Colombia might buy cattle from N.Z.

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 21

Colombia might buy cattle from N.Z.

The visit of a group of Colombian dairy industry representatives could mean exports of New Zealand cattle and cattle semen to the South American nation. Yesterday, the group met the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Maclntyre, after a week spent looking at many aspects of New Zealand's dairying industry. In Christchurch they saw direct seed-sowing techniques at Lincoln College, and visited a seed production factory. In the North Island, dairy farms and factories were visited, as was the Ruakura research station. The Colombians were impressed with New Zealand pasture management, said a farm advisory officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. Mr

f Peter Allan, of Tauranga. Mr Allan, who accom- ■ panied the party, said that ; New Zealand's average grass • yields equalled the yields from the best Colombian pastures. In Colombia, concentrates and by-products were used to promote stock growth rates. The comparative lack of such techniques in New Zealand intrigued the Colombians, Mr Allan said. A serious problem in Colombian pastures was a hardy grass, kikuyu, which hindered the growth of pasture nutritious to stock. The party, which includes four dairy farmers and two beef producers, was the first from Colombia to study New Zealand's dairying, said Mr Allan

One of the group planned a lecture on dairy cow reproduction to his country's national university. A veterinarian. he also expressed intereest in learning English and returning to New Zealand for post-graduate studies. Sales of two-year-old Friesian heifers were likely to result from the visit. k Mr Allan said. The breed was hardy and could cope with the high altitudes of Colombia. At present Colombia imported Friesians from the United States, said Mr Allan.

Interest had also been shown in the Sahwal breed which could tolerate the high temperatures of Colombia's lowland regions. Semen sales, as well as those of stock, were also likely, said Mr Allan.