| 101 nzdairy Fred Blatchford loves the black and whites Dinner time. Sue Russell Fred Blatchford, of Mokoia Holstein, belies his age, when he talks about his farming life. The quietly spoken 81 year old, loves the black and whites and there isn’t too much that he hasn’t experienced during his many decades building up an enviable reputation as one of the country’s best Holstein breeders. These days, Fred is still on the Woodville farm in the Manawatu, though he’s a bit more selective as to what he does each day. “I do get up each morning early and get the shed going with the first row of cows. It’s something I enjoy and having been farming all my life I still wake up in sequence with milking the herd,” Fred says with a chuckle. He remembers, as though it was yesterday, the first moment of falling in love with the breed. “It was at the Palmerston North Royal Show in 1976 and I went to the cow pavilion and saw this giant cow, called Tahora Linmark Lara, she was the ‘queen’ of the breed and I thought I’d just love to breed a cow like that.” Born and bred in Woodville Fred’s father gave him 8 jersey cows when Fred finished school. “I would separate milk and put cream cans out the front gate. My uncle had a jersey stud in Ngarua and I used to go and help him at his annual sale. By my memory goes back to being four years old when I used to go with my grandfather with cans of milk to the dairy factory. He had an Ayrshire stud.” Today, son Daren is in charge these days, however Fred keeps his finger in the pie, looking after all the record-keeping of the award winning herd, the family are very proud of. “We practice corrective mating over the herd. By that I mean if a cow is too high in the pins we mate her to a bull that will reduce this physical trait somewhat. We’ve got 260 cows and an effective platform of 110ha. But we have a 40ha run-off where we grow supplements and for winter grazing. The calves are run their until 1 May each season.” Also working on the farm was Kevin, a Pilipino who was with them for 3 ½ years and a new farm worker is due to start at the beginning of June. One of the things Fred loves about farming is that, no matter your age, everyday there’s something happening. ‘I remember walking over the hills at the back of the farm, spraying with a nap sack. Today, its my son who’s really fit.” Fred says all his best cows are over 10 years old. Most produce a wonderful calf until they’re about 12 years of age. “They’re excellent cows and receive very very good classification gradings from Holstein Friesian NZ.” PEDIGREE HOLSTEINS » Mokoia Holsteins Mokoia Holstein have used North American genetics since 1985, which has resulted in many excellent cow families in the herd and a wellearned reputation within the Holstein Friesian community. Every year Association members such as Mokoia Holstein have the opportunity to submit their registered in-milk heifers and cows for Classification by Holstein Friesian New Zealand. The Classification system aims to improve the overall standard of type and conformation of the New Zealand Holstein Friesian cow by recognising each individual cow’s functional strengths and / or weaknesses and grading her accordingly with a Classification Award. All cows classified are also scored on a linear system for Traits Other than Production (TOP).The majority of cattle are classified in late Spring. The classification process involves the inspector scoring 13 individual traits on the animal, looking at everything from the height/ stature of the animal down to the length of their teats. The inspector will then give the animal an udder overall score and a dairy conformation score. These are composite scores made up from the individual traits. If the animal is a heifer they will also receive a body condition score. For registered animals they will then be given a final classification score to represent their overall type and conformation. Fred says he’s incredibly proud of the classification score his herd attains, proving that the genetics selection and careful attention to detail he places in the breeding process results in truly outstanding cows. “I think that’s been the real passion for me, through all the years. Just seeing how we can breed the very best quality cow, who will pass on her genetics to successive generations.” Fred enjoys attending the annual Holstein Friesian Association conferences, which usually involves special trips to other breeders and places of interest. “One of our trips to the Waikato involved visiting Hobbiton and a horse breeding stud which really opened my eyes.” 213 Stoney Creek Rd, Palmerston North 06-356-5557 www.blackley.co.nz For all your farm & civil construction needs Devlin Cameron & Hayes Limited Level One 165 Broadway Avenue PO Box 1595 Palmerston North 4440 Phone: 06 357 0746 Email: office@dch.co.nz Our Firm has provided Mokoia Holsteins with a range of services including financial, business advisory and taxation advice Proud to support Mokoia Holsteins
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