14 | DAIRY PEOPLE » Helen Cummings Valden Cow of the Year award a joint effort Helen’s journey into Holstein Friesians began 25 years ago. Karen Phelps Wyndham stud breeder and dairy farmer Helen Cummings is celebrating winning the coveted Valden Cow of the Year award with Holstein Friesian Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET EX3 4*ET SP. She is quick though to credit breeders Owen and Cathy Copinga who she purchased the cow from before they left dairy farming. “It’s very, very special for the cow to win this award. There were some good cows in the running,” says Helen. The Valden Cow of the Year is awarded to any cow that has completed at least four lactations and is deemed to have, or have the potential to, contribute to the breed on a continual basis. The cow represents a strategic acquisition for Helen that has already begun paying dividends in her Mayalan Holstein Friesian stud, which she has operated for the past 25 years. “Rivendell Sham Beatric has achieved fantastic production levels and been classified ‘excellent’ three times by the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association. We flushed her and have embryos to implant this spring. We have an in-calf heifer out of her this year so that’s very exciting,” says Helen. Helen and husband Jock operates their 106-hectare farm near Wyndham having moved to the property in 2008. They run 230 cows, with 80% comprising the stud, each producing between 480kgMS to 500kgMS annually. Helen’s journey into Holstein Friesians began 25 years ago when she transitioned from an Ayrshire stud she had established before marriage. The farm still maintains Ayrshires as a reminder of this heritage. “Holstein Friesians are just beautiful cows, you get a return for your bull calves and they produce a lot of milk solids and last a long time. There’s a lot to like,” explains Helen. The Holstein Friesian breed has deep roots in New Zealand’s agricultural history, dating back to 1884 when Canterbury breeder Mr JCH Grigg first imported Dutch Friesian cattle. Four years later, the breed was introduced to the North Island via a herd established in the Wairarapa, with further importations from America following in 1902/03. The black and white cow quickly gained popularity in the North Island, but serious breeding and importation efforts didn’t begin until 1910, the same year the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association was established to maintain accurate pedigrees. The organisation now trades as Holstein Friesian New Zealand. Helen has been heavily involved serving on the board in the past and this year was very privileged to receive the Holstein Friesian Distinguished service award. Helen’s passion for Holstein Friesians runs deep throughout the family, with each generation contributing to the farm’s success in different ways. Son Clint and wife Ashleigh have their own small stud on the farm called Mayoak with Ashleigh, who has her own hair dressing business in Gore, helping when she can. Clint has been managing the home farm for three years and has distinguished himself by winning Fonterra’s lowest somatic cell count award for Eastern Southland, Southland and the South Island, achieving sixth place nationally for 2024/25. He secured the same regional accolades the previous season, finishing third in New Zealand. Daughter Kate has some stud cows on the family farm as well under the stud name Maylea. For all your Beet, Swede and Maize Drilling requirements. • Strip till Beet and Swedes • Precision planter available • Full cultivation options • Loader wagon for Silage & Baleage • Experienced staff • Late model, full GPS auto steered tractors • Drilled right on time Covering South Otago & Southland Contact Erik (027) 204-8019 betterbeetltd@gmail.com Check us out on Facebook Proud to supply veterinary services & Animal Remedies for Helen Cummings Kate and her partner contract milk on a farm in Western Southland. Other son Darren and wife Melissa contract milks on another farm in northern Southland. Jock works off farm for Roof Craft Industries in Gore as contracts manager. The family enjoys entering their cows in the annual A & P Show at Wyndham and Gore but this year plans to potentially also compete at the South Island Championships because they are being held nearby in Balclutha this November.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=