34 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Heavenly Moos Birthday request leads to ‘Heavenly Moos’ Jersey Lineback have a golden colouring with a distinctive white stripe down their backs. Daughter Jacoba has become a respected member of the show world. At 17 she is an associate Judge for both Holstein Friesian and Ayrshire NZ. Aimee Wilson Most women would love something fancy for their 30th birthday, but Kylie Gread asked her husband for a Jersey Lineback. It was a great investment 12 years ago because now the Morrinsville-based cattle breeders are likely the only ones in the country with these unique cows. The Foster family of Northland introduced them to New Zealand from England 165 years ago, and husband Mark convinced the farmer to sell them eight head of youngstock. They loved their golden colouring with the distinctive white stripe down their back, they also found their characteristics to be different to the usual ‘jersey cow’. “They are hardier than your average jersey and more aggressive as well.” This was the beginning of Heavenly Moos, and because the farmer had no official records, Heavenly Moos is working on breeding and marketing them so they start an official paperwork trail of their own, before they put them out on the open market. “People like to see the ancestry and their pedigree and we want them to be something we are proud of.” Along with 20 to 30 Jersey Linebacks, Holstein Friesians make up the majority of the genetics in their herd, and they have been members of the national association for around six years. The bulk are Friesian cross but most have Friesian sires as this gives them the size and strength they need for their breeding programme. They also have Ayrshires and a couple of Milking Shorthorns. Using Nominated Genetics to carefully select bulls from across all the breeding companies allows them to pick bulls that will transmit the traits they want to further improve the herd. “To help with further gain we do a small amount of embryo work on our best cows to create extra daughters and sons from those best cows.” Mark, Kylie and her teenage children also love showing many of their different breeds and attend the New Zealand Dairy Event in Fielding every year. It’s a huge undertaking involving trucking the best of the herd south for a week, and they spend six weeks preparing for the event. The cows are also put on a special diet for a significant time leading up to it. This year three out of six of the girls paraded in the Championship ring making it one to remember. Daughter Jacoba has become a very well respected member of the show world. At 17 she is an associate Judge for both Holstein Friesian and Ayrshire NZ. Their youngest son Xavier is rapidly following in her footsteps and has also developed a passion for it. Their other son Elijah isn’t so keen on showing, but enjoys helping out to keep things running at home while the shows are on. Next year they are downsizing the farm for future proofing, and have already sold just over half of the herd and young stock – they’ll be running Mark’s auntie’s farm as she’s now in her 80s. “It’s going to be hard to see them go but we are FARMit Accountants are proud to support Heavenly Moos (07) 307 7245 team@farmit.net.nz www.farmit.net.nz GOLD PARTNER Company Restructures Succession Planning Financial Accounts Tax Planning Equity Partnerships Budgeting and Forecas�ng 3/123 Ingram Road | Hamilton | 3282 | New Zealand P: 07 827 5173 E: admin.nz@stegen.com LIKE us on Facebook RUBICON GOLD BAND P really proud of what we have been able to offer up for sale after just a few years of breeding.” Of course they’ve kept all their favourites - there’s still 130 cows left, and Kylie knows every one by name. “I just like to know my cows, who they are and where they come from.”
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