Ancient cattle breed promoted for N.Z.
PA Hamilton A French breed of cattle depicted in ancient cave paintings dating back more than 7000 years will be imported to a Waikato farm next month.
The dark cherry-red Salers, known for their easy calving, high fertility, and hybrid vigour have a great future in New Zealand, according to a Matangi farming couple, Bruce and Maree Weir. Both iber tf
. are members 01 the importing syndicate, South Pacific Salers. They expect their first heifer, costing several thousand dollars, to arrive from Australia some time in September. There was already an 11-month-old Saler bull at Cheviot. The potential of the Salers for cross-breeding
was arousing interest in New Zealand, said Mr Weir. Their ancient lineage, and native background of a damp, cold climate in France made them well suited to less harsh New Zealand conditions.
Already the Weirs have experimented, and this year 12 crossbred calves were born on their farm using semen straws from Canada with their Ayrshire cows. Their growth rate so far had been rapid, Mr Weir said. Born weighing an average of 35kg, the hand-reared calves were gaining about a kilogram a day while one left on the cow grew from 40kg to 90kg in 29 days. Promoters of Salers say their ability to calve easily is passed on to crossbreds, and 96 per
cent of Salers calve without any help. Salers also haVe a high conception rate. 'Of the cows tested in France, 95 per cent exposed to bulls were found to be in calf. Promoters say the breed has a minimum of back fat, large rib-eye area, and a high killingout percentage which produces a high-yielding carcase of good grade. The Weirs plan to use embryo transfer next year to produce a calf from their heifer and expand their herd from there. Mr Weir said they were “pretty confident” Salers would be a success 'in New Zealand. A New Zealand Salers development group had been established in Hamilton to bring farmers together and foster interest in the breed.
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Press, 12 September 1987, Page 34
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340Ancient cattle breed promoted for N.Z. Press, 12 September 1987, Page 34
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