49 cattle in steer weight competition

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 25

49 cattle in steer weight competition

Forty-nine cattle have been entered in this year’s steer weight gain-export beef competition held in conjunction with the Methven Agricultural and Pastoral Show. The competition is now in its fifth year, and was first introduced by Mr R. C. Todhunter, who still organises it. The competition provides a good chanca for fanners to test their animals against those of other breeds and crosses, and is possibly more use to them than a carefully prepared and controlled test conducted in a research station. Mr Todhunter presented a paper on the competition to the New Zea-

land Society of Animal and. Livestock Production seminar held at Lincoln College before last year's show. The competition is thought to be the only one of its kind running in New Zealand. This is backed up by the number of entries and the widespread area from which they come. Breeders from as far away as Kaikoura, Oxford, Waipara, Cheviot, Amberley, Cave, Oamaru and Timaru have entered animals, 15 breeds being represented. However, only seven animals were purebred. The animals entered in the competition were all born after July 1, 1975, and were gathered together early in October last year and have since been grazing as a herd at Mr J. D. Robert’s property near Methven. The steers were sprayed and drenched on arrival at the property and have been weighed regularly since. A field day was held in early February when two animals were equally leading the competition. Each had put on 142ikg over the 64-day grazing period since the competition began. They belonged to Messrs B. T. Fisher of Greenpark (3/4 Charolais and Friesian) and C. D. Keown of Geraldine (1/4 Limousin, 1/2 Angus, 1/4 Friesian). Entries in the steer weight gain competition may also be entered in the Chiller Beef Competition held on show day. Prizes are awarded for both live weight gain over the grazing period and the weight of saleable meat. Detailed entries are: B. T. Fisher (Greenpark) i Charolais x Friesian; J. E. Austin (Oxford) Charolais x Angus (2); Mt Peel Station (Peel Forest) Charolais x Angus (2); Waikari Hills (Peel Forest) Charolais x Angus (2); D. E. Robertson (Amberley) Charolais x Angus (2); R. R. and D. L. Grieve (Ashburton) Chianina x Beef Shorthorn (2); A. F. Edge (Cheviot) Chianina x Beef Shorthorn and Chianina x Hereford; R. N. S. Cox (Timaru) Simmental x Hereford (2); M. and G. Rushton (Ashburton) Simmental x Hereford (2); D. P. Graham and Sons (Christchurch) Maine Anjou x Hereford (2); R. Acton Adams (Kaikoura) j Limousin; R. W. Buzan (Oamaru) Dairv Shorthorn l

and J Limousin; I. J. McKeown (Ashburton) Limousin x Friesian; C. D. McKeown (Geraldine) { Limousin, f Angus, j Friesian and | Limousin | Angus, 1 Friesian; J. R. Hart South Devon Shorthorn (2); J. S. McCaskey (Waipara) Santa Gertrudis x Hereford (2); Woodlands Park (Darfield) Red Poll; P. J. Fleming (Irwell) Red Poll; D. J. Isherwood (Methven) Luing x Shorthorn and Shorthorn; R. Oliver (Hororata) Luing x Shorthorn; D. T. Archbold (Cheviot) Shorthorn x Hereford and Angus x Shorthorn x Hereford; D. G. Malcolm (Cheviot) Friesian x Hereford (2); R. C. Batchelor (Ashburton) Hereford x Friesian and Angus x Hereford; G. Pagey (Methven) Hereford x Angus; D. Findlay (Methven) Friesian (2); A. R. Leslie (Cave) Murray Grey x Angus (2); J. F, Wyllie (Amberley) Murray Grey x Angus (2); J. R. Todhunter and Sons (Methven) Angus (2).