Hereford extravaganza for world conference

Press, 2 September 1983, Page 19

Hereford extravaganza for world conference

Visitors to the Ninth World Hereford Conference, in Christchurch in April next year, will be treated to a comprehensive “mini A and P Show” during one day of the conference week. Wednesday, April 4, at the Addington Showgrounds, will be a practical and more relaxed break from the conference presentations of the rest of the week. Organiser of the show day, Mr lan Ford, who is also Canterbury branch president of the N.Z. Hereford Cattle Breeders’ Association, has released details of the programme. During the morning the anticipated 1000 overseas delegates and the many local breeders and interested people attending will see a formal cattle show. This is the only cattle show of the conference week, although overseas, visitors will be visiting studs around New Zealand

before and after the conference. Mr Ford is expecteing Hereford cattle from throughout New Zealand, the ones from the North Island lured by a negotiated reduction of 50 per cent in the cost of the ferry crossing. The competition will be organised in the 10 Royal Show classes and judged by three judges, two overseas and one New Zealander. . The classes will cover all ages from nine months to fully mature. Mr Ford said considerable sponsorship had been organised for each of the classes, capped by the presentation of a set of Rathgen electronic scales, worth $5OOO, for the supreme champion of the show. The main show competition will be open only to registered Hereford cattle: As announced recently,

the prime Hereford export steer competition will also be running during the morning. It will be run in two classes, 18 months and two-and-a-half years, and will be open to all Hereford steers. The judging of the export steer competition will take place, in the A and P Association’s portable cattle pens on the grass between the Canterbury Court and the main ring. The steers will be auctioned following the competition. Judging for the main show will take place in the show ring in front of the grandstand, starting at 9 a.m. and taking most of the morning. There will be a commentary over the loudspeakers with contributions from the judges. There are 19 member countries of the World Hereford Council and the world conference is only held every four years.