholar. He focused on the nutritive value of maize silage for his master’s, winning a prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship, and went on to study ruminant metabolism for his doctorate at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide. Winning the seat of Kaipara in 1984 brought him back to the farm from an international marketing career with the NZ Dairy Board, and he started searching for genetics to boost the productivity of the Angus/Friesian breeding herd. The myostatin gene had not long been discovered in Belgian Blue cattle and Lockwood started utilising embryos and semen imported from Belgium and Britain, to transform the base herd from Angus-Friesian to purebred Belgian Blue. “As I started upgrading the herd,” says Lockwood, “I wanted to keep the polled gene from RURAL PEOPLE » Woodleigh Belgian Blues the Angus and smooth out the Blues shoulders for calving ease. Production efficiency required yearling heifers to be mated and they had to calve naturally”. “Today, the Woodleigh cattle are a uniquely different breed, trademarked by Samen Genetics globally as Kiwi Blues.” “Our 23-month bulls not sold for breeding, are averaging 400 kgs on the hooks. Carcasses reach up to 66% of live weight.” Lockwood notes the impressive growth and leaner beef, result in enhanced carbon efficiency. He emphasises the importance of processing cattle at a younger age to reduce methane emissions per kilogram of meat produced. “If we’re serious about reducing carbon emissions, then we have to be processing cattle from a younger age.” Woodleigh Belgian Blues offer farmers interesting genetics for dairy beef integration and a growing market for younger, tender, leaner beef that is more carbon efficient. “Today, the Woodleigh cattle are a uniquely different breed, trademarked by Samen Genetics globally as Kiwi Blues.” Lockwood Smith at home on the farm. 67 Jelicoe St, Ruawai, 0530 . 09 439 0783 Proud to support Woodleigh Belgian Blues. 14 Normanby St, Dargaville, 0310 . 09 439 0007 NORTHLAND Spreading Northland The precise way to grow Call us today: Jason Williamson 027 499 2530 Ravensdown Customer Centre 0800 100 123 • We apply what you need, where • you need it • Ravtrak advanced guidance • Proof of placement maps • Application history stored online • Experienced local operator • Options for all terrain
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