Hereford
The Obvious Choice
This is extracted out of Theo Oosthuizen's book "Hereford" - part of the Cattle International Series
Economy of production and the quality of meat produced are the key factors to a successful future for our National and International Beef Industry and these attributes, combined with the Breed's thriftiness, hardiness, ease of calving and docility, are readily available in the Hereford
Economy of production and the quality of meat produced are the key factors to a successful future for our National and International Beef Industry and these attributes, combined with the Breed's thriftiness, hardiness, ease of calving and docility, are readily available in the Hereford
The Book
Supremacy in beef production
Herefords are known as the "white face" with the most potential.
More than 100 million pedigree Herefords exist in over 50 countries.
They have a great capacity to deal with grass or arable by-products and the breed and its crosses have the unique ability to winter rough, hold their flesh yet put on weight quicker than any other on pasture.
Having survived the intense competition from numerous continental breeds, it is the recognition of the Hereford's ability to produce quality beef economically.
You will discover:
- Origin of the Breed
- Traits and Breeding Standards
- Cattle Diseases
- Genetics and Feedlots
- International Influence
- Cattle Dictionary
---
I feel that our representation covers the purpose of the World Hereford Council well
Jan Wills - Secretary General - World Hereford Council
---
ISBN: 978-1-920284-01-5
Easthouse Publishing
Cape Town
2008
R190.00 + Postage & Packaging
Herefords are known as the "white face" with the most potential.
More than 100 million pedigree Herefords exist in over 50 countries.
They have a great capacity to deal with grass or arable by-products and the breed and its crosses have the unique ability to winter rough, hold their flesh yet put on weight quicker than any other on pasture.
Having survived the intense competition from numerous continental breeds, it is the recognition of the Hereford's ability to produce quality beef economically.
You will discover:
- Origin of the Breed
- Traits and Breeding Standards
- Cattle Diseases
- Genetics and Feedlots
- International Influence
- Cattle Dictionary
---
I feel that our representation covers the purpose of the World Hereford Council well
Jan Wills - Secretary General - World Hereford Council
---
ISBN: 978-1-920284-01-5
Easthouse Publishing
Cape Town
2008
R190.00 + Postage & Packaging
Forward
Dear Reader
Researching this breed over the past while has been a real delight.
This versatile breed is the leader in feedlot adaptability with the international influence of note. They have the capacity to convert grass into quality beef and winters well.
Approaching this project from a point of view, that anyone with an interest in the breed, to starting to farm with this breed, or looking at improving your breed through international developments – will find some new information to build to a better end product.
I have turned to resources and partnered with many around the world, to bring you an international overview, to see what the rest of the world is doing, and to build into making a stronger breed internationally, learning from people that has made a difference in one particular area, but needs to find a resource for another challenge. Using globalization to better our understanding and come together with a common goal, to make this breed great.
I hope that this will be a tool that will bridge the gap into a prosperous growing environment.
Researching this breed over the past while has been a real delight.
This versatile breed is the leader in feedlot adaptability with the international influence of note. They have the capacity to convert grass into quality beef and winters well.
Approaching this project from a point of view, that anyone with an interest in the breed, to starting to farm with this breed, or looking at improving your breed through international developments – will find some new information to build to a better end product.
I have turned to resources and partnered with many around the world, to bring you an international overview, to see what the rest of the world is doing, and to build into making a stronger breed internationally, learning from people that has made a difference in one particular area, but needs to find a resource for another challenge. Using globalization to better our understanding and come together with a common goal, to make this breed great.
I hope that this will be a tool that will bridge the gap into a prosperous growing environment.
Origin
Herefordshire
Surrounded by unspoilt countryside, the lively city of Hereford is a great place to work, live, explore and enjoy whatever the time of year.
You can meander down attractive alleyways and around our ancient courtyards. If shopping in our compact shopping centre you won't find just the 'same old shops'. There's a wealth of choice from local trades people including regular farmers markets. If your live locally or are just visiting for the day, www.hereford.uk.com is the gateway to the Herefordshire community.
Have a look inside our ancient Cathedral which stands on the banks of the river Wye. Close by in the cathedral library, you'll find two of Britain's most important treasures: the Medieval Mappa Mundi and the Chained Library, visit, and enjoy the beautiful countryside, the black and white villages and the bustling market towns.
You can meander down attractive alleyways and around our ancient courtyards. If shopping in our compact shopping centre you won't find just the 'same old shops'. There's a wealth of choice from local trades people including regular farmers markets. If your live locally or are just visiting for the day, www.hereford.uk.com is the gateway to the Herefordshire community.
Have a look inside our ancient Cathedral which stands on the banks of the river Wye. Close by in the cathedral library, you'll find two of Britain's most important treasures: the Medieval Mappa Mundi and the Chained Library, visit, and enjoy the beautiful countryside, the black and white villages and the bustling market towns.
History
Herefords are an ancient breed, kept in Herefordshire in western England for centuries. They gained their modern appearance around 1800 by crossing with cattle from Flanders. Originally, Herefords were large framed draught cattle, some weighing over 3 000 pounds. During the nineteenth century there was selective breeding fro early maturity, which entailed a reduction in the size of the frame.
The Hereford breed, as we know it today, originated during the mid 1700s along the eastern slope of the Welsh Mountains and the County of Herefordshire, England. Whatever may have been the character and type of the cattle in the Hereford area, the breed owes its development to the industrial revolution in Great Britain, which stimulated the growth of cities with a corresponding demand for beef for the workers.
Richard was a prosperous yeoman and owned the land that he farmed and lived on. This gave him an advantage over other Hereford breeders who were nearly all tenant farmers.
Richard Tomkins had built up a local reputation for breeding oxen with an aptitude to put on weight rapidly after their ploughing days were over, something which made them very valuable and much in demand by local graziers.
Richard’s son Benjamin was left 2 cows in his will – a dam named silver and her calf. Benjamin began his farming at the Court House in Canon Pyon in 1738. In 1758 he moved to Wellington Court where he lived until his death in 1779.
His working life extended over 50 years, long enough to have made considerable progress towards establishing beefing qualities that would eventually change the character of the Hereford from a plough ox to a butcher’s favourite. His son, also Benjamin, carried on his father’s work at nearby Black Hall from 1769.
While the Tomkins’ were building up a reputation for their Herefords, over in Leicester Robert Bakewell was winning considerable publicity for his longhorns. However, his success was short lived and resulted in the near extinction of the breed.
The elder Benjamin had left no record of his breeding policy but he was the friend of William Galliers of Wigmore Grange, another noted breeder, and the two men regularly visited each other to breed from one another’s stock.
Benjamin Tompkins, who in 1742 began a system of cattle breeding that exerted a great influence on the cattle in that part of the world. This is the first recorded history of selective breeding and planned matings for superior beef characteristics. The cattle bred by Tompkins over many years proved their superiority over other cattle at that time, and became very popular, dominating not only the home area, but over time, most of the great beef producing areas of the world.
Herefords were first imported to North America by Henry Clay, Kentucky, in 1817.
Frederick William Stone first came to Canada as a young man in 1931 and purchased 200 acres of land on the Puslinch Plains, south of where the city of Guelph now stands. He later established a store on Brock Road, and along with his store, he retained and operated his farm which he increased to 583 acres. In 1860 Mr. Stone returned to England where he attended the English Royal Show in Canterbury, and was greatly impressed with the quality of the Hereford cattle shown that year. He thought these cattle might be well suited to Canada, and upon learning that some top individuals were coming up for auction at a later date, commissioned his brother to purchase enough for a basic herd. The result of this action was the purchase of eight heifers and a yearling bull by the name of Patriot, from the very famous herd owned by Lord Bateman. It was noted at the time that the cattle imported by Mr. Stone were of the highest quality obtainable, and this explains, in part, why they and their descendants were able to play such a major role in the progress of the Hereford breed in Canada.
Up to this time, the vast majority of Hereford cattle were horned. Approximately 40 years later, in the late 1890s, a small group of breeders in the midwestern United States realized that it was both possible and practical to develop a polled or natural genetically hornless strain of Herefords. Historical records indicate the existence of naturally hornless beef cattle since the first description of civilization. Etchings and carvings in the pyramids of ancient Egypt show an occasional polled animal dating back nearly 4,000 years.
In 1898, an Iowa lawyer by the name of Warren Gammon of Des Moines, saw some Hereford cattle of the polled variety on exhibition at the Trans Mississippi International Exposition in Omaha, Nebraska. After conducting extensive research on the subject, Mr. Gammon sent inquiries in the year 1900 to 2,500 members of the American Hereford Association attempting to find some natural hornless purebred Hereford cattle. He received 1,500 replies from which he purchased 11 head. Included in these purchases was a bull bred by O.F. Nelson, Hiawatha, Kansas, whose name was Giant, a great, great grandson of Anxiety 4th. Giant is recognized as the foundation sire of all registered Polled Hereford cattle.
In Canada, following F.W. Stone as a pioneer breeder of registered Herefords, was Mossom Boyd, Bobcaygeon, ON. In the early 1880s, Mr. Boyd became interested in Herefords and was a close student of animal breeding. He worked exclusively with Horned Herefords until 1903 when he became interested in the work being carried on by Warren Gammon. He visited Mr. Gammon and arranged through him to purchase two Polled Hereford bulls. Such has been the popularity of Polled Hereford cattle that by January of 1973 their numbers had increased to more than three million head.
Today Horned and Polled Hereford cattle each make up about 50 per cent of the breed's population in Canada. Carefully selected matings by thousands of breeders over the past 100 years have resulted in a reputation throughout the world for the superior genetics offered by Canadian Hereford cattle. This reputation has resulted in extensive exportation of Canadian Hereford seedstock to countries throughout the world since the late 1950s and early 1960s. This worldwide interest continues today with ever increasing exports to developing countries in central Asia, as well as South America. Consistent purchasers of Canadian Herefords include the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and most western European countries.
The Hereford has evolved from the indigenous Red Cattle, which roamed the Welsh Border Counties and the Western extremities of England.
Over many generations the climate and clays together with the general poverty of Herefordshire meant that the main crop was grass, so the cattle that came out of the area were well adapted to an almost exclusively grass diet, which meant they were cheaper to keep.
In the 1700’s individual Herefords were starting to be selected for their beef characteristics rather than for those of a good plough ox. Herefords were sold a t numerous fairs, the largest one being the Hereford October Fair held in Hereford.
During the Napoleonic Wars (1792 – 1815) Herefords were fetching higher prices than some of the more popular breeds such as the Shorthorn, and there was an increased interest in the breed. The local farmers began to worry that soon all the best stock would be heading out of the county. Consequently, they refused to set up a Herd Book as had been done for other breeds to record the lineage of Hereford Cattle. They argued that to do so would impose a standard type on the breed and that the different varieties, all good strains in their own right, would disappear.
During the 1700’s and 1800’s documented records of the breed were maintained by various individuals in and around the Herefordshire area, leading to the publication of the first Herd Book of Hereford Cattle in 1846.
The publication of subsequent Herd Books passed through a number of hands until the formation of the Hereford Herd book Society on the 5th March 1878. In 1996 the Society changed its name to the Hereford Cattle Society.
The Society adopted the red-faced cattle as the breed standard as this breed seemed to contain most of the best cattle in the 1840’s.
There are now at least 25 countries around the World maintaining their own Hereford Cattle Records, the ancestry of each and every calf relating back to the cattle record within the early volumes of the Hereford Herd Book.
Most beef originally came from oxen that had already worked at the plough until 5 or 6 years old before being fattened for slaughter. In the course of time cows were bred with shorter legs giving more beef but making them unsuitable for ploughing.
As the Hereford became more established it faced competition from the Durham, or Shorthorn. This animal was a dual purpose breed – a dairy cow in the Midlands and West and beef breed fattened indoors in the North.
There are now more than 5 million pedigree Herefords in 50 countries around the World.
1700-1900
William Galliers is thought to have preferred the mottle-faced or tick-faced red cattle and these cattle were successful at agricultural shows with later generations of the family.
From 1745, when the Galliers founded their mottle-faced herd at Wigmore, until the 1920’s, their cattle maintained the same markings. Continuity was maintained in spite of a move from Wigmore to Wistaston in King’s Pyon and regardless of the fact that every other successful breeder had bred white faced Herefords since the third quarter of the 19th century.
Elsewhere in the country other families were breeding their herds. Before the middle of the 18th century a herd of the first importance and been established by the Tullys at Huntingon, a manor belonging to the Canons of Hereford Cathedral on the outskirts of the city. The Tully cattle were of immense size and also carried a great proportion of white colouring than other herds.
One red and white faced bull that the Tullys bred from produced grey or roan-faced calves but they were persuaded to keep them and these were the foundation of the famous ‘Tully Greys’, the line by which the Huntington herd is best remembered.
Of the Tully family T.C. Yeld wrote ‘Old Mr Tully left 3 sons in business at Huntington, Clyro and Grafton and these possessed by far the best of what could be called the white-faced Herefords…there is not a Hereford alive in the 20th century which cannot be proved to be a direct descendant of some of Mr Tully’s cattle’.
The Yeomans established a breed of Herefords at Thinghill before moving to Hownton Court, Kenderchurch in 1785. The family agreed with the Skyrmes of Stretton in preferring the lighter coloured red but prudently bowed to public demand and eventually bred this colour out of the herd. They share part of the credit for establishing the white face in the Hereford Breed.
James Turner began breeding Hereford cattle when he took Aymestrey Court in 1780. His female lines probably exerted more influence than any other.
The first recorded sale of Herefords occurred when John Galliers placed his father’s Wigmore Grange herd on the market on the 15th October 1795. No attempt was made to publicise the sale outside the county and apart from buyers from Wrexham, Diddlesbury and Gladestry all at the sale were local.
Due to the lack of outside interest Galliers cattle sold at Hereford prices, which reflected the poverty of the county. Only 27 cows and calves were sold out of 47 at an average price of £15 6s 0d.
Three of the buyers were James Turner of Aymestry Court, Thomas Jefferies of the Grove and Edward Jefferies of the Sheriffs, Lyonshall. There is a possibility that some of the female bloodline from James Turner’s stock still exists in the herd of Herefords at The Leen, Pembridge.
Herefords were still bred as prime cattle not fashionable breeds and in 1819 the average price at auction for 28 Prime Herefordshire Cattle of Benjamin Tomkins was £149. The Hereford was pre-eminent among the best breeds of the country.
The Hereford breed, as we know it today, originated during the mid 1700s along the eastern slope of the Welsh Mountains and the County of Herefordshire, England. Whatever may have been the character and type of the cattle in the Hereford area, the breed owes its development to the industrial revolution in Great Britain, which stimulated the growth of cities with a corresponding demand for beef for the workers.
Richard was a prosperous yeoman and owned the land that he farmed and lived on. This gave him an advantage over other Hereford breeders who were nearly all tenant farmers.
Richard Tomkins had built up a local reputation for breeding oxen with an aptitude to put on weight rapidly after their ploughing days were over, something which made them very valuable and much in demand by local graziers.
Richard’s son Benjamin was left 2 cows in his will – a dam named silver and her calf. Benjamin began his farming at the Court House in Canon Pyon in 1738. In 1758 he moved to Wellington Court where he lived until his death in 1779.
His working life extended over 50 years, long enough to have made considerable progress towards establishing beefing qualities that would eventually change the character of the Hereford from a plough ox to a butcher’s favourite. His son, also Benjamin, carried on his father’s work at nearby Black Hall from 1769.
While the Tomkins’ were building up a reputation for their Herefords, over in Leicester Robert Bakewell was winning considerable publicity for his longhorns. However, his success was short lived and resulted in the near extinction of the breed.
The elder Benjamin had left no record of his breeding policy but he was the friend of William Galliers of Wigmore Grange, another noted breeder, and the two men regularly visited each other to breed from one another’s stock.
Benjamin Tompkins, who in 1742 began a system of cattle breeding that exerted a great influence on the cattle in that part of the world. This is the first recorded history of selective breeding and planned matings for superior beef characteristics. The cattle bred by Tompkins over many years proved their superiority over other cattle at that time, and became very popular, dominating not only the home area, but over time, most of the great beef producing areas of the world.
Herefords were first imported to North America by Henry Clay, Kentucky, in 1817.
Frederick William Stone first came to Canada as a young man in 1931 and purchased 200 acres of land on the Puslinch Plains, south of where the city of Guelph now stands. He later established a store on Brock Road, and along with his store, he retained and operated his farm which he increased to 583 acres. In 1860 Mr. Stone returned to England where he attended the English Royal Show in Canterbury, and was greatly impressed with the quality of the Hereford cattle shown that year. He thought these cattle might be well suited to Canada, and upon learning that some top individuals were coming up for auction at a later date, commissioned his brother to purchase enough for a basic herd. The result of this action was the purchase of eight heifers and a yearling bull by the name of Patriot, from the very famous herd owned by Lord Bateman. It was noted at the time that the cattle imported by Mr. Stone were of the highest quality obtainable, and this explains, in part, why they and their descendants were able to play such a major role in the progress of the Hereford breed in Canada.
Up to this time, the vast majority of Hereford cattle were horned. Approximately 40 years later, in the late 1890s, a small group of breeders in the midwestern United States realized that it was both possible and practical to develop a polled or natural genetically hornless strain of Herefords. Historical records indicate the existence of naturally hornless beef cattle since the first description of civilization. Etchings and carvings in the pyramids of ancient Egypt show an occasional polled animal dating back nearly 4,000 years.
In 1898, an Iowa lawyer by the name of Warren Gammon of Des Moines, saw some Hereford cattle of the polled variety on exhibition at the Trans Mississippi International Exposition in Omaha, Nebraska. After conducting extensive research on the subject, Mr. Gammon sent inquiries in the year 1900 to 2,500 members of the American Hereford Association attempting to find some natural hornless purebred Hereford cattle. He received 1,500 replies from which he purchased 11 head. Included in these purchases was a bull bred by O.F. Nelson, Hiawatha, Kansas, whose name was Giant, a great, great grandson of Anxiety 4th. Giant is recognized as the foundation sire of all registered Polled Hereford cattle.
In Canada, following F.W. Stone as a pioneer breeder of registered Herefords, was Mossom Boyd, Bobcaygeon, ON. In the early 1880s, Mr. Boyd became interested in Herefords and was a close student of animal breeding. He worked exclusively with Horned Herefords until 1903 when he became interested in the work being carried on by Warren Gammon. He visited Mr. Gammon and arranged through him to purchase two Polled Hereford bulls. Such has been the popularity of Polled Hereford cattle that by January of 1973 their numbers had increased to more than three million head.
Today Horned and Polled Hereford cattle each make up about 50 per cent of the breed's population in Canada. Carefully selected matings by thousands of breeders over the past 100 years have resulted in a reputation throughout the world for the superior genetics offered by Canadian Hereford cattle. This reputation has resulted in extensive exportation of Canadian Hereford seedstock to countries throughout the world since the late 1950s and early 1960s. This worldwide interest continues today with ever increasing exports to developing countries in central Asia, as well as South America. Consistent purchasers of Canadian Herefords include the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and most western European countries.
The Hereford has evolved from the indigenous Red Cattle, which roamed the Welsh Border Counties and the Western extremities of England.
Over many generations the climate and clays together with the general poverty of Herefordshire meant that the main crop was grass, so the cattle that came out of the area were well adapted to an almost exclusively grass diet, which meant they were cheaper to keep.
In the 1700’s individual Herefords were starting to be selected for their beef characteristics rather than for those of a good plough ox. Herefords were sold a t numerous fairs, the largest one being the Hereford October Fair held in Hereford.
During the Napoleonic Wars (1792 – 1815) Herefords were fetching higher prices than some of the more popular breeds such as the Shorthorn, and there was an increased interest in the breed. The local farmers began to worry that soon all the best stock would be heading out of the county. Consequently, they refused to set up a Herd Book as had been done for other breeds to record the lineage of Hereford Cattle. They argued that to do so would impose a standard type on the breed and that the different varieties, all good strains in their own right, would disappear.
During the 1700’s and 1800’s documented records of the breed were maintained by various individuals in and around the Herefordshire area, leading to the publication of the first Herd Book of Hereford Cattle in 1846.
The publication of subsequent Herd Books passed through a number of hands until the formation of the Hereford Herd book Society on the 5th March 1878. In 1996 the Society changed its name to the Hereford Cattle Society.
The Society adopted the red-faced cattle as the breed standard as this breed seemed to contain most of the best cattle in the 1840’s.
There are now at least 25 countries around the World maintaining their own Hereford Cattle Records, the ancestry of each and every calf relating back to the cattle record within the early volumes of the Hereford Herd Book.
Most beef originally came from oxen that had already worked at the plough until 5 or 6 years old before being fattened for slaughter. In the course of time cows were bred with shorter legs giving more beef but making them unsuitable for ploughing.
As the Hereford became more established it faced competition from the Durham, or Shorthorn. This animal was a dual purpose breed – a dairy cow in the Midlands and West and beef breed fattened indoors in the North.
There are now more than 5 million pedigree Herefords in 50 countries around the World.
1700-1900
William Galliers is thought to have preferred the mottle-faced or tick-faced red cattle and these cattle were successful at agricultural shows with later generations of the family.
From 1745, when the Galliers founded their mottle-faced herd at Wigmore, until the 1920’s, their cattle maintained the same markings. Continuity was maintained in spite of a move from Wigmore to Wistaston in King’s Pyon and regardless of the fact that every other successful breeder had bred white faced Herefords since the third quarter of the 19th century.
Elsewhere in the country other families were breeding their herds. Before the middle of the 18th century a herd of the first importance and been established by the Tullys at Huntingon, a manor belonging to the Canons of Hereford Cathedral on the outskirts of the city. The Tully cattle were of immense size and also carried a great proportion of white colouring than other herds.
One red and white faced bull that the Tullys bred from produced grey or roan-faced calves but they were persuaded to keep them and these were the foundation of the famous ‘Tully Greys’, the line by which the Huntington herd is best remembered.
Of the Tully family T.C. Yeld wrote ‘Old Mr Tully left 3 sons in business at Huntington, Clyro and Grafton and these possessed by far the best of what could be called the white-faced Herefords…there is not a Hereford alive in the 20th century which cannot be proved to be a direct descendant of some of Mr Tully’s cattle’.
The Yeomans established a breed of Herefords at Thinghill before moving to Hownton Court, Kenderchurch in 1785. The family agreed with the Skyrmes of Stretton in preferring the lighter coloured red but prudently bowed to public demand and eventually bred this colour out of the herd. They share part of the credit for establishing the white face in the Hereford Breed.
James Turner began breeding Hereford cattle when he took Aymestrey Court in 1780. His female lines probably exerted more influence than any other.
The first recorded sale of Herefords occurred when John Galliers placed his father’s Wigmore Grange herd on the market on the 15th October 1795. No attempt was made to publicise the sale outside the county and apart from buyers from Wrexham, Diddlesbury and Gladestry all at the sale were local.
Due to the lack of outside interest Galliers cattle sold at Hereford prices, which reflected the poverty of the county. Only 27 cows and calves were sold out of 47 at an average price of £15 6s 0d.
Three of the buyers were James Turner of Aymestry Court, Thomas Jefferies of the Grove and Edward Jefferies of the Sheriffs, Lyonshall. There is a possibility that some of the female bloodline from James Turner’s stock still exists in the herd of Herefords at The Leen, Pembridge.
Herefords were still bred as prime cattle not fashionable breeds and in 1819 the average price at auction for 28 Prime Herefordshire Cattle of Benjamin Tomkins was £149. The Hereford was pre-eminent among the best breeds of the country.
Breed Promotion
If Herefordshire farmers had been left in charge of the promotion of the Hereford breed it would probably have gained no more than a local reputation. Fortunately for the breed it had supporters elsewhere.
Mr J.H. Campbell of Charlton, Kent, wrote 2 papers for the ‘Annals of Agriculture’ on Herefords between 1790 and 1792.
In 1880 the Duke of Bedford visited Hereford at the time of the Easter Cattle Fair. On his arrival in Hereford the Duke invited 100 breeders and dealers to dine with him at the Green Dragon. He explained to the men that he and Lord Berners intended to buy breeding stocks of the very finest quality so that herds of Herefords could be founded at Woburn Abbey and on the Midland estate of Lord Berners.
The Herefordshire farmers were not so enthusiastic, but the Tullys, Skyrmes and several others were persuaded that it was in their interest to work with the Duke. The dealers complained as this put the prices up by £1 per head.
In 1797 the Herefordshire Agricultural Society was founded with the Earl of Oxford as President and Mr. T.A. Knight as Vice President. This gave local breeders the chance to indulge in local competition. Competition on a more National scale had to wait until the founding of the Royal Agricultural Society of England in 1839.
The policy of the Royal Society of moving their show every year to one or other of the principal cities in the kingdom broke down the self-imposed barriers which had confined Hereford breeder to the county borders.
In 1816, 1818 and 1819 huge prices were reached for Hereford cattle at sales and this led to demands for the registration of breeds from buyers. The lack of registration of Herefords led to the loss of many wealthy dealers and the rival Shorthorn breed was able to increase its popularity as they had had a herd book since 1822.
The cost of an uncontrolled market in Herefords became clear in 1833 when the US Hereford Herd Book included a rule that ‘all Herefords imported into America after that date should be accepted for registration if the sire or dam of such importations were recorded in volume 13 of the English Herd Book’. This was because the Americans believed that Briton was sending them inferior stock to keep up with demand
The first volume of the Hereford Herd book was published in 1846 by Mr T. Eyton of Wellington, Shropshire. Face colour still varied and critics queried the purity of origin of coloured-faced cattle. In the end Hereford breeders surrendered to a purely white faced breed of cattle.
In the first volume 551 bulls were entered by 75 breeders. Six years later the 2nd volume was published with an additional 350 bulls. Mr Eyton announced his intention to cease publication and the fate of the Hereford Herd Book remained in the balance until 1857, when it was agreed that Thomas Duckham of Baysham Court should be asked to publish it on an annual basis. This also led to the stipulation that a fee of 11s be paid for each head of stock entered.
On the 5th March 1878 the Hereford Herd Book Society was incorporated. Her Majesty Queen Victoria was the first patron, Mr. J.H. Arkwright of Hampton Court was the first President and the Earl of Coventry the first Vice President. Mr S. W. Urwick was appointed secretary.
In the 1870’s and 1880’s there was an interest in Herefords from America, especially from the ranch areas of the far west prairies.
In 1886 the Herd Book was closed to any animal that wasn’t the offspring of any sire or dam already entered.
Hereford Exports
During the period between 1900-1917 Hereford cattle were exported to Australia, America, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, British East Africa, South America, Russia and even Japan.
The export of Hereford cattle to South America during World War I continued using neutral ships.
The peak export years were 1903 (312), 1906 (340), 1913 (383) and 1916 (532). The total number of exportation certificates issued by the Society between 1902 and 1918 were 4150. All this from a body with a total membership of less than 450 (1/10 of what it was in the 1970’s).
By 1908 Shorthorns comprised 2/3 of all cattle in the UK. Various breeders attempted to cross the Hereford with the Shorthorn but the offspring, though satisfactory from a dairy point of view, were not exceptional beef cows. Consequently the Shorthorn and other Shorthorn crosses began to oust the Hereford. The Shorthorn fattened more quickly than the Hereford outdoors but this also gave rise to complaints that the Shorthorn meat was over fatty and the taste affected by the oilcake used to fatten it.
1920-1929: High Standards and Low Prices
The demand for Hereford cattle to be exported abroad protected the pedigree breeders from the worst effects of the ‘beef war’ in which the meat packing companies of South America, the US, Australia and New Zealand were competing with each other for the control of the English meat market. Demand for pedigree stock from these countries in order to increase their output was considerable, especially in Argentina.
At home the average price for the 3264 bulls sold between 1921 and 1930 was £50.
There were outbreaks of foot and mouth, which led to the slaughter of some herds and many foreign ports were closed to the import of English livestock in the 1920’s.
There was also a risk from contagious abortion or Brucellosis.
Pedigree farmers also suffered alongside commercial farmers when the market was flooded with cheap imports from the meat markets of Smithfield and Birmingham.
For a time pride and government subsidies preserved the Herefords but within 30 years they were forced to surrender to Friesians from north-west Germany and gradually these black and white cows took over the pastures.
In 1928 the fall in prices of pedigree cattle continued, the average price for bulls at the Society's Spring Sales was £43 (the lowest in the 1920’s), however the export trade did improve.
1930-1939
These years saw the deepening trade depression, which culminated in the financial disasters of 1931 and ended with the outbreak of World War 2.
In 1930 the Hereford Herd Book Society discontinued the publication of the annual Hereford Breed Journal, which had first appeared in 1923. In 1936 a streamlined version was published.
At the Hereford Spring Shows and Sales and average price of £50 was reached and 250 Exportation Certificates were issued.
1931 saw the collapse of the share markets in New York and London, and the start of the depression. At the Hereford Spring Shows and Sales the average price was as low as £36. The number of Export Certificates also fell, although the varied destinations of Italy, Morocco and Transvaal offered hopes of new markets.
The collapse of the export trade and the invasion of chilled and frozen beef from abroad forced many of the post-war breeders to put their herds on the market.
The export trade was given a boost in 1932 by purchases on a large scale by the Russian Government with no less than 390 out of 420 Export Certificates going to the Soviet Union.
In 1933 currency restrictions depressed the export market and only 32 certificates were issued – 23 to South America, 7 to Australia and 2 to South Africa. The following an unusually severe drought added to the problems already faced by the Hereford breeders.
1938: A deterioration in mainland Europe led to an upward trend for all livestock. The average price for a Hereford was £52 5s 0d. Exports also improved with the majority going to Argentina and the remainder to Australia, Southern Rhodesia and British Guyana.
The 2nd World War had put pressure on farmers to produce arable crops as a priority and so only the second rate pasture was available to cattle. This led to the slaughter of many cattle, but the Hereford with its superb ability to exist and thrive on grass alone was much in demand.
1940-1949
Herefordshire took some time to adjust to the effects of the total war situation brought about by World War 2. A county traditionally devoted to flocks and herds found it hard to comprehend the nation’s food supply was threatened and the orders to plough up fields, which had lain untouched for centuries, were not well received. Eventually the county was covered with wheat and barley.
For the pedigree breeders, the smaller acreage of grassland meant the necessity of weeding out all the second-rate breeding stock. All showing of livestock, local and national, was discontinued. The demand for meat was greater than ever, the Hereford as the supreme converter of grass to beef met an unprecedented demand from all the country as the best crossing bull to produce beef steers from dairy cows.
The three Spring Sales and Shows of 1940 were the first held by the Society since the outbreak of war and trade was quiet. There was a considerable, though temporary, rise in the export figures with 175 out of the 230 issued going to Russia. The following year the number of export certificates fell to only 23, all to Argentina. In 1943 they had dropped further to only 6, all to Uruguay or Argentina.
The severe winter of 1945 meant an absence of bulls at the first Spring Show and Sale and the 50 bulls sold reached an average of £258 8s.
1950-1959
At the first Show and Sale in February the average price for bulls was £280. In Europe new territories for the Hereford were opened up by sales to Norway, Switzerland and Northern Italy.
In 1951 an International Conference was held at Hereford Town Hall under the Chairmanship of Sir R.C.G. Cotterell. Delegates came from Argentine, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Uruguay and the USA. This gathering would become known as the World Hereford Conference.
During 1951, 300 Export Certificates were issued. Israel accounted for 200 of these, purchased by its government for £15,000. 80% of these were pedigree and the rest pure breed.
The first steps towards breeding polled (hornless) Herefords in the UK was taken about 1950 and in 1955 Herefords were being imported from New Zealand to supplement the stock.
In 1956 the 2nd World Hereford Conference was held in Buenos Aires in July. Television cameras visited Hereford on the 17th October to record the centenary celebrations of the Cattle Market. The Hereford Herd Book Society arranged a show and parade of Hereford cattle. 195 Export Certificates were issued. Countries not previously supplied included Hungary, Pakistan and Yugoslavia. There was a decline in exports to Argentine and Uruguay and a marked increase in exports to Australia.
On Wednesday 24th April the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to Hereford Cattle Market. 197 Export Certificates were issued but there were further reductions in the numbers sent to Argentina and Uruguay due to the devaluation of the peso against the pound, which doubled the price of British livestock.
Also in the 1950’s there were renewed exports to America to combat dwarfism in their stock.
1960-1969
The 3rd World Hereford Conference was held in Kansas, Missouri, and USA. There were 210 Export Certificates issued, but an outbreak of Foot & Mouth was affecting trade.
In spite of the continued ban of exports to Australia and New Zealand, due to Foot & Mouth, the export level for 1961 remained steady at 211. The following year it had risen to 323.
In 1964 the 4th World Hereford Conference was held in the Aberdeen Hall of the Evesham Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Delegates from America, Argentina, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Uruguay and South Africa. This was also the year of the largest shipment of Herefords purchased by a private individual this century. A 44/52 head of Herefords left Liverpool in August for Porto Alegre in Brazil. They had been purchased by a Dr. Assis Chateaubriand.
In 1965 the Princess Royal, patron for the Hereford Herd Book Society died and a record average of £502 was achieved at the January Sale and Show. 255 cattle were exported with the market expanded to include Denmark, Japan and Turkey.
Early snowfall in November 1965 led to reduced numbers at the January 1966 Show and Sale.
On the 23rd October 1967, Foot & Mouth was identified on a farm in Shropshire. 2,364 outbreaks were confirmed and 211,300 cattle and 103,600 sheep were slaughtered. Compensation was estimated to reach 26 million. Export figures were at 469 but would have been double if the Russians had not cancelled their order due to Foot & Mouth.
The Society’s first sale in 1968 was held in March after Foot & Mouth had cancelled the previous November’s and January’s. The average price paid for a bull was £276. The 5th World Hereford Conference was held in Sydney, Australia. New elected members were Mexico, Portugal and Spain.
In 1969 export figures were at 564, the highest of the decade. The majority went to South Africa, Sweden and Denmark.
Mr J.H. Campbell of Charlton, Kent, wrote 2 papers for the ‘Annals of Agriculture’ on Herefords between 1790 and 1792.
In 1880 the Duke of Bedford visited Hereford at the time of the Easter Cattle Fair. On his arrival in Hereford the Duke invited 100 breeders and dealers to dine with him at the Green Dragon. He explained to the men that he and Lord Berners intended to buy breeding stocks of the very finest quality so that herds of Herefords could be founded at Woburn Abbey and on the Midland estate of Lord Berners.
The Herefordshire farmers were not so enthusiastic, but the Tullys, Skyrmes and several others were persuaded that it was in their interest to work with the Duke. The dealers complained as this put the prices up by £1 per head.
In 1797 the Herefordshire Agricultural Society was founded with the Earl of Oxford as President and Mr. T.A. Knight as Vice President. This gave local breeders the chance to indulge in local competition. Competition on a more National scale had to wait until the founding of the Royal Agricultural Society of England in 1839.
The policy of the Royal Society of moving their show every year to one or other of the principal cities in the kingdom broke down the self-imposed barriers which had confined Hereford breeder to the county borders.
In 1816, 1818 and 1819 huge prices were reached for Hereford cattle at sales and this led to demands for the registration of breeds from buyers. The lack of registration of Herefords led to the loss of many wealthy dealers and the rival Shorthorn breed was able to increase its popularity as they had had a herd book since 1822.
The cost of an uncontrolled market in Herefords became clear in 1833 when the US Hereford Herd Book included a rule that ‘all Herefords imported into America after that date should be accepted for registration if the sire or dam of such importations were recorded in volume 13 of the English Herd Book’. This was because the Americans believed that Briton was sending them inferior stock to keep up with demand
The first volume of the Hereford Herd book was published in 1846 by Mr T. Eyton of Wellington, Shropshire. Face colour still varied and critics queried the purity of origin of coloured-faced cattle. In the end Hereford breeders surrendered to a purely white faced breed of cattle.
In the first volume 551 bulls were entered by 75 breeders. Six years later the 2nd volume was published with an additional 350 bulls. Mr Eyton announced his intention to cease publication and the fate of the Hereford Herd Book remained in the balance until 1857, when it was agreed that Thomas Duckham of Baysham Court should be asked to publish it on an annual basis. This also led to the stipulation that a fee of 11s be paid for each head of stock entered.
On the 5th March 1878 the Hereford Herd Book Society was incorporated. Her Majesty Queen Victoria was the first patron, Mr. J.H. Arkwright of Hampton Court was the first President and the Earl of Coventry the first Vice President. Mr S. W. Urwick was appointed secretary.
In the 1870’s and 1880’s there was an interest in Herefords from America, especially from the ranch areas of the far west prairies.
In 1886 the Herd Book was closed to any animal that wasn’t the offspring of any sire or dam already entered.
Hereford Exports
During the period between 1900-1917 Hereford cattle were exported to Australia, America, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, British East Africa, South America, Russia and even Japan.
The export of Hereford cattle to South America during World War I continued using neutral ships.
The peak export years were 1903 (312), 1906 (340), 1913 (383) and 1916 (532). The total number of exportation certificates issued by the Society between 1902 and 1918 were 4150. All this from a body with a total membership of less than 450 (1/10 of what it was in the 1970’s).
By 1908 Shorthorns comprised 2/3 of all cattle in the UK. Various breeders attempted to cross the Hereford with the Shorthorn but the offspring, though satisfactory from a dairy point of view, were not exceptional beef cows. Consequently the Shorthorn and other Shorthorn crosses began to oust the Hereford. The Shorthorn fattened more quickly than the Hereford outdoors but this also gave rise to complaints that the Shorthorn meat was over fatty and the taste affected by the oilcake used to fatten it.
1920-1929: High Standards and Low Prices
The demand for Hereford cattle to be exported abroad protected the pedigree breeders from the worst effects of the ‘beef war’ in which the meat packing companies of South America, the US, Australia and New Zealand were competing with each other for the control of the English meat market. Demand for pedigree stock from these countries in order to increase their output was considerable, especially in Argentina.
At home the average price for the 3264 bulls sold between 1921 and 1930 was £50.
There were outbreaks of foot and mouth, which led to the slaughter of some herds and many foreign ports were closed to the import of English livestock in the 1920’s.
There was also a risk from contagious abortion or Brucellosis.
Pedigree farmers also suffered alongside commercial farmers when the market was flooded with cheap imports from the meat markets of Smithfield and Birmingham.
For a time pride and government subsidies preserved the Herefords but within 30 years they were forced to surrender to Friesians from north-west Germany and gradually these black and white cows took over the pastures.
In 1928 the fall in prices of pedigree cattle continued, the average price for bulls at the Society's Spring Sales was £43 (the lowest in the 1920’s), however the export trade did improve.
1930-1939
These years saw the deepening trade depression, which culminated in the financial disasters of 1931 and ended with the outbreak of World War 2.
In 1930 the Hereford Herd Book Society discontinued the publication of the annual Hereford Breed Journal, which had first appeared in 1923. In 1936 a streamlined version was published.
At the Hereford Spring Shows and Sales and average price of £50 was reached and 250 Exportation Certificates were issued.
1931 saw the collapse of the share markets in New York and London, and the start of the depression. At the Hereford Spring Shows and Sales the average price was as low as £36. The number of Export Certificates also fell, although the varied destinations of Italy, Morocco and Transvaal offered hopes of new markets.
The collapse of the export trade and the invasion of chilled and frozen beef from abroad forced many of the post-war breeders to put their herds on the market.
The export trade was given a boost in 1932 by purchases on a large scale by the Russian Government with no less than 390 out of 420 Export Certificates going to the Soviet Union.
In 1933 currency restrictions depressed the export market and only 32 certificates were issued – 23 to South America, 7 to Australia and 2 to South Africa. The following an unusually severe drought added to the problems already faced by the Hereford breeders.
1938: A deterioration in mainland Europe led to an upward trend for all livestock. The average price for a Hereford was £52 5s 0d. Exports also improved with the majority going to Argentina and the remainder to Australia, Southern Rhodesia and British Guyana.
The 2nd World War had put pressure on farmers to produce arable crops as a priority and so only the second rate pasture was available to cattle. This led to the slaughter of many cattle, but the Hereford with its superb ability to exist and thrive on grass alone was much in demand.
1940-1949
Herefordshire took some time to adjust to the effects of the total war situation brought about by World War 2. A county traditionally devoted to flocks and herds found it hard to comprehend the nation’s food supply was threatened and the orders to plough up fields, which had lain untouched for centuries, were not well received. Eventually the county was covered with wheat and barley.
For the pedigree breeders, the smaller acreage of grassland meant the necessity of weeding out all the second-rate breeding stock. All showing of livestock, local and national, was discontinued. The demand for meat was greater than ever, the Hereford as the supreme converter of grass to beef met an unprecedented demand from all the country as the best crossing bull to produce beef steers from dairy cows.
The three Spring Sales and Shows of 1940 were the first held by the Society since the outbreak of war and trade was quiet. There was a considerable, though temporary, rise in the export figures with 175 out of the 230 issued going to Russia. The following year the number of export certificates fell to only 23, all to Argentina. In 1943 they had dropped further to only 6, all to Uruguay or Argentina.
The severe winter of 1945 meant an absence of bulls at the first Spring Show and Sale and the 50 bulls sold reached an average of £258 8s.
1950-1959
At the first Show and Sale in February the average price for bulls was £280. In Europe new territories for the Hereford were opened up by sales to Norway, Switzerland and Northern Italy.
In 1951 an International Conference was held at Hereford Town Hall under the Chairmanship of Sir R.C.G. Cotterell. Delegates came from Argentine, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Uruguay and the USA. This gathering would become known as the World Hereford Conference.
During 1951, 300 Export Certificates were issued. Israel accounted for 200 of these, purchased by its government for £15,000. 80% of these were pedigree and the rest pure breed.
The first steps towards breeding polled (hornless) Herefords in the UK was taken about 1950 and in 1955 Herefords were being imported from New Zealand to supplement the stock.
In 1956 the 2nd World Hereford Conference was held in Buenos Aires in July. Television cameras visited Hereford on the 17th October to record the centenary celebrations of the Cattle Market. The Hereford Herd Book Society arranged a show and parade of Hereford cattle. 195 Export Certificates were issued. Countries not previously supplied included Hungary, Pakistan and Yugoslavia. There was a decline in exports to Argentine and Uruguay and a marked increase in exports to Australia.
On Wednesday 24th April the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to Hereford Cattle Market. 197 Export Certificates were issued but there were further reductions in the numbers sent to Argentina and Uruguay due to the devaluation of the peso against the pound, which doubled the price of British livestock.
Also in the 1950’s there were renewed exports to America to combat dwarfism in their stock.
1960-1969
The 3rd World Hereford Conference was held in Kansas, Missouri, and USA. There were 210 Export Certificates issued, but an outbreak of Foot & Mouth was affecting trade.
In spite of the continued ban of exports to Australia and New Zealand, due to Foot & Mouth, the export level for 1961 remained steady at 211. The following year it had risen to 323.
In 1964 the 4th World Hereford Conference was held in the Aberdeen Hall of the Evesham Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Delegates from America, Argentina, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Uruguay and South Africa. This was also the year of the largest shipment of Herefords purchased by a private individual this century. A 44/52 head of Herefords left Liverpool in August for Porto Alegre in Brazil. They had been purchased by a Dr. Assis Chateaubriand.
In 1965 the Princess Royal, patron for the Hereford Herd Book Society died and a record average of £502 was achieved at the January Sale and Show. 255 cattle were exported with the market expanded to include Denmark, Japan and Turkey.
Early snowfall in November 1965 led to reduced numbers at the January 1966 Show and Sale.
On the 23rd October 1967, Foot & Mouth was identified on a farm in Shropshire. 2,364 outbreaks were confirmed and 211,300 cattle and 103,600 sheep were slaughtered. Compensation was estimated to reach 26 million. Export figures were at 469 but would have been double if the Russians had not cancelled their order due to Foot & Mouth.
The Society’s first sale in 1968 was held in March after Foot & Mouth had cancelled the previous November’s and January’s. The average price paid for a bull was £276. The 5th World Hereford Conference was held in Sydney, Australia. New elected members were Mexico, Portugal and Spain.
In 1969 export figures were at 564, the highest of the decade. The majority went to South Africa, Sweden and Denmark.
Timeline
1723
Death of R Tomkins May 6th. Benjamin Tomkins (The Elder), born 1714 succeeds under his father's will to the cow Silver with her calf.
1769
Benjamin (The Younger) takes Blackhall, Kings Pyon. At this time father and son occupied four farms, together 840 acres.
1775
Herefords introduced into Co. Westmeath, Ireland, by Mr Richard Reynall.
1779
William Galliers of Wigmore Grange died, aged 66, his herd passing to his son, John Galliers; his other son, also William, became a famous breeder of Herefords, winning thirteen cups for his cattle from the Hereford Agricultural Society between 1802-1815.
1789
Rural Economy of the West of England published by W Marshall. The markings of the Hereford are described; its colour of a middle red with a bald face, the last being an esteemed characteristic of the true Hereford Breed. Benjamin the Elder died and Benjamin the Younger went to Wellington Court.
1795
Sale of Herefords belonging to John Galliers, Wigmore Grange. Prices and buyers' names were recorded at this first ever documented sale of the breed.
1797
Herefordshire Agricultural Society founded.
1799
Champion Prize won at first Smithfield Show by Mr John Westcar of Onslow, Buckingham, with Hereford ox, bred by a Mr Tully of Huntingdon. The animal was six years old and weighed 2,198 lbs. It changed hands for 100 guineas.
1806
A Silver cow bred by Mr George Tomkins, nephew of Benjamin The Younger was calved. This cow was painted by Wheeler. The importance attached to the Silver strain is clearly shown.
1808
Sale of Mr Gwillim's herd at Purslow Hall. Sale average for cows; £ 65. 3s. 6d. Top price for a cow and calf; L225.
1812
Challenge by Mr Price of Ryall to show 20 of his Hereford cows in milk against 20 Longhorn cows. Challenge accepted by a Mr Meek and decided in Mr Price's favour.
1813
Mr Price of Ryall had a sale of his stock which realised high prices, the total being £ 4,134
1815
Benjamin The Younger dies.
1816
On October 17th and 18th, Mr John Price held an extensive sale at Ryall; 116 head averaged £58.0s.0d, in total £ 6,728. The stock was described as being wholly descended from that of Benjamin Tomkins. His bull Wellington (160) was sold to Mr M Jellicoe for £ 283.
1817
Exportation to the United States, two pairs of Herefords by the Hon. Henry Clay of Kentucky.
1824
The bull Sir Isaac bred by Mr J G Cotterell, Garnons, presented to the Massachusetts Society by Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin.
1825
First Herefords exported to Australia.
1836
Hereford bull Cotmore (376) calved. Bred by T Jeffries and acknowledged the greatest bull ever produced to that day. His weight at 9 years was 3,920 lbs.
1838
Youatt's book on cattle shows that Herefords were the predominant breed in 15 English and Welsh counties.
1839
Miss Tomkins' final sale. First Royal Show at Oxford. Devons, Herefords and Shorthorns were the only breeds shown. First prize for best cow in milk won by Hereford. Cotmore wins first prize. Hereford ox, bred and exhibited by Mr Joseph Hill of Collington, weighed 3,600 lbs. Mr W H Sotham made his first imports of Herefords to America.
1841
Mr Price's third sale on October 15th; 99 head averaged £ 56 16s 4d, in total £ 5,328. He considered this his best sale. The three sales; in 1813, in 1816 and in 1841, realised in total £ 16,690. Mr Price was presented with his portrait. This now hangs in the Society's boardroom.
1843
Death of Mr J Price.
1846
Mr T C Eyton of Donnerville, Wellington, Salop, published the first Herd Book.
1849
Sir David (349), probably the most famous Hereford sire, shown by Mr Edward Price, Court House, Pembridge, wins first prize at Norwich Royal Show. He sired Sir Benjamin who sired Sir Thomas, the sire of Sir Roger who sired Lord Wilton.
1852
Second volume of Eyton's Herd Book published.
1856
Mr W C Powell of Hereford bought Eyton's copyright in the Herd Book and published first part of third volume.
1857
Herefordshire Agricultural Society bought the Herd Book copyright from Mr Powell's executors, following his death, for ten pounds. It was bought for the same sum by Mr Thomas Duckham, who continued to publish until 1878.
1865
Outbreak of cattle plague. Royal Show cancelled until 1868.
1866
Sir Benjamin (2228) bought by Mr Benjamin Rogers for £ 409 10s 0d.
1867
Horace (3877), one of the most impressive sires ever calved, bred by Mr J Davies of Preston Court, used by Mr J Price of the Court House, Pembridge. His rare wealth of flesh and magnificent quality were carried through successive generations. His strain was used with that of Regulus, another highly successful Court House bull. Sale of Mr Edward Price's cattle at Court House. Highest price paid for the bull Paragon.
1873
New South Wales Agricultural Society published first volume of their Herd Book, in which 152 Herefords and their produce were entered. The celebrated bull Lord Wilton calved 30th August, bred by Mr W Tudge, Adforton, sold to Mr L Lloyd, Addington, and Surrey.
1875
Lord Wilton wins Royal and other major Shows.
1877
Exhibits of Herefords at Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition created great impression and led to wide extension of the breed in the United States.
1878
Hereford Herd Book Society founded under the patronage of Queen Victoria.
1879
Mr Carwardine buys Lord Wilton at Kilburn Royal Show from Mr Lloyd.
1880
Volume 1 of the American Hereford Book published.
1881
The bull Anxiety (5188), bred by Mr T J C Carwardine, Stocktonbury, Leominster was exported to the United States where he was bought by Mr Culbertson. Anxiety sired a number of important bulls including Anxiety 3rd (4466) and Anxiety 5th (9904), afterwards famous in the herds of Mr Clarke, Mr Gudgell and Mr Simpson.
1882
Mr Thomas Clarke ships 152 Herefords in one lot to New York
1884
Death of William H Sotham, for 50 years the champion of Herefords in the United States. Stocktonbury Sale, when Lord Wilton was sold for £ 3,990.
1886
MacDonald and Sinclair's History of Hereford Cattle published. This carefully prepared volume showed that there were two Benjamin Tomkins, father and son.
1890
Australian Hereford Herd Book Society inaugurated.
1898
New Zealand Cattle Breeders' Association formed.
1900
The bull Protector (19660) bred by Mr Allen Hughes, sold for £ 1200 by Mr C T Pulley, to the United States.
1901
Sale for Mr W Tudge of Leinthall; average £53 pounds; total £4,1519. Sale for Mr John Price, Court House, Pembridge; average £54; total £9,152. King Edward VII becomes patron of the Society.
1902
History of Hereford Cattle, written by Mr T L Miller, published by T F B Sotham, Cillicote, Missouri, USA. 202 head exported in one shipment to Mr Armour of Kansas City.
1904
First Herefords exported to Russia.
1909
Irish Hereford Breeders' Association founded.
1910
King George V becomes patron of the Society.
1914
The Story of Herefords, by Alvin H Sanders, published at Chicago.
1919
Sale by auction of Mr L L Moores herd at Brampton Bryan when 152 head averaged 121 pounds sterling each.
1920
Sale of Mr W Griffiths' herd at Aldersend; 104 head averaged £ 474.16s each; the bull calf Alderend Conqueror changed hands for 3,150 pounds. Sale by auction of Mr T R Thompson's herd when 59 head averaged £ 446 each. The first Premier Show and Sale was held in February.
1926
Senor Carlos Pereyra Iraola invited to judge Hereford cattle at the R.A.S.E. Show at Reading.
1929
The bull Free Town director, bred by Mr P E Bradstock, exported to Australia, purchased by E C Tanner.
1932
The bull Free Town Admiral wins the championship at the Royal Show for the 3rd year.
1935
The female Britannia, bred and exhibited by Mr H R Griffiths, won the female championship at the Royal Show for the third time.
1936
The bull Tarrington Idol exported to Argentina, bought by Mr R L P Duncan. King Edward VIII becomes patron of the Society.
1937
King George VI becomes patron of the Society
1939
September 8th, Vern Robert born, five days after outbreak of World War II. Later to become known as the Bill Beyond Price
1940
A ship carrying a consignment of Herefords to America was torpedoed in the Atlantic. Two of them swam ashore to Ireland, showing the stamina of the breed.
1942
Brookhouse Sale, dispersal for Mr W H Jones of Lyonshall. 75 head sold for 7,087 pounds 10s. Wickton dispersal sale for the Exors of the late Mr F J Newman of Leominster. 98 head sold for £ 9,308.9s.0d
1946
The bull Weston Masterpiece, bred by Mr C H Morris sets a record price for a Hereford bull sold at auction, 12,500 guineas, a record which stood for 20 years.
1947
Sales restricted to TB attested cattle. Herefords the first breed to become fully attested.
1948
The bull Weston Masterpiece won First, Senior and Grand Champion at R.A.S.E.
1949
First record of Hereford exported to Norway. April 4th, first poll Hereford registered in Britain.
1950
North British Hereford Breeders' Association founded. British Polled Hereford Society founded.
1951
First World Hereford Conference held in Hereford under the Chairmanship of the Hereford Herd Book Society's Patron, Sir R G Cotterall, Bt., and attended by delegates from nine countries; Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, the United Sates of America and The Union of South Africa. First recorded exports of Herefords to Israel.
1952
The Vern herd reduced realising a record average of 670 pounds for 66 lots offered, breaking a record which had existed since 1918. South of England Hereford Breeders' Association founded. Death of Mr H R Griffiths, Tarrington. The bull Lothian Dollar sold for 1000 guineas and exported to Argentina.
1953
The bull Vern Diamond sold for record price of 16,000 pounds to Wyoming Hereford Ranch, USA. Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders' Association founded.
1954
The bull Eaton Eastern Venture, bred by Mr O S Hellyer, wins the Queen's Cup for the Best Beef Bull at the Royal Show, Windsor.
1955
Pentatok Crusader became the first Bull of the Year and co-winner with Sugwas Oyster Lassie 5th, of the Burke Trophy, awarded for the first time, for the best pair of beef animals. Toko Excelior was imported from New Zealand by Messrs Cooper, McDougal and Robertson of Berkhamstead, the first poll to found the Poll Herefords. Record price paid for bull calf, Haven Just Do, of 4,000 guineas to Argentina.
Death of R Tomkins May 6th. Benjamin Tomkins (The Elder), born 1714 succeeds under his father's will to the cow Silver with her calf.
1769
Benjamin (The Younger) takes Blackhall, Kings Pyon. At this time father and son occupied four farms, together 840 acres.
1775
Herefords introduced into Co. Westmeath, Ireland, by Mr Richard Reynall.
1779
William Galliers of Wigmore Grange died, aged 66, his herd passing to his son, John Galliers; his other son, also William, became a famous breeder of Herefords, winning thirteen cups for his cattle from the Hereford Agricultural Society between 1802-1815.
1789
Rural Economy of the West of England published by W Marshall. The markings of the Hereford are described; its colour of a middle red with a bald face, the last being an esteemed characteristic of the true Hereford Breed. Benjamin the Elder died and Benjamin the Younger went to Wellington Court.
1795
Sale of Herefords belonging to John Galliers, Wigmore Grange. Prices and buyers' names were recorded at this first ever documented sale of the breed.
1797
Herefordshire Agricultural Society founded.
1799
Champion Prize won at first Smithfield Show by Mr John Westcar of Onslow, Buckingham, with Hereford ox, bred by a Mr Tully of Huntingdon. The animal was six years old and weighed 2,198 lbs. It changed hands for 100 guineas.
1806
A Silver cow bred by Mr George Tomkins, nephew of Benjamin The Younger was calved. This cow was painted by Wheeler. The importance attached to the Silver strain is clearly shown.
1808
Sale of Mr Gwillim's herd at Purslow Hall. Sale average for cows; £ 65. 3s. 6d. Top price for a cow and calf; L225.
1812
Challenge by Mr Price of Ryall to show 20 of his Hereford cows in milk against 20 Longhorn cows. Challenge accepted by a Mr Meek and decided in Mr Price's favour.
1813
Mr Price of Ryall had a sale of his stock which realised high prices, the total being £ 4,134
1815
Benjamin The Younger dies.
1816
On October 17th and 18th, Mr John Price held an extensive sale at Ryall; 116 head averaged £58.0s.0d, in total £ 6,728. The stock was described as being wholly descended from that of Benjamin Tomkins. His bull Wellington (160) was sold to Mr M Jellicoe for £ 283.
1817
Exportation to the United States, two pairs of Herefords by the Hon. Henry Clay of Kentucky.
1824
The bull Sir Isaac bred by Mr J G Cotterell, Garnons, presented to the Massachusetts Society by Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin.
1825
First Herefords exported to Australia.
1836
Hereford bull Cotmore (376) calved. Bred by T Jeffries and acknowledged the greatest bull ever produced to that day. His weight at 9 years was 3,920 lbs.
1838
Youatt's book on cattle shows that Herefords were the predominant breed in 15 English and Welsh counties.
1839
Miss Tomkins' final sale. First Royal Show at Oxford. Devons, Herefords and Shorthorns were the only breeds shown. First prize for best cow in milk won by Hereford. Cotmore wins first prize. Hereford ox, bred and exhibited by Mr Joseph Hill of Collington, weighed 3,600 lbs. Mr W H Sotham made his first imports of Herefords to America.
1841
Mr Price's third sale on October 15th; 99 head averaged £ 56 16s 4d, in total £ 5,328. He considered this his best sale. The three sales; in 1813, in 1816 and in 1841, realised in total £ 16,690. Mr Price was presented with his portrait. This now hangs in the Society's boardroom.
1843
Death of Mr J Price.
1846
Mr T C Eyton of Donnerville, Wellington, Salop, published the first Herd Book.
1849
Sir David (349), probably the most famous Hereford sire, shown by Mr Edward Price, Court House, Pembridge, wins first prize at Norwich Royal Show. He sired Sir Benjamin who sired Sir Thomas, the sire of Sir Roger who sired Lord Wilton.
1852
Second volume of Eyton's Herd Book published.
1856
Mr W C Powell of Hereford bought Eyton's copyright in the Herd Book and published first part of third volume.
1857
Herefordshire Agricultural Society bought the Herd Book copyright from Mr Powell's executors, following his death, for ten pounds. It was bought for the same sum by Mr Thomas Duckham, who continued to publish until 1878.
1865
Outbreak of cattle plague. Royal Show cancelled until 1868.
1866
Sir Benjamin (2228) bought by Mr Benjamin Rogers for £ 409 10s 0d.
1867
Horace (3877), one of the most impressive sires ever calved, bred by Mr J Davies of Preston Court, used by Mr J Price of the Court House, Pembridge. His rare wealth of flesh and magnificent quality were carried through successive generations. His strain was used with that of Regulus, another highly successful Court House bull. Sale of Mr Edward Price's cattle at Court House. Highest price paid for the bull Paragon.
1873
New South Wales Agricultural Society published first volume of their Herd Book, in which 152 Herefords and their produce were entered. The celebrated bull Lord Wilton calved 30th August, bred by Mr W Tudge, Adforton, sold to Mr L Lloyd, Addington, and Surrey.
1875
Lord Wilton wins Royal and other major Shows.
1877
Exhibits of Herefords at Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition created great impression and led to wide extension of the breed in the United States.
1878
Hereford Herd Book Society founded under the patronage of Queen Victoria.
1879
Mr Carwardine buys Lord Wilton at Kilburn Royal Show from Mr Lloyd.
1880
Volume 1 of the American Hereford Book published.
1881
The bull Anxiety (5188), bred by Mr T J C Carwardine, Stocktonbury, Leominster was exported to the United States where he was bought by Mr Culbertson. Anxiety sired a number of important bulls including Anxiety 3rd (4466) and Anxiety 5th (9904), afterwards famous in the herds of Mr Clarke, Mr Gudgell and Mr Simpson.
1882
Mr Thomas Clarke ships 152 Herefords in one lot to New York
1884
Death of William H Sotham, for 50 years the champion of Herefords in the United States. Stocktonbury Sale, when Lord Wilton was sold for £ 3,990.
1886
MacDonald and Sinclair's History of Hereford Cattle published. This carefully prepared volume showed that there were two Benjamin Tomkins, father and son.
1890
Australian Hereford Herd Book Society inaugurated.
1898
New Zealand Cattle Breeders' Association formed.
1900
The bull Protector (19660) bred by Mr Allen Hughes, sold for £ 1200 by Mr C T Pulley, to the United States.
1901
Sale for Mr W Tudge of Leinthall; average £53 pounds; total £4,1519. Sale for Mr John Price, Court House, Pembridge; average £54; total £9,152. King Edward VII becomes patron of the Society.
1902
History of Hereford Cattle, written by Mr T L Miller, published by T F B Sotham, Cillicote, Missouri, USA. 202 head exported in one shipment to Mr Armour of Kansas City.
1904
First Herefords exported to Russia.
1909
Irish Hereford Breeders' Association founded.
1910
King George V becomes patron of the Society.
1914
The Story of Herefords, by Alvin H Sanders, published at Chicago.
1919
Sale by auction of Mr L L Moores herd at Brampton Bryan when 152 head averaged 121 pounds sterling each.
1920
Sale of Mr W Griffiths' herd at Aldersend; 104 head averaged £ 474.16s each; the bull calf Alderend Conqueror changed hands for 3,150 pounds. Sale by auction of Mr T R Thompson's herd when 59 head averaged £ 446 each. The first Premier Show and Sale was held in February.
1926
Senor Carlos Pereyra Iraola invited to judge Hereford cattle at the R.A.S.E. Show at Reading.
1929
The bull Free Town director, bred by Mr P E Bradstock, exported to Australia, purchased by E C Tanner.
1932
The bull Free Town Admiral wins the championship at the Royal Show for the 3rd year.
1935
The female Britannia, bred and exhibited by Mr H R Griffiths, won the female championship at the Royal Show for the third time.
1936
The bull Tarrington Idol exported to Argentina, bought by Mr R L P Duncan. King Edward VIII becomes patron of the Society.
1937
King George VI becomes patron of the Society
1939
September 8th, Vern Robert born, five days after outbreak of World War II. Later to become known as the Bill Beyond Price
1940
A ship carrying a consignment of Herefords to America was torpedoed in the Atlantic. Two of them swam ashore to Ireland, showing the stamina of the breed.
1942
Brookhouse Sale, dispersal for Mr W H Jones of Lyonshall. 75 head sold for 7,087 pounds 10s. Wickton dispersal sale for the Exors of the late Mr F J Newman of Leominster. 98 head sold for £ 9,308.9s.0d
1946
The bull Weston Masterpiece, bred by Mr C H Morris sets a record price for a Hereford bull sold at auction, 12,500 guineas, a record which stood for 20 years.
1947
Sales restricted to TB attested cattle. Herefords the first breed to become fully attested.
1948
The bull Weston Masterpiece won First, Senior and Grand Champion at R.A.S.E.
1949
First record of Hereford exported to Norway. April 4th, first poll Hereford registered in Britain.
1950
North British Hereford Breeders' Association founded. British Polled Hereford Society founded.
1951
First World Hereford Conference held in Hereford under the Chairmanship of the Hereford Herd Book Society's Patron, Sir R G Cotterall, Bt., and attended by delegates from nine countries; Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, the United Sates of America and The Union of South Africa. First recorded exports of Herefords to Israel.
1952
The Vern herd reduced realising a record average of 670 pounds for 66 lots offered, breaking a record which had existed since 1918. South of England Hereford Breeders' Association founded. Death of Mr H R Griffiths, Tarrington. The bull Lothian Dollar sold for 1000 guineas and exported to Argentina.
1953
The bull Vern Diamond sold for record price of 16,000 pounds to Wyoming Hereford Ranch, USA. Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders' Association founded.
1954
The bull Eaton Eastern Venture, bred by Mr O S Hellyer, wins the Queen's Cup for the Best Beef Bull at the Royal Show, Windsor.
1955
Pentatok Crusader became the first Bull of the Year and co-winner with Sugwas Oyster Lassie 5th, of the Burke Trophy, awarded for the first time, for the best pair of beef animals. Toko Excelior was imported from New Zealand by Messrs Cooper, McDougal and Robertson of Berkhamstead, the first poll to found the Poll Herefords. Record price paid for bull calf, Haven Just Do, of 4,000 guineas to Argentina.
General
Herefords are medium framed cattle with distinctive red body colour with a head and front on the neck, the brisket, underside and switch in white. They have well developed fore-quarters, a deep brisket, broad head and stocky legs. Most animals have short thick horns that typically curve down at the sides of the head, but there is a polled strain in North America and UK.
General weight for age and rate of gain from grassland - grass being still the cheapest feed available. A breed with a wonderful temperament leading to easier management thus reducing labour costs. Less stress during marketing which helps produce better eating quality meat.
Long term viability of your beef breeding is the biggest consideration for all beef farmers and therefore there are a number of issues that are very important to remember in any breeding program.
Herefords however, can add value due to its excellent performance in the traits that can make the difference really important.
The Hereford's ability to turn natural grazing into high quality beef is acknowledged throughout the beef production world and it is therefore no wonder that the Hereford today is still one of the world's most popular beef breeds.
General weight for age and rate of gain from grassland - grass being still the cheapest feed available. A breed with a wonderful temperament leading to easier management thus reducing labour costs. Less stress during marketing which helps produce better eating quality meat.
Long term viability of your beef breeding is the biggest consideration for all beef farmers and therefore there are a number of issues that are very important to remember in any breeding program.
Herefords however, can add value due to its excellent performance in the traits that can make the difference really important.
The Hereford's ability to turn natural grazing into high quality beef is acknowledged throughout the beef production world and it is therefore no wonder that the Hereford today is still one of the world's most popular beef breeds.
Characteristics
CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS
* Adaptability
* Fertility
* Docility
* Hybrid Vigour
* Quality Beef
* Versatility
* Efficiency
* Performance
* Longevity
* Feed Conversion
* Performance Driven
* Marketability
* Availability
* Profitability
ADAPTABILITY
One of the most important factors contributing to the widespread popularity of the Hereford breed has been its ability to adapt easily to the variety of management systems and diverse environmental conditions.
FERTILITY
It is general knowledge that fertility is ten times more important than other traits.
Fertility (and reproduction) affects the profit potential of a cow herd more than any other trait and Herefords are renowned for their high fertility under most conditions. The Hereford cow managed properly will calve when she's two of age and will continue to produce and wean a calf every 365 days, not just in the good years.
DOCILITY
Docile cattle are easier to handle, are less stressed during marketing and produce better eating quality meat, and they don't come any quieter than Herefords - ask any cattleman, transport operator or butcher.
HYBRID VIGOUR
The Hereford is one of the purest breeds in the world. Breed purity contributes significantly to hybrid vigour which means the breed has been used with excellent results in crossbreeding programs.
Hybrid vigour would result in better growth rates.
QUALITY BEEF
With greater emphasis being put upon the actual eating quality of beef and the evidence that improved quality can only be achieved through natural grassland production systems, it is the Hereford's unique ability to thrive under such conditions so producing quality beef, which makes it a popular choice among purveyors of quality meat. This is evident by the rapid increase in numbers being marketed through the Branded Hereford Beef Scheme.
VERSATILITY
Herefords are not locked into just one market - miss it and you're done - rather they have an inbuilt versatility that allows them to "carry on" to fit a range of market opportunities.
For the light weight domestic trade, (150kg carcass), or the supermarket trade, (220kg carcass), through to the heavy export trade, (350kg carcass), Herefords can do it and do it well.
EFFICIENCY
Moderate mature body weight and efficient feed conversion means that you can run more Hereford cows on a given area of land than many so-called "high-performance" breeds. More cows and higher fertility gives Herefords the leading edge when you compare breeds on production per hectare.
PERFORMANCE
Herefords combine growth, milk and carcass traits in a package of OPTIMUM performance.
Not maximum milk, that causes rebreeding problems in a poor season, not maximum muscle that causes calving problems and female infertility, not maximum growth with its late maturity that can make you overshoot the market - but an OPTIMUM blend of those traits that's profitable for every sector of the industry, that keeps the buyers coming back for more.
LONGEVITY
The longevity of the Hereford Sire could be considered by the pedigree breeder to be a negative characteristic, such sire often in regular use at 10 to 15 years of age, which obviously reduces the need for replacement sires being produced by the breeders. The similar and often longer life span of the Hereford female is now however an increasingly important economic factor with the value of over 30 month stock at an all time low.
FEED CONVERSION
Hereford and Hereford crosses are sought after in feedlots because of their feed conversion ability.
The Hereford was bred for the simple purpose to convert grass or grain into high quality meat. Consequently to the farmer, it costs less to produce quality Hereford meat and for the feedlot operator increased profits due to the relatively cheaper finishing costs.
PERFORMANCE DRIVEN
Performance testing plays an important role in the breeding policy of Hereford breeders. You can use this important tool to benefit your commercial herd.
MARKETABILITY
Breeding cattle is only half the job - marketing is the other half, and you start ahead of the pack with Herefords. Store Herefords are keenly sought by re-stockers, finishers and feedlotters, while they are the preferred breed by butchers. This means they are always negotiable regardless of age, weight, condition or season.
AVAILABILITY
Being the most numerous breed, has distinct benefits for commercial producers - a wide range of types to suit different markets and environments, the availability of large numbers of re-stocker and feeder cattle, and a wide selection of bulls in all areas at affordable prices.
PROFITABILITY
The Hereford breed has not only proven its ability in the commercial industry as a straight-bred, but it has also added a new perspective to cross-breeding. As industry experience with cross-breeding matures, cattlemen are finding that hybrid vigour itself is not enough to increase profit.
* Adaptability
* Fertility
* Docility
* Hybrid Vigour
* Quality Beef
* Versatility
* Efficiency
* Performance
* Longevity
* Feed Conversion
* Performance Driven
* Marketability
* Availability
* Profitability
ADAPTABILITY
One of the most important factors contributing to the widespread popularity of the Hereford breed has been its ability to adapt easily to the variety of management systems and diverse environmental conditions.
FERTILITY
It is general knowledge that fertility is ten times more important than other traits.
Fertility (and reproduction) affects the profit potential of a cow herd more than any other trait and Herefords are renowned for their high fertility under most conditions. The Hereford cow managed properly will calve when she's two of age and will continue to produce and wean a calf every 365 days, not just in the good years.
DOCILITY
Docile cattle are easier to handle, are less stressed during marketing and produce better eating quality meat, and they don't come any quieter than Herefords - ask any cattleman, transport operator or butcher.
HYBRID VIGOUR
The Hereford is one of the purest breeds in the world. Breed purity contributes significantly to hybrid vigour which means the breed has been used with excellent results in crossbreeding programs.
Hybrid vigour would result in better growth rates.
QUALITY BEEF
With greater emphasis being put upon the actual eating quality of beef and the evidence that improved quality can only be achieved through natural grassland production systems, it is the Hereford's unique ability to thrive under such conditions so producing quality beef, which makes it a popular choice among purveyors of quality meat. This is evident by the rapid increase in numbers being marketed through the Branded Hereford Beef Scheme.
VERSATILITY
Herefords are not locked into just one market - miss it and you're done - rather they have an inbuilt versatility that allows them to "carry on" to fit a range of market opportunities.
For the light weight domestic trade, (150kg carcass), or the supermarket trade, (220kg carcass), through to the heavy export trade, (350kg carcass), Herefords can do it and do it well.
EFFICIENCY
Moderate mature body weight and efficient feed conversion means that you can run more Hereford cows on a given area of land than many so-called "high-performance" breeds. More cows and higher fertility gives Herefords the leading edge when you compare breeds on production per hectare.
PERFORMANCE
Herefords combine growth, milk and carcass traits in a package of OPTIMUM performance.
Not maximum milk, that causes rebreeding problems in a poor season, not maximum muscle that causes calving problems and female infertility, not maximum growth with its late maturity that can make you overshoot the market - but an OPTIMUM blend of those traits that's profitable for every sector of the industry, that keeps the buyers coming back for more.
LONGEVITY
The longevity of the Hereford Sire could be considered by the pedigree breeder to be a negative characteristic, such sire often in regular use at 10 to 15 years of age, which obviously reduces the need for replacement sires being produced by the breeders. The similar and often longer life span of the Hereford female is now however an increasingly important economic factor with the value of over 30 month stock at an all time low.
FEED CONVERSION
Hereford and Hereford crosses are sought after in feedlots because of their feed conversion ability.
The Hereford was bred for the simple purpose to convert grass or grain into high quality meat. Consequently to the farmer, it costs less to produce quality Hereford meat and for the feedlot operator increased profits due to the relatively cheaper finishing costs.
PERFORMANCE DRIVEN
Performance testing plays an important role in the breeding policy of Hereford breeders. You can use this important tool to benefit your commercial herd.
MARKETABILITY
Breeding cattle is only half the job - marketing is the other half, and you start ahead of the pack with Herefords. Store Herefords are keenly sought by re-stockers, finishers and feedlotters, while they are the preferred breed by butchers. This means they are always negotiable regardless of age, weight, condition or season.
AVAILABILITY
Being the most numerous breed, has distinct benefits for commercial producers - a wide range of types to suit different markets and environments, the availability of large numbers of re-stocker and feeder cattle, and a wide selection of bulls in all areas at affordable prices.
PROFITABILITY
The Hereford breed has not only proven its ability in the commercial industry as a straight-bred, but it has also added a new perspective to cross-breeding. As industry experience with cross-breeding matures, cattlemen are finding that hybrid vigour itself is not enough to increase profit.
Standard of Excellence
* The Hereford is fast growing, highly fertile beef breed. The characteristic colour is red with a white head, brisket, underline, crest, switch and legs below the knees and hocks. The Hereford moves with ease on sound legs and feet. In general outline the body profile should be non wasty. Females are feminine in appearance, functionally efficient and with sufficient capacity to make full use of roughage. Bulls are masculine in body outline with well defined musculature, alert and active with optimal sexual development for all ages. A wintercoat is permissible but all animals must have the ability to shed their coats in summer so as to exhibit a smooth and sleek coat.
* Wide mouth with a clean, shiny muzzle and jaws that fit. Under or overshot jaws are undesirable and even a disqualification as is a wry jaw more than one tooth from the middle. A wry face is likewise a disqualification.
* Forehead is wide and symmetrical. Nostrils big and clean.
* Eyes alert not prominent, set well apart under a strong brow. Pigmentation of the eyes is extremely important.
* The horns are oval and slightly bent down and forward with a waxy texture. Black colour is undesired. Right against the head the horns are reddish and flushed. The rest is greyish and vary in appearance but not dull white.
* Polled animals must have a prominent poll.
* The neck differs between sexes but must be of a medium length well attached to the body and preferably with a white crest.
* The neck of the cow must be slim and free of excessive fat or muscular development. These are features that must be outstanding in older cows which have weaned calves for successive seasons. The scapulae are free moving along the dorsal spine of the vertebrae in the crest region and this area must be free of muscular development and fat deposits.
* The shoulders of male animals must be heavy and muscular and wide between the scapulae.
* The front quarter is wide and deep in bulls, round and full behind the shoulders with good width in the sternum region. In cows the front is lighter and the body profile wedge shaped.
* The brisket must be free of excessive fat and it must not be heavy and prominent. Especially in cows the dewlap must not be heavy or filled with fat in the brisket region.
* The forelegs of the bull must be strong, wide apart and parallel with a well developed forearm strongly muscled. Short cannon bones can be an indication of dwarfism.
* In bulls the ribs are well sprung with strong muscular development behind the scapulae. Cows must be free of excessive fat and coarseness.
* The back must be wide and strong. The loin must be strong and wide and muscular.
* Croup wide, long and broad between the hurls, well muscled and broad between the pins. The pins slightly lower than the hips for easy calving. A sloping rump is undesirable.
* The hindquarter is wide, deep and well filled between the hind legs.
* The tail setting must be neat and free from fat. The tail must hung straight between the hocks with a fine silken switch in cows but a coarse well developed masculine switch in bulls.
* Strong hind legs parallel with strong hocks. Straight hocks or sickle hocks are undesirable or a disqualification. The hoofs of fore and hind legs are well formed, large, even in size and preferably dark. Corns or splayed feet are undesirable and even a disqualification.
* Strong oval cannon bones.
* Fetlock joints strong enough to carry the weight of the animal with ease.
* The outer thigh must be well developed and muscular above the hock and below the patella region. The inner thigh deep and full. Hurls wide apart.
* Underline neat and white.
* Reproductive organs must be normal and well developed according to age. In bulls the testicles must be identical in shape and consistency. Asymmetry of the testes or epididymi in any form is a strong disqualification as is any hardening or softening of the testes. An excessive long or short scrotum is undesired so are deposits of fat in the neck of the scrotum. Bulls must produce highly fertile semen and must have good libido. Bulls must be able to service cows with ease and without any sign of pain. Any abnormality of the penis (protrusion of the penis, deviation of the penis, cowscrew penis, too short penis, etc.) is a disqualification. In cows a horizontal type vulva, under development of the external opening or any type of prolapse is a serious fault.
Body of the bull must be long and deep and well attached, parallel and firmly muscular without prominent hipbones. Hide soft and pliable with silky hair. Must be able to walk easily with a long even galt. Female animals must be feminine with good mothering ability, well developed udder with medium to large teats well apart and symmetrical. Cows must calve regularly and easily. Must produce a calf before the age of 3 years and must produce a minimum of 7 calves in a lifetime.
* Wide mouth with a clean, shiny muzzle and jaws that fit. Under or overshot jaws are undesirable and even a disqualification as is a wry jaw more than one tooth from the middle. A wry face is likewise a disqualification.
* Forehead is wide and symmetrical. Nostrils big and clean.
* Eyes alert not prominent, set well apart under a strong brow. Pigmentation of the eyes is extremely important.
* The horns are oval and slightly bent down and forward with a waxy texture. Black colour is undesired. Right against the head the horns are reddish and flushed. The rest is greyish and vary in appearance but not dull white.
* Polled animals must have a prominent poll.
* The neck differs between sexes but must be of a medium length well attached to the body and preferably with a white crest.
* The neck of the cow must be slim and free of excessive fat or muscular development. These are features that must be outstanding in older cows which have weaned calves for successive seasons. The scapulae are free moving along the dorsal spine of the vertebrae in the crest region and this area must be free of muscular development and fat deposits.
* The shoulders of male animals must be heavy and muscular and wide between the scapulae.
* The front quarter is wide and deep in bulls, round and full behind the shoulders with good width in the sternum region. In cows the front is lighter and the body profile wedge shaped.
* The brisket must be free of excessive fat and it must not be heavy and prominent. Especially in cows the dewlap must not be heavy or filled with fat in the brisket region.
* The forelegs of the bull must be strong, wide apart and parallel with a well developed forearm strongly muscled. Short cannon bones can be an indication of dwarfism.
* In bulls the ribs are well sprung with strong muscular development behind the scapulae. Cows must be free of excessive fat and coarseness.
* The back must be wide and strong. The loin must be strong and wide and muscular.
* Croup wide, long and broad between the hurls, well muscled and broad between the pins. The pins slightly lower than the hips for easy calving. A sloping rump is undesirable.
* The hindquarter is wide, deep and well filled between the hind legs.
* The tail setting must be neat and free from fat. The tail must hung straight between the hocks with a fine silken switch in cows but a coarse well developed masculine switch in bulls.
* Strong hind legs parallel with strong hocks. Straight hocks or sickle hocks are undesirable or a disqualification. The hoofs of fore and hind legs are well formed, large, even in size and preferably dark. Corns or splayed feet are undesirable and even a disqualification.
* Strong oval cannon bones.
* Fetlock joints strong enough to carry the weight of the animal with ease.
* The outer thigh must be well developed and muscular above the hock and below the patella region. The inner thigh deep and full. Hurls wide apart.
* Underline neat and white.
* Reproductive organs must be normal and well developed according to age. In bulls the testicles must be identical in shape and consistency. Asymmetry of the testes or epididymi in any form is a strong disqualification as is any hardening or softening of the testes. An excessive long or short scrotum is undesired so are deposits of fat in the neck of the scrotum. Bulls must produce highly fertile semen and must have good libido. Bulls must be able to service cows with ease and without any sign of pain. Any abnormality of the penis (protrusion of the penis, deviation of the penis, cowscrew penis, too short penis, etc.) is a disqualification. In cows a horizontal type vulva, under development of the external opening or any type of prolapse is a serious fault.
Body of the bull must be long and deep and well attached, parallel and firmly muscular without prominent hipbones. Hide soft and pliable with silky hair. Must be able to walk easily with a long even galt. Female animals must be feminine with good mothering ability, well developed udder with medium to large teats well apart and symmetrical. Cows must calve regularly and easily. Must produce a calf before the age of 3 years and must produce a minimum of 7 calves in a lifetime.
Lifespan of a Typical Hereford
The Hereford is well known for its longevity - many females live and produce calves well beyond the age of 15. Bulls are capable of earning their keep as studs to the age of 12 and beyond. Many breeders will keep their elderly cattle until they die of natural causes.
Polled
WHY POLLED
Because:
Because:
- They are a breed, butchers pay a premium for, as they value high “dressing percentage” – meat to bone ratio – and high quality meat
- They are sought after by re-stockers who will pay a premium. They know they will “do” in all climates and have the ability to forage under all conditions and have the remarkable ability to recover quickly after a drought
- They have a poll head (no horns) and are probably the most docile of beef breeds. This vastly reduces bruising
- They are most adaptable and thrive
- They have a proven record in steer and carcass competitions
- They are extremely fertile with a good constitution
- They are attracting cattle with wide appeal
- They are becoming more popular each year
Versatile Hereford
Fertility and reproduction are the most important factors in the profit potential of a cow herd. It is five times more important than growth and ten times more important than carcass qualities. The popularity of the Hereford is attributable to the following plus factors i.e. its versatility, the ability of females to wean a calf every year, to again fall pregnant soon thereafter and its adaptability to various kinds of feed.
Most Hereford females reach sexual maturity at 14 months. This means that they are able to calve at two years. The number of matings per season is a good indication of the bull’s libido and is linked to his ability to cover cows. No other bull is better equipped to do this job than the Hereford bull.
Hereford bulls are in demand for cross breeding purposes as most beef farmers realise the benefits of “basterkrag”. Many however discovered that unplanned use of beef breeds can disturb the economical balance necessary for predicted performance, uniformity, functional size and fodder consumption.
Bulls used, should be frame size 5 – 6 for easy calving, optimum growth and market demand. Hereford bulls ideally conform to these requirements. Within the space of one calving season the use of modern Hereford bulls can put your cross breeding program in line with market requirements and production efficiency. The Hereford cross is furthermore unbeatable at the feedlot.
Within the concept of optimum production breed genetics are being compared to available sources and facts show that in area with medium to low fodder production, the beef farmer stands to benefit from the use of Herefords. Herefords are also well adapted to arid regions and adapt very quickly to unfavourable climatic conditions.
In cases where the cow herd, irrespective of breed or colour, has deteriorated in regard to size and milk production, producers will find that the Hereford will have a stabilising effect on the production of a more uniform and market directed product. The Hereford’s adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions is a further plus factor in the feedlot.
Adaptability to the environment, efficient feed consumption, requirements for market size and easy handling have a positive impact on the benefits of the Hereford breed and its contribution to beef production.
Most commercial calves are weaned at 8 to 10 months. Calves ready for market will therefore weigh even more which would mean more income for the beef farmer.
According to research the average Hereford cow renders 7kg milk/day. This is sufficient to produce a weaner of more than 227kg; farmers should bear in mind that as is the case with too much milk, too much milk in some regions can be equally detrimental should the optimum and efficient application of resources be taken as a yard stick.
Any farmer wishing to produce optimum beef should consider the Hereford’s acceptable low birth mass, recorded and estimated growth pattern, its genetic potential for milk production, its adaptability in various regions and its country wide availability.
Purebred Hereford cows required 38% less feed than the foreign crossbreds. Herefords render heavier calves on less fodder.
Most Hereford females reach sexual maturity at 14 months. This means that they are able to calve at two years. The number of matings per season is a good indication of the bull’s libido and is linked to his ability to cover cows. No other bull is better equipped to do this job than the Hereford bull.
Hereford bulls are in demand for cross breeding purposes as most beef farmers realise the benefits of “basterkrag”. Many however discovered that unplanned use of beef breeds can disturb the economical balance necessary for predicted performance, uniformity, functional size and fodder consumption.
Bulls used, should be frame size 5 – 6 for easy calving, optimum growth and market demand. Hereford bulls ideally conform to these requirements. Within the space of one calving season the use of modern Hereford bulls can put your cross breeding program in line with market requirements and production efficiency. The Hereford cross is furthermore unbeatable at the feedlot.
Within the concept of optimum production breed genetics are being compared to available sources and facts show that in area with medium to low fodder production, the beef farmer stands to benefit from the use of Herefords. Herefords are also well adapted to arid regions and adapt very quickly to unfavourable climatic conditions.
In cases where the cow herd, irrespective of breed or colour, has deteriorated in regard to size and milk production, producers will find that the Hereford will have a stabilising effect on the production of a more uniform and market directed product. The Hereford’s adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions is a further plus factor in the feedlot.
Adaptability to the environment, efficient feed consumption, requirements for market size and easy handling have a positive impact on the benefits of the Hereford breed and its contribution to beef production.
Most commercial calves are weaned at 8 to 10 months. Calves ready for market will therefore weigh even more which would mean more income for the beef farmer.
According to research the average Hereford cow renders 7kg milk/day. This is sufficient to produce a weaner of more than 227kg; farmers should bear in mind that as is the case with too much milk, too much milk in some regions can be equally detrimental should the optimum and efficient application of resources be taken as a yard stick.
Any farmer wishing to produce optimum beef should consider the Hereford’s acceptable low birth mass, recorded and estimated growth pattern, its genetic potential for milk production, its adaptability in various regions and its country wide availability.
Purebred Hereford cows required 38% less feed than the foreign crossbreds. Herefords render heavier calves on less fodder.
Classing Your animal
COWS:
Step 1: Cull any cow that has not reared a calf unless you have a good reason to give her another chance
Step 2: Cull any cow that has not reared a satisfactory calf
Step 3: Put out any that is physically unsound, has long feet, is lame or has eye problems. Also any cows that are doing badly or undeveloped udder and teat problems
Step 4: Reject any wild cows that were given a chance as a heifer and have not responded with age. All those that don’t look the part and others that have deteriorated in some way
Step 5: Class out the older cows. This stage is a little more flexible that the others and will depend on:
(a) How many cows you have because of the previous steps;
(b) Your judgement as to whether, on average, you consider your incoming heifers to be better or worse than your older cows;
(c) Some cows must go – they can’t produce forever
HEIFERS
First of all it is necessary to decide how many heifers to put into your herd. This will depend on:
(a) The number of cows on hand after cow classing
(b) Are the heifers better or worse than the general cow herd and, if better by how much?
(c) Do you need the same number of breeders as last year?
Generally, if your herd is on the improve, your heifers should be better than your older cows. Therefore, you should keep a higher percentage of the heifers and cull the older cows heavier.
On average you should retain at least 60 per cent of your heifers, this may not have a great deal of scope for rejection, but remember, your heifers are better than your older cows.
Step 1: Cull all bad doers
Step 2: Put out the “off” types
Step 3: Class out the “off coloured” ones – remember a good herd needs to be uniform – and good markings and good colour helps make your herd uniform
Step 4: Put out small heifers, but take age into account
Step 5: Reject any heifers which are wild or have long hooves
This type of classing could take out 40% - use performance EBV’s to fine tune the marginal few.
Basically, you need to keep 60% of your heifers, but only 3% of your bull calf crop for sire replacements. Because of this low percentage, these bulls should be subject to intense performance as this is where a herd’s greatest genetic improvement is made.
Step 1: Cull any cow that has not reared a calf unless you have a good reason to give her another chance
Step 2: Cull any cow that has not reared a satisfactory calf
Step 3: Put out any that is physically unsound, has long feet, is lame or has eye problems. Also any cows that are doing badly or undeveloped udder and teat problems
Step 4: Reject any wild cows that were given a chance as a heifer and have not responded with age. All those that don’t look the part and others that have deteriorated in some way
Step 5: Class out the older cows. This stage is a little more flexible that the others and will depend on:
(a) How many cows you have because of the previous steps;
(b) Your judgement as to whether, on average, you consider your incoming heifers to be better or worse than your older cows;
(c) Some cows must go – they can’t produce forever
HEIFERS
First of all it is necessary to decide how many heifers to put into your herd. This will depend on:
(a) The number of cows on hand after cow classing
(b) Are the heifers better or worse than the general cow herd and, if better by how much?
(c) Do you need the same number of breeders as last year?
Generally, if your herd is on the improve, your heifers should be better than your older cows. Therefore, you should keep a higher percentage of the heifers and cull the older cows heavier.
On average you should retain at least 60 per cent of your heifers, this may not have a great deal of scope for rejection, but remember, your heifers are better than your older cows.
Step 1: Cull all bad doers
Step 2: Put out the “off” types
Step 3: Class out the “off coloured” ones – remember a good herd needs to be uniform – and good markings and good colour helps make your herd uniform
Step 4: Put out small heifers, but take age into account
Step 5: Reject any heifers which are wild or have long hooves
This type of classing could take out 40% - use performance EBV’s to fine tune the marginal few.
Basically, you need to keep 60% of your heifers, but only 3% of your bull calf crop for sire replacements. Because of this low percentage, these bulls should be subject to intense performance as this is where a herd’s greatest genetic improvement is made.
Fat and Marbling
Fat Assessment:
When assessing fatness of the live animal you should observe and feel several sites on the animal. Your assessment can be expressed either as fat thickness in mm at the 12th and 13th rib or P8 rump site.
Visual Assessment:
The single most important sites to assess fatness are around the tailhead and over the ribs. Other sites are the cod, twist, brisket and flank, however these sites are fat depots and indicate when the animal is becoming over-fat, they are less useful for determining fatness within the requirements of most markets.
Manual Fat Assessment:
The main areas to feel are the short ribs of the loin, over the long ribs and the tailhead.
Pinch out of a fold of skin next to the tail to feel how much fat there is. As the skin is about 6mm thick, deduct 12mm from the total thickness to estimate the fat thickness under the skin.
As cattle fatten:
* Ribs become less visible
* Tailhead softens with rounds of fat developing around the tail
* Muscle seams of the hindquarter become covered with fat and are less evident when the animal walks
* Brisket, flank, cod and twist all fill out giving the animal a rectangular appearance compared to the roundness of leaner, heavily muscled cattle
Muscling Assessment:
Visual Assessment:
While there is some debate as to the importance of carcase conformation or muscle shape, research has shown that retail yield increases 1.5% for each increase in live muscle score (not carcase muscle score) at the same live-weight and fatness.
Muscling is assessed into 5 scores, A to E, with A being the most muscular and E being to least muscular. Muscle scores do not infer a quality standard but rather describe the thickness and shape of the muscle in relation to frame size.
Muscle score should always be compared within animals of similar age and frame type. Always assess fatness first - it is easy to be too generous in muscle scoring very fat cattle.
Heavily muscled cattle stand with their hind legs further apart that lighter muscled animals. From the side, observe curvature of the muscles of the thigh. Muscle seams are clearly evident in heavily muscled leaner cattle. Also observe the thickness of the forearm. Heavily muscled cattle have a more expressive forearm then more lightly muscled cattle.
Ultrasound Scanning:
The eye muscle area of a live animal can be measured by experienced operators using Ultrasound scanners.
It is better to make comparisons between animals using EBV's derived from scan information rather than an actual scan measurement as EBV's are adjusted for differences in age and nutrition as well as for the heritability of the difference.
When assessing fatness of the live animal you should observe and feel several sites on the animal. Your assessment can be expressed either as fat thickness in mm at the 12th and 13th rib or P8 rump site.
Visual Assessment:
The single most important sites to assess fatness are around the tailhead and over the ribs. Other sites are the cod, twist, brisket and flank, however these sites are fat depots and indicate when the animal is becoming over-fat, they are less useful for determining fatness within the requirements of most markets.
Manual Fat Assessment:
The main areas to feel are the short ribs of the loin, over the long ribs and the tailhead.
Pinch out of a fold of skin next to the tail to feel how much fat there is. As the skin is about 6mm thick, deduct 12mm from the total thickness to estimate the fat thickness under the skin.
As cattle fatten:
* Ribs become less visible
* Tailhead softens with rounds of fat developing around the tail
* Muscle seams of the hindquarter become covered with fat and are less evident when the animal walks
* Brisket, flank, cod and twist all fill out giving the animal a rectangular appearance compared to the roundness of leaner, heavily muscled cattle
Muscling Assessment:
Visual Assessment:
While there is some debate as to the importance of carcase conformation or muscle shape, research has shown that retail yield increases 1.5% for each increase in live muscle score (not carcase muscle score) at the same live-weight and fatness.
Muscling is assessed into 5 scores, A to E, with A being the most muscular and E being to least muscular. Muscle scores do not infer a quality standard but rather describe the thickness and shape of the muscle in relation to frame size.
Muscle score should always be compared within animals of similar age and frame type. Always assess fatness first - it is easy to be too generous in muscle scoring very fat cattle.
Heavily muscled cattle stand with their hind legs further apart that lighter muscled animals. From the side, observe curvature of the muscles of the thigh. Muscle seams are clearly evident in heavily muscled leaner cattle. Also observe the thickness of the forearm. Heavily muscled cattle have a more expressive forearm then more lightly muscled cattle.
Ultrasound Scanning:
The eye muscle area of a live animal can be measured by experienced operators using Ultrasound scanners.
It is better to make comparisons between animals using EBV's derived from scan information rather than an actual scan measurement as EBV's are adjusted for differences in age and nutrition as well as for the heritability of the difference.
Show Ring
Preparation
Training the hair
Start training your animal’s hair early in the year. Train the hair the way you want it to lie. This is called “breaking the hair”.
Work the hair in an upward and forward direction using a rice root brush and scotch comb. The more brushing and combing done on the animal, the better. A good time to do this is when the animal is eating.
Work the hair in an upward and forward direction using a rice root brush and scotch comb. The more brushing and combing done on the animal, the better. A good time to do this is when the animal is eating.
Washing
Wash your animal once a month starting a couple of months before the show. Wet the animal down as often as possible.
If you wash your animals during the winter make sure you blow-dry it completely inside the shed so it does not catch a chill.
Pre-washing
1. Wet the animal using the soapy water. Use warm water if possible
2. Soap the animal from top to bottom using a brush to work the soap in and the dirt out
3. Scrub all areas – including head, tail, legs and hooves
4. Rinse off the soap. If you rinse bottom to top, the soapy water will run down under the belly. Poor rinsing leaves hair dull and the animal may get dandruff
5. Be careful when washing and rinsing the head. Hold the ears shut and downwards so no water gets in. If water does get into the ears, the animal will hold them lopsided
6. Rinse the animal well, making sure all the soap is out of the hair
7. A conditioner can be applied, brushed into the coat and rinsed off
8. Remove excess water and dip with the flat side of the scotch comb or the side of your hand. Start at the top and work down, drawing it underneath the belly also. Many animals are irritated by dripping water.
9. Check the animal for signs of lice, mange, ringworm, warts, pinkeye, etc.
10. Finally use the scotch comb to bring the hair back up. Blow dry the animal or let it dry in the sunlight if it is warm enough outside. In either case, brush the hair with a scotch comb while it is drying
11. Washing keeps the skin clean so it can breathe. This helps hair growth
If you wash your animals during the winter make sure you blow-dry it completely inside the shed so it does not catch a chill.
Pre-washing
- Before starting to wash your animal, get everything ready
- Collect all the equipment you will need – halter, rope, hose, bucket, brushes, soap, etc
- Put a nylon halter on the animal. When rope gets wet, it swells and could suffocate the animal, if it is not slackened or cut off. A nylon halter will not swell when it gets wet – a neck tie can be used if the animal is quiet enough
- Put on a rubber suit and boots – unless you want to have a bath
- Brush or use a blow dryer to remove straw, dust dead hair and manure from the animal
- Fill the bucket with warm water and add soap. Livestock soap or detergent is used because it is not harsh; other soaps remove more oil from the hair leaving a dull hair coat.
1. Wet the animal using the soapy water. Use warm water if possible
2. Soap the animal from top to bottom using a brush to work the soap in and the dirt out
3. Scrub all areas – including head, tail, legs and hooves
4. Rinse off the soap. If you rinse bottom to top, the soapy water will run down under the belly. Poor rinsing leaves hair dull and the animal may get dandruff
5. Be careful when washing and rinsing the head. Hold the ears shut and downwards so no water gets in. If water does get into the ears, the animal will hold them lopsided
6. Rinse the animal well, making sure all the soap is out of the hair
7. A conditioner can be applied, brushed into the coat and rinsed off
8. Remove excess water and dip with the flat side of the scotch comb or the side of your hand. Start at the top and work down, drawing it underneath the belly also. Many animals are irritated by dripping water.
9. Check the animal for signs of lice, mange, ringworm, warts, pinkeye, etc.
10. Finally use the scotch comb to bring the hair back up. Blow dry the animal or let it dry in the sunlight if it is warm enough outside. In either case, brush the hair with a scotch comb while it is drying
11. Washing keeps the skin clean so it can breathe. This helps hair growth
Blow Drying
Blow drying an animal can help to train the hair if it is properly done.
- Blow the hair in the same direction as you have been brushing the hair
- Start at the top of the animal and work the end of the nozzle at an angle. By doing it this way there are no lines left in the hair from the force of the air from the blower
- Make sure to blow dry all of the animal – legs, brisket, under the belly, etc
- Use a scotch comb in the other hand to work the hair in the same direction as it is being dried
- Keep the nozzle fairly close (about 5cm) to the animals body making full use to all the air from the blower
Clipping
Clipping is done to make the animal look trimmer and cleaner. Again, clipping is learned by actually doing it and by watching experienced people clipping their cattle for shows.
If you or your family have cattle that are not shown use these animals to practice on. It is a good idea to do the first clipping job on your animal a couple of months before the show. This will give any mistakes time to grow back. Remember, hair can be taken off a lot faster than it will grow back. Therefore do not get clipper-happy at first. You can always go back over the animals and take more off if it is required.
Cattle are clipped to make them look better. In order to make your animal look better, you must be able to see its strong points and weak points. A good clipping job can make the animal’s strong points stand out and perhaps more importantly, make the animal’s weak points less noticeable.
If you or your family have cattle that are not shown use these animals to practice on. It is a good idea to do the first clipping job on your animal a couple of months before the show. This will give any mistakes time to grow back. Remember, hair can be taken off a lot faster than it will grow back. Therefore do not get clipper-happy at first. You can always go back over the animals and take more off if it is required.
- In order to do a good job of clipping the clippers must be sharp. Get the blades sharpened or replaced as soon as they begin to go dull. The life of the clippers will depend on the type of hair they are clipping and how much they are used
- Before using clippers, remember to oil them. There are holes in the clipper head. This is where the clipper oil is squirted in. It is important to oil the blades while you are clipping. Clippers will get very hot and dull if they are not oiled enough
- Keep the clippers clean. After clipping clean the clippers by running them in diesel fuel or solvent. Dry them off before putting them away
- Reduce the tension on the blades before putting them away. Make sure that you tighten the tension in the blades before you start clipping. Check and make sure that the blades are not loosening during clipping and if this is happening you will notice that the hair is not being cut as well as it should be. Tighten it till the screw stops turning.
Cattle are clipped to make them look better. In order to make your animal look better, you must be able to see its strong points and weak points. A good clipping job can make the animal’s strong points stand out and perhaps more importantly, make the animal’s weak points less noticeable.
Parading
The show ring is the final test after weeks of hard work and dedication involving breaking in and handling to a stage where you are in complete control of your animal, feeding and grooming it to show standards
Day prior to Judging
Wash your animal thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner if desired, and tie it in a sunny spot so it can’t lie down.
While your animal is drying, put down some clean dry bedding which will keep it as clean as possible until the next day.
Polish your show halters (preferably leather halters with brass buckles and chain) and show leads. If using white ropes, these should have been washed at home and be in a clean, dry plastic bag. Your own clothes, white coat, boots and hat should all be clean and ready and in a safe place. Neckcards should be kept clean, ribbons tied on and details filled in clearly if required.
While your animal is drying, put down some clean dry bedding which will keep it as clean as possible until the next day.
Polish your show halters (preferably leather halters with brass buckles and chain) and show leads. If using white ropes, these should have been washed at home and be in a clean, dry plastic bag. Your own clothes, white coat, boots and hat should all be clean and ready and in a safe place. Neckcards should be kept clean, ribbons tied on and details filled in clearly if required.
Half an hour prior to Judging
Check that your animal is absolutely spotless (have a wet sponge handy in case of any dirty marks at the last minute). Have the coat well brushed and use a little oil if desired to give an extra shine.
Check yourself! Smartly dressed, White coat, shiny boots, clean hat. Check that your animal is fully dressed! Shiny halter, clean leads, neckcard, show cane ready.
Now that you are sure that you and your animal are immaculately turned out you are ready for the final crunch – to enter the show ring and face the judge.
Check yourself! Smartly dressed, White coat, shiny boots, clean hat. Check that your animal is fully dressed! Shiny halter, clean leads, neckcard, show cane ready.
Now that you are sure that you and your animal are immaculately turned out you are ready for the final crunch – to enter the show ring and face the judge.
Parade your animal
As you enter the ring, you and your animal must be as one. You should be positioned half way between the shoulders and the ear. Make your animal walk out boldly to show off its agility and outlook, this being a sirey outlook in the case of a bull whereas with a heifer, it is her femininity. You must walk in feeling proud and superior to anyone else in the ring, and have that ultimate desire to win. You don’t have very long to convince the judge that you have the best animal. Everyone should be parading clockwise around the ring so that the judge has a view of the outside of your animal.
Be calm and alert
The essence of good parading is to remain calm and alert at all times. If you are calm, the animal will feel more at ease under the strange conditions and parade better. Being alert allows you to prepare your animal to halt and move off as soon as the judge indicates. There is nothing that looks worse than seeing someone dawdling along, not paying attention to the judge and bumping into the rear of the animal in front of them after everyone has been requested to halt.
Handling
If you hope to successfully exhibit a steer, it is necessary to realize that you can’t prepare it in a hurry – it takes time.
Beef
Certified Hereford Beef
Hereford cattle have long enjoyed a reputation for producing truly great tasting beef. It started when innovative farmers in early 19th century America began importing the red-bodied, white-faced cattle from Herefordshire, England to breed to their dairy based stock in order to “beef up” the quality of future generations of cattle. Always known for hardiness and adaptability, the breed flourished with the Westward expansion of America, adding much needed weight and flesh to the native Texas Longhorns.
In 1881, Hereford breeders formed the American Hereford Association to protect the genetic purity of the breed and to promote its use by farmers and ranchers throughout the country. The first association of its kind, the American Hereford Association has been tracking the lineages of Hereford cattle ever since, registering animals long before the American Kennel Club, the American Quarter Horse Association or any other cattle breed association.
The Certified Hereford Beef program began as a marketing initiative of the American Hereford Association in 1994. Based on the findings of over three years of Colorado State University research that proved the superior eating quality and consistency of Hereford Beef, the three-fold mission of the program was, and continues to be:
In November of 1999, Greater Omaha Packing Company became the second licensed processor of Certified Hereford Beef. There the program flourished, increasing demand 40 percent annually. In 2002, Greater Omaha will harvest more than 138,000 cattle for the CHB program.
Greater Omaha opened a new, state-of-the-art harvest facility in July of 2000. Built around the latest food safety technology, the plant assures Certified Hereford Beef customers that they are receiving the cleanest, most wholesome product possible from one of the industry’s most reputable suppliers.
In November of 2000, the American Hereford Association established Certified Hereford Beef LLC to oversee the CHB program on its behalf. Certified Hereford Beef LLC is a non-profit, limited liability company which licenses and protects the use of the CHB trademark, markets the CHB brand, and oversees supply development. CHB LLC maintains its headquarters in Kansas City and is fully funded by program packers, distributors and suppliers.
For consumers, Certified Hereford Beef provides a consistently satisfying eating experience without the excessive amounts of marbling commonly associated with premium quality beef. Since 1997, sales of Certified Hereford Beef have increased an average of 30 percent per year.
Retailers, Distributors and Restaurateurs benefit from increased customer loyalty to the Certified Hereford Beef brand and the marketing opportunities of having a signature beef line. Certified Hereford Beef is the only premium brand that doesn’t require excessive amounts of marbling. The result is leaner, better tasting products for quality conscious consumers.
Cattle producers are rewarded for superior performing carcasses through Greater Omaha’s grid pricing cattle procurement procedure. By sourcing cattle directly from Hereford breeders and their rancher customers, Certified Hereford Beef’s supplier feedlots create a pull demand for these specific cattle and enhance their marketability throughout the industry.
Approximately 350 retail stores across the country. The product is also the exclusive brand of Harker’s Food Service, serving restaurateurs in 10 Midwestern states.
In July of 2003, National Beef Packing Company joined Greater Omaha as a program licensed packer. Together these companies process 4,500 certified carcasses each week for nationwide distribution.
In 1881, Hereford breeders formed the American Hereford Association to protect the genetic purity of the breed and to promote its use by farmers and ranchers throughout the country. The first association of its kind, the American Hereford Association has been tracking the lineages of Hereford cattle ever since, registering animals long before the American Kennel Club, the American Quarter Horse Association or any other cattle breed association.
The Certified Hereford Beef program began as a marketing initiative of the American Hereford Association in 1994. Based on the findings of over three years of Colorado State University research that proved the superior eating quality and consistency of Hereford Beef, the three-fold mission of the program was, and continues to be:
- To provide consumers with consistently tender, juicy and flavourful beef products
- To enhance the marketing opportunities of food industry distributors, retailers and restaurateurs
- To increase the demand for commercial Hereford influenced cattle
In November of 1999, Greater Omaha Packing Company became the second licensed processor of Certified Hereford Beef. There the program flourished, increasing demand 40 percent annually. In 2002, Greater Omaha will harvest more than 138,000 cattle for the CHB program.
Greater Omaha opened a new, state-of-the-art harvest facility in July of 2000. Built around the latest food safety technology, the plant assures Certified Hereford Beef customers that they are receiving the cleanest, most wholesome product possible from one of the industry’s most reputable suppliers.
In November of 2000, the American Hereford Association established Certified Hereford Beef LLC to oversee the CHB program on its behalf. Certified Hereford Beef LLC is a non-profit, limited liability company which licenses and protects the use of the CHB trademark, markets the CHB brand, and oversees supply development. CHB LLC maintains its headquarters in Kansas City and is fully funded by program packers, distributors and suppliers.
For consumers, Certified Hereford Beef provides a consistently satisfying eating experience without the excessive amounts of marbling commonly associated with premium quality beef. Since 1997, sales of Certified Hereford Beef have increased an average of 30 percent per year.
Retailers, Distributors and Restaurateurs benefit from increased customer loyalty to the Certified Hereford Beef brand and the marketing opportunities of having a signature beef line. Certified Hereford Beef is the only premium brand that doesn’t require excessive amounts of marbling. The result is leaner, better tasting products for quality conscious consumers.
Cattle producers are rewarded for superior performing carcasses through Greater Omaha’s grid pricing cattle procurement procedure. By sourcing cattle directly from Hereford breeders and their rancher customers, Certified Hereford Beef’s supplier feedlots create a pull demand for these specific cattle and enhance their marketability throughout the industry.
Approximately 350 retail stores across the country. The product is also the exclusive brand of Harker’s Food Service, serving restaurateurs in 10 Midwestern states.
In July of 2003, National Beef Packing Company joined Greater Omaha as a program licensed packer. Together these companies process 4,500 certified carcasses each week for nationwide distribution.
Beef Economics
The beef cattle industry has a bright future because beef is a nutritious, high quality protein for which an expanding market is now assured, and producing beef is the most economic method of converting the grasslands of the world into protein. The Hereford and its crosses have a vital role to perform in helping to satisfy this demand. No breed or cross is better adapted to take advantage of modern feed conditions or equal the efficient conversion of food or roughage into prime beef.
Herefords have a great capacity to deal with grass or arable by-products and the breed and its crosses have the unique ability to winter rough, hold their flesh yet put on weight quicker than any other on pasture. No breed can equal the Hereford for siring profitable feeders from dairy or beef cows of indigenous breeds anywhere in the world.
In the United Kingdom, some breeders have developed their own meat producing schemes by marketing locally produced quality Hereford beef. More and more people are becoming conscious of where the products they are buying are being sourced. This trend is labelled “Food Mile” and customers are happy to pay a little extra for locally grown produce.
While not selling beef under the Hereford Prime label these breeders have successfully developed a quality product from their Hereford cattle and they are successfully marketing a local product.
The Cheerbrook Hereford stud, decided to start a farm gate quality food industry and altered one of their piggeries to set up shop. Customers like to drive out into the country to get locally produced quality meats. Often the customers would chat to seek advice on what to purchase and how to cook the product.
Herefords have a great capacity to deal with grass or arable by-products and the breed and its crosses have the unique ability to winter rough, hold their flesh yet put on weight quicker than any other on pasture. No breed can equal the Hereford for siring profitable feeders from dairy or beef cows of indigenous breeds anywhere in the world.
In the United Kingdom, some breeders have developed their own meat producing schemes by marketing locally produced quality Hereford beef. More and more people are becoming conscious of where the products they are buying are being sourced. This trend is labelled “Food Mile” and customers are happy to pay a little extra for locally grown produce.
While not selling beef under the Hereford Prime label these breeders have successfully developed a quality product from their Hereford cattle and they are successfully marketing a local product.
The Cheerbrook Hereford stud, decided to start a farm gate quality food industry and altered one of their piggeries to set up shop. Customers like to drive out into the country to get locally produced quality meats. Often the customers would chat to seek advice on what to purchase and how to cook the product.
Feeding
Grazing Cattle
Grazing cattle can’t have their nutritional intake monitored in the same way as hand fed cattle.
It is the responsibility of the farmer to improve the pastures in a way so as to maximize nutritional value. One of the crucial factors in achieving optimum beef production from grazing cattle is to adjust the stocking rate and pasture management so that the maximum amount of pasture is consumed without damaging the pasture, or subjecting the cattle concerned to gross under nutrition.
Hardy Herefords convert grass and herbage to meat, even in the worst of environments
It is the responsibility of the farmer to improve the pastures in a way so as to maximize nutritional value. One of the crucial factors in achieving optimum beef production from grazing cattle is to adjust the stocking rate and pasture management so that the maximum amount of pasture is consumed without damaging the pasture, or subjecting the cattle concerned to gross under nutrition.
Hardy Herefords convert grass and herbage to meat, even in the worst of environments
A Basic Feed Ration
A suitable ration needs to be palatable, formulated to meet the production requirements desired, and minimise the chance of digestive upsets.
Feeding guidelines are only the starting point, experience provides the fine tuning.
A simple mix that has been used with good results comprises of:
Crushed grain 250kg
Bran 50kg
Protein Supplement 100kg
Phosphate Supplement 3kg
Limestone 3kg
Salt 3kg
Feeding guidelines are only the starting point, experience provides the fine tuning.
A simple mix that has been used with good results comprises of:
Crushed grain 250kg
Bran 50kg
Protein Supplement 100kg
Phosphate Supplement 3kg
Limestone 3kg
Salt 3kg
- Grain can be one, or a mix of oats, barley or sorghum. Grain should be rolled or coarsely crushed. If crushed too fine and powdery, digestive upsets are more likely to occur
- Bran is used to keep the mix light and free flowing. If unavailable, cottonseed hulls can be substituted
- Protein supplement can be one, or a mix of cottonseed meal, linseed meal, meatmeal or lupins. More than about 20% meatmeal could depress appetite
- Phosphorous supplement can be mono-ammonium phosphate or bonemeal
Feeding Rate
The amount to feed will depend on the result desired, the quality of available paddock feed, age of stock, etc. More or less than the suggested amount, may be required to get optimum results.
As a rule of thumb, cattle eat about 2.5 to 3% of their bodyweight in dry feed each day.
As a rule of thumb, cattle eat about 2.5 to 3% of their bodyweight in dry feed each day.
Starting to feed
High grain content diets can cause digestive upsets and even death if introduced too rapidly. Therefore do not start by feeding the full amount of the ration at the start but rather introduce the ration over several weeks.
Start by feeding 1kg/head/day for several days, then increase 1/2kg every second day until the required amount is being fed.
Start by feeding 1kg/head/day for several days, then increase 1/2kg every second day until the required amount is being fed.
Feedlots
Feedlots pay premiums for Herefords because:
1) Of their tremendous efficient feed conversion ration (FCR)
2) Of their high growth rate (ADG and ADA)
3) Of a quicker turn around time
4) Of their tremendous temperament
Getting Herefords Feedlot ready
(courtesy of Herefords Australia Limited)
The Hereford Feedlot Ready program is a cost effective, easy to manage pathway to improved health that assists cattle perform to their genetic potential.
Feedlots are an increasingly important destination for feeder cattle.
The feedlot sector absorbs more than 30% of Australia’s cattle turnover and continues to grow every year.
A survey of feedlot managers conducted by Herefords Australia Limited confirmed Herefords are suitable for both domestic short fed and 100 – 150 days feeding programs. Recent Beef CRC work has shown that eating quality of Herefords is as good as any other British breed and they perform comparably in feedlots.
Cattle have been bred for hundreds of years to be well suited for pasture-based production. Herefords have been very successful in this production system. The transition to feedlot finishing has presented a number of challenges for cattle producers.
Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRD) is the biggest health challenge facing the feedlot finishing system. Cattle that do not experience BRD perform much better than those that do. Cattle that are less likely to succumb to health problems are sought after by feedlot managers.
Cattle are of higher risk of developing BRD upon entry to the feedlot if they are not adequately prepared. Implementation of health improvement strategy prior to weaning will produce the best results and is recommended regardless of whether cattle are destined for a feedlot direct from the property of origin.
Research conducted by the Beef CRC and Bell Veterinary Services has shown when animals are prepared correctly pre weaning, health problems are reduced by up to 60%. Improved performance and meat quality are flow-on benefits of improved health.
1) Of their tremendous efficient feed conversion ration (FCR)
2) Of their high growth rate (ADG and ADA)
3) Of a quicker turn around time
4) Of their tremendous temperament
Getting Herefords Feedlot ready
(courtesy of Herefords Australia Limited)
The Hereford Feedlot Ready program is a cost effective, easy to manage pathway to improved health that assists cattle perform to their genetic potential.
Feedlots are an increasingly important destination for feeder cattle.
The feedlot sector absorbs more than 30% of Australia’s cattle turnover and continues to grow every year.
A survey of feedlot managers conducted by Herefords Australia Limited confirmed Herefords are suitable for both domestic short fed and 100 – 150 days feeding programs. Recent Beef CRC work has shown that eating quality of Herefords is as good as any other British breed and they perform comparably in feedlots.
Cattle have been bred for hundreds of years to be well suited for pasture-based production. Herefords have been very successful in this production system. The transition to feedlot finishing has presented a number of challenges for cattle producers.
Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRD) is the biggest health challenge facing the feedlot finishing system. Cattle that do not experience BRD perform much better than those that do. Cattle that are less likely to succumb to health problems are sought after by feedlot managers.
Cattle are of higher risk of developing BRD upon entry to the feedlot if they are not adequately prepared. Implementation of health improvement strategy prior to weaning will produce the best results and is recommended regardless of whether cattle are destined for a feedlot direct from the property of origin.
Research conducted by the Beef CRC and Bell Veterinary Services has shown when animals are prepared correctly pre weaning, health problems are reduced by up to 60%. Improved performance and meat quality are flow-on benefits of improved health.
Cattle Diseases
To be used as a guideline.
Consult your local vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment
Abscesses
Caused by wounds, migrating grass seeds or infected bruises. Abscesses may burst or need opening. Large abscesses around the head may be TB in the lymph nodes so exercise caution if attempting to lance abscesses without professional help. Once lanced, flush out with antiseptic and spray with antiseptic powder.
Blackleg
An acute gas gangrene of the muscles. Cattle healthy the one day are dead the next. Prevention is by simple vaccination of calves with blackleg or 5 in 1 vaccinations.
Bloat
Bloat is a build up of gas in the rumen or paunch of ruminants. The most common cause is ingestion of leguminous pastures such as Lucerne. Obstruction of the gullet may also cause bloat. Obstruction requires veterinary attention otherwise anti-bloat drenches may be used.
Botulism
A paralysis leading to starvation and death caused by ingestion of decaying plant or animal tissues containing the botulinum toxin produced by the bacteria growing in such material. Cattle eat bones and rotting carcasses if suffering a phosphorous deficiency. Supplementing with phosphorous and vaccination against botulism in phosphorous deficient areas should be done. Care must also be taken in feedlots when feeding meal to cattle.
John's Disease
(extract from Wikipedia)
Johne's disease (pronounced "yo-knees") is a contagious, chronic and usually fatal infection that affects primarily the small intestine of ruminants. A ruminant is any hoofed animal that digests its food in two steps, first by eating the raw material then regurgitating and eating a semi-digested form known as cud. All ruminants are susceptible to Johne's disease, which is sometimes called paratuberculosis. The disease is worldwide in distribution.
Signs of Johne's disease include weight loss and diarrhoea with a normal appetite. Several weeks after the onset of diarrhoea, a soft swelling may occur under the jaw (bottle jaw). Bottle jaw or intermandibular edema is due to protein loss from the bloodstream into the digestive tract. Animals at this stage of the disease will not live very long, perhaps a few weeks at most.
Signs are rarely evident until two or more years after the initial infection, which usually occurs shortly after birth. Animals are most susceptible to the infection in the first year of life. Newborns most often become infected by swallowing small amounts of infected manure from the birthing environment or udder of the mother. In addition, newborns may become infected while in the uterus or by swallowing bacteria passed in milk and colostrum. Animals exposed at an older age, or exposed to a very small dose of bacteria at a young age, are not likely to develop clinical disease until they are much older than two years.
The primary site targeted by Johne's disease is the lower part of the intestine known as the ileum. The wall of the ileum contains a large number of pockets of lymphoid tissue known as Peyer's patches that lie just beneath the interior surface of the intestine. Peyer's patches are clusters of macrophages and lymphocytes that are organized much like lymph nodes. Covering Peyer's patches are a layer of cells called M cells. These cells function to circulate into the lumen of the intestines where they ingest antigens (bacteria) before returning to the Peyer's patch to "show" these antigens to the macrophages and lymphocytes. This is a means of "educating" the cells in a young animal about its environment and is a protective mechanism designed to help the animal become immune to pathogens in its environment.
Unfortunately, when M cells bring M. paratuberculosis to the Peyer's patch, the bacteria finds an ideal place for growth. Macrophages in Peyer's patches engulf M. paratuberculosis for the purpose of destroying the foreign invader, but for reasons that are unclear; these macrophages fail to do this. Inside a macrophage, M. paratuberculosis multiplies until it eventually kills the cell, spreads and infects other nearby cells. In time, other parts of the ileum and other regions of the body are teeming with millions of the mycobacterium. How M. paratuberculosis neutralizes or evades the normally efficient bacterial killing mechanisms of the macrophages is unknown, although the unusually resistant cell wall of mycobacterium likely plays an important role.
The animal's immune system reacts to the M. paratuberculosis invasion by recruiting more macrophages and lymphocytes to the site of the infection. The lymphocytes release a variety of chemicals signals, called cytokines, in attempt to increase the bacterial killing power of the macrophages. Macrophages fuse together forming large cells, called multinucleated giant cells, in an apparent attempt to kill the mycobacterium. Infiltration of infected tissues with millions of lymphocytes and macrophages leads to visible thickening of the intestines. This prevents nutrient absorption and diarrhoea results. Late in the infection, antibody production by the animal occurs to M. paratuberculosis in serum of animals and is an indicator that clinical signs of disease and death from the infection will soon follow.
Johne's disease (pronounced "yo-knees") is a contagious, chronic and usually fatal infection that affects primarily the small intestine of ruminants. A ruminant is any hoofed animal that digests its food in two steps, first by eating the raw material then regurgitating and eating a semi-digested form known as cud. All ruminants are susceptible to Johne's disease, which is sometimes called paratuberculosis. The disease is worldwide in distribution.
Signs of Johne's disease include weight loss and diarrhoea with a normal appetite. Several weeks after the onset of diarrhoea, a soft swelling may occur under the jaw (bottle jaw). Bottle jaw or intermandibular edema is due to protein loss from the bloodstream into the digestive tract. Animals at this stage of the disease will not live very long, perhaps a few weeks at most.
Signs are rarely evident until two or more years after the initial infection, which usually occurs shortly after birth. Animals are most susceptible to the infection in the first year of life. Newborns most often become infected by swallowing small amounts of infected manure from the birthing environment or udder of the mother. In addition, newborns may become infected while in the uterus or by swallowing bacteria passed in milk and colostrum. Animals exposed at an older age, or exposed to a very small dose of bacteria at a young age, are not likely to develop clinical disease until they are much older than two years.
The primary site targeted by Johne's disease is the lower part of the intestine known as the ileum. The wall of the ileum contains a large number of pockets of lymphoid tissue known as Peyer's patches that lie just beneath the interior surface of the intestine. Peyer's patches are clusters of macrophages and lymphocytes that are organized much like lymph nodes. Covering Peyer's patches are a layer of cells called M cells. These cells function to circulate into the lumen of the intestines where they ingest antigens (bacteria) before returning to the Peyer's patch to "show" these antigens to the macrophages and lymphocytes. This is a means of "educating" the cells in a young animal about its environment and is a protective mechanism designed to help the animal become immune to pathogens in its environment.
Unfortunately, when M cells bring M. paratuberculosis to the Peyer's patch, the bacteria finds an ideal place for growth. Macrophages in Peyer's patches engulf M. paratuberculosis for the purpose of destroying the foreign invader, but for reasons that are unclear; these macrophages fail to do this. Inside a macrophage, M. paratuberculosis multiplies until it eventually kills the cell, spreads and infects other nearby cells. In time, other parts of the ileum and other regions of the body are teeming with millions of the mycobacterium. How M. paratuberculosis neutralizes or evades the normally efficient bacterial killing mechanisms of the macrophages is unknown, although the unusually resistant cell wall of mycobacterium likely plays an important role.
The animal's immune system reacts to the M. paratuberculosis invasion by recruiting more macrophages and lymphocytes to the site of the infection. The lymphocytes release a variety of chemicals signals, called cytokines, in attempt to increase the bacterial killing power of the macrophages. Macrophages fuse together forming large cells, called multinucleated giant cells, in an apparent attempt to kill the mycobacterium. Infiltration of infected tissues with millions of lymphocytes and macrophages leads to visible thickening of the intestines. This prevents nutrient absorption and diarrhoea results. Late in the infection, antibody production by the animal occurs to M. paratuberculosis in serum of animals and is an indicator that clinical signs of disease and death from the infection will soon follow.
Pink Eye
Caused by bacterial infection of the eye, spread by flies, people handling cattle and dust. Eyes first become red and inflamed, tears and later a bluish film over the eye. If left untreated, pink eye can cause blindness. Detection early is vital to cure the infection. Antibiotics, pink eye sprays or powders are available and should be kept readily accessible.
Scours in Calves
Factors which make calves more susceptible to scours are:
· Failure to have a good feed of colostrums or first milk
· Being fed milk which is too rich in butterfat
· Being overfed or fed only once a day, especially if milk is cold
· If calves are in dirty, wet, cold yards which cause chills
Transport stress or exhaustion
· Failure to have a good feed of colostrums or first milk
· Being fed milk which is too rich in butterfat
· Being overfed or fed only once a day, especially if milk is cold
· If calves are in dirty, wet, cold yards which cause chills
Transport stress or exhaustion
Warts
These are caused by a viral infection and appear mainly on the skin of the head and neck of young animals. It is largely a self-curing disease and most warts fall off about four months after they appear. They can be removed surgically, with ointment or injection. This may be important if showing animals.
Genetics
Herefords are known internationally for top quality genetics and breeding standards
Firstly we must define two basic terms, phenotype and genotype. The phenotype of an animal refers to the physical characteristics of that animal. The genotype refers to only that part of the animal that is due to his genes (amino acids that transfer the messages from parents to offspring).
HOW DOES GENES WORK?
Taking the simplest example first, traits such as horns or no horns (poll) are governed by a single pair of genes, one of which will come from the dam and one from the sire. One of the forms of the gene will often be dominant over the other, in this case the gene for poll dominates the gene for horns meaning that even if an animal has one of each gene form, in the flesh it will be polled. To have horns it must have two of the gene form for horns.
Firstly we must define two basic terms, phenotype and genotype. The phenotype of an animal refers to the physical characteristics of that animal. The genotype refers to only that part of the animal that is due to his genes (amino acids that transfer the messages from parents to offspring).
HOW DOES GENES WORK?
Taking the simplest example first, traits such as horns or no horns (poll) are governed by a single pair of genes, one of which will come from the dam and one from the sire. One of the forms of the gene will often be dominant over the other, in this case the gene for poll dominates the gene for horns meaning that even if an animal has one of each gene form, in the flesh it will be polled. To have horns it must have two of the gene form for horns.
Artificial Insemination
SETTING UP A PROGRAM:
Before you AI, ensure the Society has a blood type on file for the sire. To use artificial breeding in beef cattle successfully you must design a program related to the requirements and resources of your herd.
The result you achieve will depend on a number of factors, most of which can be controlled on the property. In well managed programs, conception rates of about 65 to 70 per cent can be achieved at the first insemination and about 85 per cent at the second.
If cows are cycling normally, the factor that causes most failures is the problem of detecting cows in oestrus.
SUITABILITY OF COWS AND HEIFERS:
Cows chosen for an AI program must have normally functioning ovaries and should have come on heat at least once since calving. This means your program should begin at least 60 days after calving.
The cows must gain weight during this period. Aim for a bodyweight increase of about 0.2 to 0.4 kg per day and, if necessary, use supplementary feeding to achieve it. Heifers should come on heat regularly before the program begins and have a bodyweight of at least 300kg. Watch the herd for signs of heat for several weeks before the program begins, to make certain that enough cows will be receptive. Do not use cows left over from a natural mating program. They will be less fertile, and poor results are a certainty.
Cows that have just calved for the first time often have problems returning to oestrus, so leave them out of the program. You will get better results with cows that have already raised their first calf.
LABOUR:
You need labour for detecting cows on heat, moving stock to the yards, keeping records and inseminating. The people you employ should be good cattle handlers and have a basic knowledge of AI. The number you employ will depend on the number of cows in the program and the type of program you intend to use. It is essential to have enough people to handle peak period.
INSEMINATOR:
You must be proficient in your own right or employ a competent inseminator. You will most likely employ the local veterinarian or arrange to have yourself or one of your staff trained as an inseminator. Training courses are regularly conducted. – contact your local association or veterinarian for more information.
YARDS AND HOLDING PADDOCKS:
In an AI program you have a limited time in which to inseminate the cows. Your holding paddocks and yards must be well equipped, in good order and large enough to handle peak numbers of cows in the time available.
A crush 660mm wide with a gate at the end to allow easy access for the inseminator is necessary. It is preferable not to bail the cow for insemination, so use a chain or rail behind the cow to prevent her from moving back. The crush area should be roofed over so that insemination can proceed regardless of weather.
A small shed near the crush is useful for storing semen and recording sheets. A supply of water for washing the equipment is essential. Cows should be held fairly close to yards during the program because considerable time is spent going back and forth checking for cows on heat and moving cows in for insemination.
If suitable paddocks to handle the number of stock for the duration of the program are not available close to the yards, some form of feeding may be necessary. The use of oestrus synchronization programs can reduce the load on adjacent paddocks.
OESTRUS DETECTION AND TIME OF INSEMINATION:
Regardless of how well planned the AI program is, if the animals are not detected in oestrus and inseminated at the proper time, other efforts are wasted.
Cows come into oestrus approximately every 21 days (range 18-24) during which time they are receptive to the bull. Oestrus lasts 18 hours in cows and only 6 to 12 hours in heifers. The best time to inseminate the cow is 12 to 24 hours after the onset of oestrus, that is, towards the end or just after the end of oestrus. In practice, cows first seen in oestrus in the morning are inseminated in the afternoon, and cows first seen in oestrus in the afternoon are inseminated the following morning.
Cows must be observed at least twice a day during the AI program, in the early morning and late afternoon, although a third observation at midday is usually worthwhile. Cows in oestrus are moved to the yards for insemination.
A suitable schedule would be:
Cows on heat, or coming on heat, will usually gather together and form a restless group and show some or all of the following signs:
There are a number of methods that can be used to aid in detecting cows in oestrus.
Vasectomised bulls (teasers) will display the sexual characteristics of an entire bull but are infertile. They will seek out cows in oestrus and thus form a readily identifiable group. The benefit of using vasectomised bulls is increased if they are fitted with chin-ball marking harness. The harness consists of a ball-operated paint reservoir which is strapped under the chin so that when the bull mounts, the cow is marked over the hindquarter with the paint.
About 3 vasectomised bulls per 100 cows are needed for unsynchronised programs and 5 to 8 vasectomised bulls per 100 cows for synchronised programs. Because of the risk of spreading venereal disease, care must be given to the selection and management of vasectomised bulls.
Steers treated with hormones can be used in place of vasectomised bulls but they are not as reliable.
There is also a heat mount detector available, which is a plastic tube containing dye. The tube is fixed in a white envelope which is glued on the cow’s rump. When the cow is mounted, pressure on the tube releases the dye and the cow is identified. Heat mount detectors are about 85 to 90 per cent accurate.
Specially formulated paint applied over the top of the cow’s tail is also a detection aid. When cows are mounted the paint is rubbed off and the cow is conspicuous.
SYNCHRONISING OESTRUS FOR AB:
By using the drug Prostoglandin, a group of cows can be synchronised to come into oestrus over the same 2 to 3 day period, thus greatly reducing the time to conduct the AI program. Synchronisation pays where skilled labour for oestrus detection and/or insemination is very expensive, or where feed is short and stock cannot be held close to the yard long enough for natural oestrus cycles to be observed.
Prostoglandin is a restrictive drug available only through a veterinary practitioner, and will cause abortion if the cow is in calf. The drug is ineffective unless the cows are cycling normally; they must have been on heat at least once since calving. Prostoglandin is relatively expensive and should be used with this in mind.
TYPES OF AI PROGRAMS:
An AI program usually runs for either 21 days (one cycle in which all cows have one chance of being on heat) or 42 days (two cycles). However, the use of Prostoglandin can considerably reduce the duration of the program.
If a given number of conceptions to the AI program are required, a proportionately greater number of cows should be used to allow for failures, especially in oestrus detection and “non-takers” to insemination.
After the program the cows are usually run with a “clean-up” bull to cover those cows that did not conceive from AI. At least 21 days should elapse after the AI program is concluded before clean-up bulls are used if sire parentage of the calves needs to be known.
Properly organised, it is possible to achieve good results with “do it yourself” AI programs with beef cattle.
Good results don’t just “happen”.
Before you AI, ensure the Society has a blood type on file for the sire. To use artificial breeding in beef cattle successfully you must design a program related to the requirements and resources of your herd.
The result you achieve will depend on a number of factors, most of which can be controlled on the property. In well managed programs, conception rates of about 65 to 70 per cent can be achieved at the first insemination and about 85 per cent at the second.
If cows are cycling normally, the factor that causes most failures is the problem of detecting cows in oestrus.
SUITABILITY OF COWS AND HEIFERS:
Cows chosen for an AI program must have normally functioning ovaries and should have come on heat at least once since calving. This means your program should begin at least 60 days after calving.
The cows must gain weight during this period. Aim for a bodyweight increase of about 0.2 to 0.4 kg per day and, if necessary, use supplementary feeding to achieve it. Heifers should come on heat regularly before the program begins and have a bodyweight of at least 300kg. Watch the herd for signs of heat for several weeks before the program begins, to make certain that enough cows will be receptive. Do not use cows left over from a natural mating program. They will be less fertile, and poor results are a certainty.
Cows that have just calved for the first time often have problems returning to oestrus, so leave them out of the program. You will get better results with cows that have already raised their first calf.
LABOUR:
You need labour for detecting cows on heat, moving stock to the yards, keeping records and inseminating. The people you employ should be good cattle handlers and have a basic knowledge of AI. The number you employ will depend on the number of cows in the program and the type of program you intend to use. It is essential to have enough people to handle peak period.
INSEMINATOR:
You must be proficient in your own right or employ a competent inseminator. You will most likely employ the local veterinarian or arrange to have yourself or one of your staff trained as an inseminator. Training courses are regularly conducted. – contact your local association or veterinarian for more information.
YARDS AND HOLDING PADDOCKS:
In an AI program you have a limited time in which to inseminate the cows. Your holding paddocks and yards must be well equipped, in good order and large enough to handle peak numbers of cows in the time available.
A crush 660mm wide with a gate at the end to allow easy access for the inseminator is necessary. It is preferable not to bail the cow for insemination, so use a chain or rail behind the cow to prevent her from moving back. The crush area should be roofed over so that insemination can proceed regardless of weather.
A small shed near the crush is useful for storing semen and recording sheets. A supply of water for washing the equipment is essential. Cows should be held fairly close to yards during the program because considerable time is spent going back and forth checking for cows on heat and moving cows in for insemination.
If suitable paddocks to handle the number of stock for the duration of the program are not available close to the yards, some form of feeding may be necessary. The use of oestrus synchronization programs can reduce the load on adjacent paddocks.
OESTRUS DETECTION AND TIME OF INSEMINATION:
Regardless of how well planned the AI program is, if the animals are not detected in oestrus and inseminated at the proper time, other efforts are wasted.
Cows come into oestrus approximately every 21 days (range 18-24) during which time they are receptive to the bull. Oestrus lasts 18 hours in cows and only 6 to 12 hours in heifers. The best time to inseminate the cow is 12 to 24 hours after the onset of oestrus, that is, towards the end or just after the end of oestrus. In practice, cows first seen in oestrus in the morning are inseminated in the afternoon, and cows first seen in oestrus in the afternoon are inseminated the following morning.
Cows must be observed at least twice a day during the AI program, in the early morning and late afternoon, although a third observation at midday is usually worthwhile. Cows in oestrus are moved to the yards for insemination.
A suitable schedule would be:
- Daylight to 07:00. Detect and cut out cows on heat
- 07:30 to 08:30. Inseminate cows cut out on the previous afternoon
- 15:00 to 16:00. Inseminate cows cut out that morning
- 16:00 to 18:00. Detect and cut out cows on heat
Cows on heat, or coming on heat, will usually gather together and form a restless group and show some or all of the following signs:
- Restlessness. Walking around from one cow to another, bawling and trying to mount other cows
- A clearly watery mucous discharge from the vulva
- The vulva becomes swollen and moist
- Indications of being mounted, such as roughened hair over the rump and mud marks on the flank
- Standing to be mounted by other cows. This is one sure sign that the cow is in full oestrus (standing heat)
There are a number of methods that can be used to aid in detecting cows in oestrus.
Vasectomised bulls (teasers) will display the sexual characteristics of an entire bull but are infertile. They will seek out cows in oestrus and thus form a readily identifiable group. The benefit of using vasectomised bulls is increased if they are fitted with chin-ball marking harness. The harness consists of a ball-operated paint reservoir which is strapped under the chin so that when the bull mounts, the cow is marked over the hindquarter with the paint.
About 3 vasectomised bulls per 100 cows are needed for unsynchronised programs and 5 to 8 vasectomised bulls per 100 cows for synchronised programs. Because of the risk of spreading venereal disease, care must be given to the selection and management of vasectomised bulls.
Steers treated with hormones can be used in place of vasectomised bulls but they are not as reliable.
There is also a heat mount detector available, which is a plastic tube containing dye. The tube is fixed in a white envelope which is glued on the cow’s rump. When the cow is mounted, pressure on the tube releases the dye and the cow is identified. Heat mount detectors are about 85 to 90 per cent accurate.
Specially formulated paint applied over the top of the cow’s tail is also a detection aid. When cows are mounted the paint is rubbed off and the cow is conspicuous.
SYNCHRONISING OESTRUS FOR AB:
By using the drug Prostoglandin, a group of cows can be synchronised to come into oestrus over the same 2 to 3 day period, thus greatly reducing the time to conduct the AI program. Synchronisation pays where skilled labour for oestrus detection and/or insemination is very expensive, or where feed is short and stock cannot be held close to the yard long enough for natural oestrus cycles to be observed.
Prostoglandin is a restrictive drug available only through a veterinary practitioner, and will cause abortion if the cow is in calf. The drug is ineffective unless the cows are cycling normally; they must have been on heat at least once since calving. Prostoglandin is relatively expensive and should be used with this in mind.
TYPES OF AI PROGRAMS:
An AI program usually runs for either 21 days (one cycle in which all cows have one chance of being on heat) or 42 days (two cycles). However, the use of Prostoglandin can considerably reduce the duration of the program.
If a given number of conceptions to the AI program are required, a proportionately greater number of cows should be used to allow for failures, especially in oestrus detection and “non-takers” to insemination.
After the program the cows are usually run with a “clean-up” bull to cover those cows that did not conceive from AI. At least 21 days should elapse after the AI program is concluded before clean-up bulls are used if sire parentage of the calves needs to be known.
Properly organised, it is possible to achieve good results with “do it yourself” AI programs with beef cattle.
Good results don’t just “happen”.
Embryo Transfer
Like AI, Embryo Transfer is a technique for genetic manipulation.
The standard procedure involves treating a donor female with hormones which causes super ovulation. She is then inseminated several times. The fertilized eggs are collected at 7 days and transferred to recipient cows which were in oestrus at the same time as the donor. The recipient then carries the embryo till the calf is born.
SELECTION OF DONORS:
At present embryo transfers are economically feasible only for valuable cattle. True genetic value, is the most important long range consideration. Treatment of heifers less than 15 months of age is not recommended, although super ovulation regimes for calves are possible. Success rates fall off when cows older than 10 years are used.
SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS:
Selecting animals for a recipient herd is a matter of striking a balance among standards of quality, economic feasibility and availability. The ideal recipient is a young, disease free cow with proven fertility and mothering ability.
If the calf she will carry is likely to be larger than she would usually deliver, she should be well grown and have a history of easy calving.
HEALTH:
Rigid health tests should be conducted on all introduced recipients. Consult your local Society for suggestions of which veterinarian or artificial breeding centre should conduct your embryo transfer program. Expertise of the technician is vital to the success of any program.
The standard procedure involves treating a donor female with hormones which causes super ovulation. She is then inseminated several times. The fertilized eggs are collected at 7 days and transferred to recipient cows which were in oestrus at the same time as the donor. The recipient then carries the embryo till the calf is born.
SELECTION OF DONORS:
At present embryo transfers are economically feasible only for valuable cattle. True genetic value, is the most important long range consideration. Treatment of heifers less than 15 months of age is not recommended, although super ovulation regimes for calves are possible. Success rates fall off when cows older than 10 years are used.
SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS:
Selecting animals for a recipient herd is a matter of striking a balance among standards of quality, economic feasibility and availability. The ideal recipient is a young, disease free cow with proven fertility and mothering ability.
If the calf she will carry is likely to be larger than she would usually deliver, she should be well grown and have a history of easy calving.
HEALTH:
Rigid health tests should be conducted on all introduced recipients. Consult your local Society for suggestions of which veterinarian or artificial breeding centre should conduct your embryo transfer program. Expertise of the technician is vital to the success of any program.
Shipping Blood Samples
1. After the sample has been collected, wrap each vial separately in enough paper towel to ensure that if it leaks or breaks the liquid will be absorbed.
2. Put wrapped vials in the container and stuff the top to ensure no movement of vials.
3. Put the lid on the container and tape it closed. Put the mailing label on the outside of the container.
4. Put the container into a box or bubble envelope, making sure the container is not going to move around in shipment.
5. Clearly label the outside of the envelope "BOVINE BLOOD".
6. Ensure that the envelope or box is closed with waterproof tape Performance Registry - Instructions for Collecting Hair Samples
Collect hair from the tip of the tail (swatch). Make sure that the tip of the tail is very clean (free from urine and manure). Dirty samples will not be processed. If collecting more than one sample or sampling different animals, make sure to clean hands, combs and brushes between animals to minimize cross-contamination.
Comb or brush the tail to remove dead hair (no follicle).
Wrap about five (5) hair strands around a finger, about 2 inches (5 cm) away from the skin, and give a sharp pull. Inspect the hair and make sure the follicles are still attached to the hair shafts (hairs with no follicles cannot be processed). Pull about 20 hairs per animal.
Secure the hairs together with adhesive tape, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the follicles. Place the sample into an envelope and seal immediately to minimize contamination. Place one sample per envelope.
Identify the hair sample by writing on the envelope the name, tattoo, and registration number of the animal to be tested. Attach the completed DNA form to the sample envelope.
Place the hair sample envelope in a larger envelope and mail
2. Put wrapped vials in the container and stuff the top to ensure no movement of vials.
3. Put the lid on the container and tape it closed. Put the mailing label on the outside of the container.
4. Put the container into a box or bubble envelope, making sure the container is not going to move around in shipment.
5. Clearly label the outside of the envelope "BOVINE BLOOD".
6. Ensure that the envelope or box is closed with waterproof tape Performance Registry - Instructions for Collecting Hair Samples
Collect hair from the tip of the tail (swatch). Make sure that the tip of the tail is very clean (free from urine and manure). Dirty samples will not be processed. If collecting more than one sample or sampling different animals, make sure to clean hands, combs and brushes between animals to minimize cross-contamination.
Comb or brush the tail to remove dead hair (no follicle).
Wrap about five (5) hair strands around a finger, about 2 inches (5 cm) away from the skin, and give a sharp pull. Inspect the hair and make sure the follicles are still attached to the hair shafts (hairs with no follicles cannot be processed). Pull about 20 hairs per animal.
Secure the hairs together with adhesive tape, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the follicles. Place the sample into an envelope and seal immediately to minimize contamination. Place one sample per envelope.
Identify the hair sample by writing on the envelope the name, tattoo, and registration number of the animal to be tested. Attach the completed DNA form to the sample envelope.
Place the hair sample envelope in a larger envelope and mail
Procedure for DNA Testing
Once you have decided on an animal to be tested, please contact the office with the tattoo, registration number and reason for the test, a form will be sent to you. The form must accompany the sample to the SRC lab. This is to ensure that the animals are properly identified and allows for faster processing.
The SRC lab requires either a blood sample or a hair root sample to process the DNA test. The Association can supply you with the kits to do either a hair or blood test.
When you notify the Association of your intent to DNA type, we send the nominated animal's pedigree information to the SRC lab via computer modem, ensuring that the lab has the correct pedigree, birth date, and owner information. The sample sent through the Association is $6.00 per sample cheaper than those you send to the lab directly. The cost savings occur because SRC lab staff does not have to enter the information on the animal, and the Association is responsible for billing. Both of these decrease the time required to process the sample.
After results are obtained, they are sent to the Association and we will forward the DNA certificate to you. If there are any problems with the animal, we will notify you of the situation and suggest a course of action.
The SRC lab requires either a blood sample or a hair root sample to process the DNA test. The Association can supply you with the kits to do either a hair or blood test.
When you notify the Association of your intent to DNA type, we send the nominated animal's pedigree information to the SRC lab via computer modem, ensuring that the lab has the correct pedigree, birth date, and owner information. The sample sent through the Association is $6.00 per sample cheaper than those you send to the lab directly. The cost savings occur because SRC lab staff does not have to enter the information on the animal, and the Association is responsible for billing. Both of these decrease the time required to process the sample.
After results are obtained, they are sent to the Association and we will forward the DNA certificate to you. If there are any problems with the animal, we will notify you of the situation and suggest a course of action.
International Influences
Australia
Horned
Australia's first Herefords - three cows and a bull - arrived at Hobart, Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land), in 1826.
Reference to these cattle was made in "The Hobart Town Gazette" of May 26, 1826.
Imported by the famous Cressy Company, the four Herefords were part of a shipment of breeding stock and farm machinery that arrived on the 317 tonne "Albion". The ship had sailed from Falmouth, England, under the command of Captain Bartholomew Thomas.
Captain Thomas was a partner in the Cressy Company. He had formed the company with some London-based friends, principally to supply the growing colony of New South Wales with horses, but also to take up and develop agricultural land in Van Dieman's land.
Australia's first Herefords were doubtless of strong stock. Having survived a horrendous six-month sea voyage on a diet of mouldy hay, the four animals: Matchless, Beauty, an unnamed cow, and the bull, Billy, were unloaded at Hobart.
They soon recovered from the voyage to form the base from which the Cressy herd (and other herds) quickly expanded.
In December 1827, the first Herefords for mainland Australia arrived from England. They were imported by George Wyndham of Dalwood, on the Hunter River, west of Maitland, NSW. Many further Herefords were imported from England, and later from the US and Canada.
Herefords' ability to produce top-quality beef over a wide range of environments, coupled to their high fertility, docility and strong market acceptance, has resulted in them becoming the chosen breed by a large number of Australian beef producers. Herefords can be found throughout Australia, from the tropical north, south to the breed are found in more productive temperate regions.
In 1885, Arthur McConnel of "Cressbrook", Frank Reynolds of "Tocal" and Reginald Wyndham of "Leconfield", called a meeting of Hereford breeders who formed the Australian Herd Book Society - to record the breeding of Australian Herefords.
Volume I of the Australian Herd Book was published in 1890.
The Society publishes the Australian Hereford Quarterly. With a circulation of 7,500 copies per quarter and a readership in excess of 30,000 per issue, it's Australia's largest and most respected specialist beef cattle magazine.
The Australian Hereford Youth Club (founded by the Society) provides educational and personal development programs for young people interested in cattle breeding.
The Australian Hereford Society has an aggressive breed development program aimed at keeping Herefords and the people who breed them, to the fore in terms of efficient beef production and profitability.
Poll
Poll Herefords were one of the last breeds to be introduced and established in Australia. In a relatively short time, they have become Australia’s most prolific beef breed.
Poll Herefords are continually in demand by re-stockers and the meat trade. Poll Herefords continue to prove most suitable to the high quality beef trade, and are without doubt the “versatile” breed for many reasons.
Market Selection for Selection Indexes
Supermarket – pasture finished steers and heifers for the domestic supermarket trade with no marbling requirements. Steers are assumed marketed at 240 – 260kg, 10mm P8 fat depth at 17 months of age.
Hereford Prime – pasture finished steers for the Hereford Prime program, with modest marbling requirement. Steers are assumed marketed at 275kg, 12mm P8 fat depth at 20 months of age.
EU – pasture finished steers for the EU market with no marbling requirement. Steers are assumed marketed at 260 – 320kg, 1 – 20mm P8 fat and maximum of 24 months of age.
Short-fed – producing steers for 100 – 150 days grain-fed markets with markets with modest marbling (B1 – B2). Steers are assumed marketed at 300 – 350kg, 14mm P8 fat depth at 20 months.
Long-fed – producing steers for the 200 – 250 day grain-fed export markets with a medium requirement for marbling (B2-B3). Steers are assumed marketed at 350 – 400kg, 20mm P8 fat at 24 – 26 months of age.
Australia's first Herefords - three cows and a bull - arrived at Hobart, Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land), in 1826.
Reference to these cattle was made in "The Hobart Town Gazette" of May 26, 1826.
Imported by the famous Cressy Company, the four Herefords were part of a shipment of breeding stock and farm machinery that arrived on the 317 tonne "Albion". The ship had sailed from Falmouth, England, under the command of Captain Bartholomew Thomas.
Captain Thomas was a partner in the Cressy Company. He had formed the company with some London-based friends, principally to supply the growing colony of New South Wales with horses, but also to take up and develop agricultural land in Van Dieman's land.
Australia's first Herefords were doubtless of strong stock. Having survived a horrendous six-month sea voyage on a diet of mouldy hay, the four animals: Matchless, Beauty, an unnamed cow, and the bull, Billy, were unloaded at Hobart.
They soon recovered from the voyage to form the base from which the Cressy herd (and other herds) quickly expanded.
In December 1827, the first Herefords for mainland Australia arrived from England. They were imported by George Wyndham of Dalwood, on the Hunter River, west of Maitland, NSW. Many further Herefords were imported from England, and later from the US and Canada.
Herefords' ability to produce top-quality beef over a wide range of environments, coupled to their high fertility, docility and strong market acceptance, has resulted in them becoming the chosen breed by a large number of Australian beef producers. Herefords can be found throughout Australia, from the tropical north, south to the breed are found in more productive temperate regions.
In 1885, Arthur McConnel of "Cressbrook", Frank Reynolds of "Tocal" and Reginald Wyndham of "Leconfield", called a meeting of Hereford breeders who formed the Australian Herd Book Society - to record the breeding of Australian Herefords.
Volume I of the Australian Herd Book was published in 1890.
The Society publishes the Australian Hereford Quarterly. With a circulation of 7,500 copies per quarter and a readership in excess of 30,000 per issue, it's Australia's largest and most respected specialist beef cattle magazine.
The Australian Hereford Youth Club (founded by the Society) provides educational and personal development programs for young people interested in cattle breeding.
The Australian Hereford Society has an aggressive breed development program aimed at keeping Herefords and the people who breed them, to the fore in terms of efficient beef production and profitability.
Poll
Poll Herefords were one of the last breeds to be introduced and established in Australia. In a relatively short time, they have become Australia’s most prolific beef breed.
Poll Herefords are continually in demand by re-stockers and the meat trade. Poll Herefords continue to prove most suitable to the high quality beef trade, and are without doubt the “versatile” breed for many reasons.
Market Selection for Selection Indexes
Supermarket – pasture finished steers and heifers for the domestic supermarket trade with no marbling requirements. Steers are assumed marketed at 240 – 260kg, 10mm P8 fat depth at 17 months of age.
Hereford Prime – pasture finished steers for the Hereford Prime program, with modest marbling requirement. Steers are assumed marketed at 275kg, 12mm P8 fat depth at 20 months of age.
EU – pasture finished steers for the EU market with no marbling requirement. Steers are assumed marketed at 260 – 320kg, 1 – 20mm P8 fat and maximum of 24 months of age.
Short-fed – producing steers for 100 – 150 days grain-fed markets with markets with modest marbling (B1 – B2). Steers are assumed marketed at 300 – 350kg, 14mm P8 fat depth at 20 months.
Long-fed – producing steers for the 200 – 250 day grain-fed export markets with a medium requirement for marbling (B2-B3). Steers are assumed marketed at 350 – 400kg, 20mm P8 fat at 24 – 26 months of age.
Canada
Mission Statement
The Canadian Hereford Association is strongly committed to increase the demand for Hereford and Hereford-influence cattle...
Hereford Breed Improvement Committee
...through the development of a balanced set of selection tools
(maternal, carcass and growth) for evaluating Hereford cattle.
Marketing Committee
...through membership development, advertising/promotion and industry liaison activities aimed at further improving
the perception and acceptance of Hereford cattle.
Herefords...Practical Cattle for Practical Cattlemen
Objectives
The purpose of the Association is the encouragement, development and regulation of the breeding of purebred Hereford cattle in Canada.
The Canadian Junior Hereford Association (CJHA) is a national organization for youth governed by youth. It is an affiliate of the Canadian Hereford Association (CHA). The objectives of the CJHA are to foster and encourage the interest of youth in agriculture, and more specifically the breeding, raising and promotion of Hereford cattle in Canada. This is carried out by developing their knowledge, leadership skills, and community interest through participation in the organization’s activities. The association motivates young individuals who are interested in the Hereford breed through education, commerce, and events, which will help them, be knowledgeable cattle people and better citizens.
Members of the CJHA are under 21 years of age and have paid their one-time membership fee of $15. This fee automatically entitles juniors to be members of their provincial association as well. With over 1,000 members, the CJHA is envied by other beef breeds in Canada and throughout the world for its active and growing membership.
While the CJHA is governed by a national council of members elected from across the country, and is concerned with national affairs, each province, and in some cases zones within each province, are organized. Each province and zone also elects an executive, which organizes and runs provincial, regional and local events and activities. At all levels the juniors learn and implement leadership and cooperative work skills.
Alberta
The Alberta Hereford Association (AHA) is a group of seedstock producers raising quality purebred Hereford cattle for the commercial industry. The AHA consists of approximately 650 members from across our province. We are organized through the AHA to promote; to the commercial rancher/farmer, feedlots, and auction markets; the benefits of Hereford genetics in any herd. Our Association has 12 Directors across Alberta and an additional 3 Directors who represent Alberta on the Canadian Hereford Association Board. As well, we have a secretary/manager to manage the work of the Association. The AHA also supports the National Marketing Director at the CHA level who travels the country promoting Herefords in auction markets, feedlots and packing plants. The position is designed to maintain contact with the agricultural industry as a whole while representing the Hereford breed. Gathering feedback on Hereford cattle, as well as promoting Herefords, is our main objective provincially, nationally, and internationally.
British Columbia
J.B. Greaves, manager of the Douglas Lake Cattle Co., imported the Hereford cow “Frances” in a shipment from England in 1888. Frances was purchased by J Guichon, father of L.P., J.F., and J.A., Guichon, and from her the Guichons’ developed a large herd of purebred Herefords. A bull calf from this cow was sold in 1892 to T. Kirkland of Ladner and was later awarded the grand champion ribbon at the New Westminster Fair.
On July 1, 1920 the Hereford and Shorthorn breeders of B.C. met in Kamloops, under the auspices of the B.C. Stock Breeders Association, a forerunner of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. The purpose of this organizational meeting was to form independent associations for the two breeds and so a motion was made at that meeting to form the British Columbia Hereford Breeders Association.
One of the purposes of forming an association was to have an alliance with the Canadian Hereford Breeders, to help keep breeders posted with information regarding buyers and sellers of purebred cattle. Local organizations would look to the advancement of community herds by improving the breeding stock available to the ranchers, thus helping to improve the stock and attract more buyers to the area.
Ontario
The Ontario Hereford Breeder’s Association was formed in 1918, but in 1946 changed their name to the Ontario Hereford Association which was incorporated in 1998. A Canadian Hereford Association membership automatically places you on the Ontario membership. The Ontario Association serves over 350 members with structured programs for today’s efficient and progressive producer with breed improvement, promotion and marketing of Hereford seed stock around the world as well as the Hereford Influence in the commercial sector. The Ontario Junior Hereford Association introduce the youth, up to the age of 21 years of age, to an endless opportunity for participation and education.
Tagging
The purpose of the CCIA approved Destron Hereford Tag is to help Canadian Hereford breeders and their customers identify cattle that are at least 50% Hereford in origin.
"The Hereford breed is the only breed that has not chased other colours. In fact, if the whole world turns black, cattle buyers will need the white face to ensure that the cattle have some British influence. The white face is one of the most identifiable characteristics whether it's the red-white-face, black-white-face, and, in my opinion the best cattle in the world, the yellow-white-face buckskins."
Why are we tagging?
The Canadian Cattle Identification Program has been developed for cattlemen by cattlemen. It is critical to safeguarding our national herd and assuring consumer confidence at home and in our export markets. Exports represent over half our beef production in Canada, so they are essential in supporting domestic prices. If our borders were ever closed to beef and cattle exports due to a health or safety crisis, and if we did not have an individual ID traceback program to quickly control the situation, the effect on cattle prices would be disastrous. Over 25 nations, including the US, either have in place or are developing their own livestock identification programs, so it is realistic that even the lack of a program may restrict our ability to maintain and expand export markets.
How is the Hereford Tag different?
The Destron Hereford RFID Tag is initially being offered to provide Canadian Hereford breeders and their customers with the opportunity to comply with the CCIA program as well as ably access special marketing opportunities such as returned carcass information.
The Canadian Hereford Association is strongly committed to increase the demand for Hereford and Hereford-influence cattle...
Hereford Breed Improvement Committee
...through the development of a balanced set of selection tools
(maternal, carcass and growth) for evaluating Hereford cattle.
Marketing Committee
...through membership development, advertising/promotion and industry liaison activities aimed at further improving
the perception and acceptance of Hereford cattle.
Herefords...Practical Cattle for Practical Cattlemen
Objectives
The purpose of the Association is the encouragement, development and regulation of the breeding of purebred Hereford cattle in Canada.
- By keeping a record of the breeding and origin of Hereford cattle and by collecting, preserving and publishing data and documents relating to the industry
- By establishing standards of breeding and by carrying out a system of registration
- By adopting means from time to time to protect and assist those engaged in propagation, breeding and exhibition of purebred Hereford cattle in compliance with The Animal Pedigree Act or any regulation made there under
- By maintaining an efficient supervision of breeders of Hereford cattle to prevent, detect and punish fraud, and particularly to take all possible action to insure the accuracy of the Registration Certificate
- By compiling statistics of the industry and furnishing official and authentic information in regard thereto
- By publishing and distributing literature devoted to the welfare of the Hereford and its owner
- And for the purposes to have power to make all needful contracts and agreements and to make, alter and repeat regulations subject to the provision hereinafter set forth
The Canadian Junior Hereford Association (CJHA) is a national organization for youth governed by youth. It is an affiliate of the Canadian Hereford Association (CHA). The objectives of the CJHA are to foster and encourage the interest of youth in agriculture, and more specifically the breeding, raising and promotion of Hereford cattle in Canada. This is carried out by developing their knowledge, leadership skills, and community interest through participation in the organization’s activities. The association motivates young individuals who are interested in the Hereford breed through education, commerce, and events, which will help them, be knowledgeable cattle people and better citizens.
Members of the CJHA are under 21 years of age and have paid their one-time membership fee of $15. This fee automatically entitles juniors to be members of their provincial association as well. With over 1,000 members, the CJHA is envied by other beef breeds in Canada and throughout the world for its active and growing membership.
While the CJHA is governed by a national council of members elected from across the country, and is concerned with national affairs, each province, and in some cases zones within each province, are organized. Each province and zone also elects an executive, which organizes and runs provincial, regional and local events and activities. At all levels the juniors learn and implement leadership and cooperative work skills.
Alberta
The Alberta Hereford Association (AHA) is a group of seedstock producers raising quality purebred Hereford cattle for the commercial industry. The AHA consists of approximately 650 members from across our province. We are organized through the AHA to promote; to the commercial rancher/farmer, feedlots, and auction markets; the benefits of Hereford genetics in any herd. Our Association has 12 Directors across Alberta and an additional 3 Directors who represent Alberta on the Canadian Hereford Association Board. As well, we have a secretary/manager to manage the work of the Association. The AHA also supports the National Marketing Director at the CHA level who travels the country promoting Herefords in auction markets, feedlots and packing plants. The position is designed to maintain contact with the agricultural industry as a whole while representing the Hereford breed. Gathering feedback on Hereford cattle, as well as promoting Herefords, is our main objective provincially, nationally, and internationally.
British Columbia
J.B. Greaves, manager of the Douglas Lake Cattle Co., imported the Hereford cow “Frances” in a shipment from England in 1888. Frances was purchased by J Guichon, father of L.P., J.F., and J.A., Guichon, and from her the Guichons’ developed a large herd of purebred Herefords. A bull calf from this cow was sold in 1892 to T. Kirkland of Ladner and was later awarded the grand champion ribbon at the New Westminster Fair.
On July 1, 1920 the Hereford and Shorthorn breeders of B.C. met in Kamloops, under the auspices of the B.C. Stock Breeders Association, a forerunner of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. The purpose of this organizational meeting was to form independent associations for the two breeds and so a motion was made at that meeting to form the British Columbia Hereford Breeders Association.
One of the purposes of forming an association was to have an alliance with the Canadian Hereford Breeders, to help keep breeders posted with information regarding buyers and sellers of purebred cattle. Local organizations would look to the advancement of community herds by improving the breeding stock available to the ranchers, thus helping to improve the stock and attract more buyers to the area.
Ontario
The Ontario Hereford Breeder’s Association was formed in 1918, but in 1946 changed their name to the Ontario Hereford Association which was incorporated in 1998. A Canadian Hereford Association membership automatically places you on the Ontario membership. The Ontario Association serves over 350 members with structured programs for today’s efficient and progressive producer with breed improvement, promotion and marketing of Hereford seed stock around the world as well as the Hereford Influence in the commercial sector. The Ontario Junior Hereford Association introduce the youth, up to the age of 21 years of age, to an endless opportunity for participation and education.
Tagging
The purpose of the CCIA approved Destron Hereford Tag is to help Canadian Hereford breeders and their customers identify cattle that are at least 50% Hereford in origin.
"The Hereford breed is the only breed that has not chased other colours. In fact, if the whole world turns black, cattle buyers will need the white face to ensure that the cattle have some British influence. The white face is one of the most identifiable characteristics whether it's the red-white-face, black-white-face, and, in my opinion the best cattle in the world, the yellow-white-face buckskins."
Why are we tagging?
The Canadian Cattle Identification Program has been developed for cattlemen by cattlemen. It is critical to safeguarding our national herd and assuring consumer confidence at home and in our export markets. Exports represent over half our beef production in Canada, so they are essential in supporting domestic prices. If our borders were ever closed to beef and cattle exports due to a health or safety crisis, and if we did not have an individual ID traceback program to quickly control the situation, the effect on cattle prices would be disastrous. Over 25 nations, including the US, either have in place or are developing their own livestock identification programs, so it is realistic that even the lack of a program may restrict our ability to maintain and expand export markets.
How is the Hereford Tag different?
The Destron Hereford RFID Tag is initially being offered to provide Canadian Hereford breeders and their customers with the opportunity to comply with the CCIA program as well as ably access special marketing opportunities such as returned carcass information.
Denmark
During 2006 suckler cow business has continued the positive trend, we already saw last year. Partly due to the ban on import from South America the prices has gone up some 10 %. However, this is also a result of the trend in consumer habits, moving more and more towards organic grown and naturally produced products. The branding of Danish products has developed, yielding space for a raise in retail prices – not so much for bulk products – more for specialities, f. inst. beef, produced under natural conditions and maybe with a connected story from the breed or farm.
We may, however, face the fact that a reopening of import from South America will influence the retail prices if we are not able to live up to the demands of the consumer segment which prefers national products, even at a slightly higher price.
The Society.
At the annual meeting in March the board was re-elected and our president for this year is, like last year, Mr. Søren Hansson, Praestebro Herefords at the island of Funen. Our Breeding Committee is chaired by Mr. Gert Petz, Bojskov Herefords in South Jutland.
During the last days of June we hosted the WHC pre-tour, preparing for the 2008 WHC conference. The participants visited the places, planned to host the conference and the National Show at Herning with around 1200 heads of cattle on display – of these more than 100 Herefords. We were lucky enough to have the Canadian president, Mr. Duncan Lees as a judge supported by his secretary, Mr. Gordon Stephenson.
The experience, we got from the pre-tour is now utilized in the further planning to ensure that the participants in the 2008 WHC conference have a good experience when the event is finished.
Of course, the Board is busy preparing the conference. Cooperation with our sister organisations in Finland, Sweden and Norway is running smoothly, but nevertheless it is a job to coordinate a trip through 4 countries, separated by water the way we are in Scandinavia...
The daily work within the Society continues despite the WHC preparations. We are involved in 2 great Shows every year: The National Show (end of June) and The National Beef Cattle Show (end of January). Add to this that some 20 regional and local shows are taking place – most of them during the summer – and you will find that the “show people” within the Danish Hereford breeders are busy.
The regional Clubs are responsible for much of the activity within the Society: Open Farms, meetings with breeding and/or production on the agenda and social activities for members. At total the Society has some 350 members – this number has increased a little during the last 3-4 years.
Together with 12 other Beef Breed Societies we are members of the Danish Beef Cattle Board, taking care of tasks, common to all beef breeds. The dairy sector in Denmark is very powerful compared to the beef sector, so it is fairly important to have a close cooperation between the beef breeds – even we are competing between us when it comes to selling our breeding stock to new beef cattle producers.
Once a year the Society hosts a breeding seminar, open to all interested members. Usually 30 – 50 participants are present. The topics vary from year to year – this year the main issue was nature preserved areas and how we breed the most suitable animals for the purpose of re-establishment and preservation of our nature and leisure areas.
Many producers cease milk production these years. It seems as if Hereford is getting a good share of the new beef producers with arise from the “retired” milk people.
In the early spring we lost our honorary member, Mr. Jacob Holm, Tange Hereford. Jacob was known to every Danish Hereford breeder, and he was for many years a highly respected member of the Board. Jacob was involved in many of the early imports of polled Herefords, and his Tange-herd was at the very top both as to breeding and to production. The Society will honour the memory of Mr. Jacob Holm.
Facts and figures about Hereford
The number of purebred registered Herefords is still declining a little. However the total number is nearly the same as last year, so is the number of purebred, registered calves. At total we have just below 10 000 animals in the central database.
The number of inseminations increase slightly (3%) to a total of 2 400 of which 1 700 are first inseminations. We have had a fine increase in semen export last year. Nearly 4 000 doses of Hereford semen has been dispatched, a trend we of course hope will continue in the years to come. The reason is undoubtedly our present very high ranking stock of AI bulls, some of which have BV indices of a magnitude, we have never seen before.
For the first time we have sufficient statistics on slaughtered young bulls, registered at abattoirs. Totally 5 200 young Hereford or Hereford-cross bulls have been slaughtered and EUROP classified, 1 800 in the youngest group, 3 400 in the oldest.
At the performance test Hereford continue to increase results. 20 bulls were tested with the following results, measured from the age of 238 to 392 days: daily gain 1651g (1646 g) and loin muscle area 81,2 sqcm (78,8 sqcm). Especially the increase in loin muscle area is important as it is correlated with the EUROP carcass score.
Shows
Results from the National Beef Cattle Show at Herning. Judge Bill Quan, Ireland. January 2006.
Male Grand Champion: Praestebro Online V27 ET, 17 months old, junior champion, owner Praestebro Polled Hereford, Ringe. Imported as an embryo from Canada. Sire Remitall Online 122L, Dam GL T Profound 80U on Kilmorlie Deliverence ET 80U.
Reserve Male Grand Champion: Haurum Verner 15 months old, junior reserve champion, owner Mr. Lars Bastrup, Uldum. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam Haurum Pipper/Bastrup Mads.
Female Grand Champion: Moeskaer Lady Kashmir 1086 ET, 10 months old, calf champion, owner Moeskaer Polled Hereford. Imported as an embryo from Canada. Sire: NS Keno 005, Dam Golden-Oak 1G Kashmir 7K on S&S Basic 1G.
Reserve Female Grand Champion: Bojskov 1 Viol, 21 months old, junior champion, owner Mr. Gert Petz, Toftlund. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam Swedish born 132 Diba av Brunared/Harvie Falcon 15 F.
Interbreed winner for performance tested bulls was 3 year old Hereford bull Praestebro U2, owned by Mr. Knud Erichsen, former President of the Society. There is much prestige in this title; some years have gone since Hereford won for the last time. This year a Simmental bull was second and a Limousine bull third.
Results from the National Show at Herning. Judges Duncan Lees and Gordon Stephenson, Canada. June 2006.
Male Grand Champion: Roost 1 Volmer, 20 months old, junior champion, owners Edel & Egon Petz, Branderup. Sire: Roost 1 Erold Ryder, Dam: Roost 1 Space Girl on RMR 1 Pilot.
Reserve Male Grand Champion: Slyk`s 1 Agro, junior reserve champion, bred by Mr. Jens Peter Soe, Ringkoebing, owned by Mr. Ib Ravn, Vejen. Sire: Harvie 1 Jackpot 74J, Dam: Slyk`s 1 Tula/Harvie Falcon 15F.
Female Grand Champion: Roost 1 Space Girl, 5 years old, cow champion, owners Edel & Egon Petz, Branderup. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam: Diba av Brunared on Harvie Falcon 15F.
Reserve Female Grand Champion: Praestebro Virginia, 26 months old, reserve cow champion, owner Praestebro Polled Hereford, Ringe. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam: Rosenkaer Susanne/WHN Fortress.
Please note that Female Grand Champion is the dam of Male Grand Champion and that RMR 1 Pilot, imported as an embryo from Canada is in quite a few of above mentioned pedigrees....
Closing remarks.
2006 has been a busy year with many fine results for Herefords in Denmark. Not only are we usually at the top at shows as to number, we also often take the first place at interbreed competitions.
With new breeders Hereford is very popular, not least due to the reputation for a calm and docile temperament, which is highly recognized by former dairy and leisure time farmers.
Danish Hereford - Excellent production cattle
The Danish Hereford Association has always been known for a very serious breeding program. Many Danish top breeders have also been active all over Europe.
From the very beginning the best genetic material was imported from England, later on from USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The import consisted at first of live animals, later on of semen and embryos. Results of the Danish breeding work have not been unnoticed: to day we are net exporters of Hereford semen.
Through all the years European Associations and breeders have purchased breeding material in Denmark to improve their own stock, we have had exports to most European countries. The great export has been possible due to the high veterinary standard in Danish herds.
Breeding goals for Danish Herefords:
- Improvement of slaughter quality (Carcass conformation)
- Improvement of daily gain
- Keeping a high fertility and easy calving
- Keeping a functional exterior
Our extensive registration system (calving performance, weight for age, carcass weight and conformation, linear scoring of exterior) allows the calculation of breeding indices with high accuracies.
BREEDING PLAN
The Hereford Associations breeding plan in short terms:
- Careful selection of bull dams and sires
- Performance testing of min. 20 bull calves-year at station,
- Selection of the best performance tested bulls for use in A.I.
- Selection of young bulls with high breeding values as herd bulls.
Breeding values are published as indices with rolling base, average 100, standard deviation 5. Seven basic indices are worked together in a Total Merit Index, the so-called S-index.
Imported bulls or semen must have high EPD values and accuracies and a pedigree, which avoids inbreeding.
CROSS BREEDING:
Cross breeding with Hereford improves dairy breeds and continental breeds of beef cattle, adding to them the Hereford qualities: quiet temper, easy calving and good fertility. Also the meat quality is improved by Herefords unique content of intramuscularly fat, a quality well appreciated by the consumers.
HISTORY:
The first Herefords came to Denmark in 1951, imported by 3 squires, Carl Christian Scavenius, Klintholm Estate, Flemming Dahl, Valnæsgaard Estate and Axel Reedtz-Thott, Gavnø Estate. Until 1966 Danish Herefords were registered in the Herd Book of NAB (Nordiska Avelsforening for Biffraser), in 1967 the Danish Hereford Herdbook was initiated. In 1969 the Danish Hereford Association was established, the first president being A.C. Conradt-Eberlin, Sørup.
The first polled Herefords arrived in Denmark in 1970, imported from Merrymead Farm in Buckinghamshire by Ruth & Jørgen Holm Thomsen, Juelsgaard, Ringkøbing.
We may, however, face the fact that a reopening of import from South America will influence the retail prices if we are not able to live up to the demands of the consumer segment which prefers national products, even at a slightly higher price.
The Society.
At the annual meeting in March the board was re-elected and our president for this year is, like last year, Mr. Søren Hansson, Praestebro Herefords at the island of Funen. Our Breeding Committee is chaired by Mr. Gert Petz, Bojskov Herefords in South Jutland.
During the last days of June we hosted the WHC pre-tour, preparing for the 2008 WHC conference. The participants visited the places, planned to host the conference and the National Show at Herning with around 1200 heads of cattle on display – of these more than 100 Herefords. We were lucky enough to have the Canadian president, Mr. Duncan Lees as a judge supported by his secretary, Mr. Gordon Stephenson.
The experience, we got from the pre-tour is now utilized in the further planning to ensure that the participants in the 2008 WHC conference have a good experience when the event is finished.
Of course, the Board is busy preparing the conference. Cooperation with our sister organisations in Finland, Sweden and Norway is running smoothly, but nevertheless it is a job to coordinate a trip through 4 countries, separated by water the way we are in Scandinavia...
The daily work within the Society continues despite the WHC preparations. We are involved in 2 great Shows every year: The National Show (end of June) and The National Beef Cattle Show (end of January). Add to this that some 20 regional and local shows are taking place – most of them during the summer – and you will find that the “show people” within the Danish Hereford breeders are busy.
The regional Clubs are responsible for much of the activity within the Society: Open Farms, meetings with breeding and/or production on the agenda and social activities for members. At total the Society has some 350 members – this number has increased a little during the last 3-4 years.
Together with 12 other Beef Breed Societies we are members of the Danish Beef Cattle Board, taking care of tasks, common to all beef breeds. The dairy sector in Denmark is very powerful compared to the beef sector, so it is fairly important to have a close cooperation between the beef breeds – even we are competing between us when it comes to selling our breeding stock to new beef cattle producers.
Once a year the Society hosts a breeding seminar, open to all interested members. Usually 30 – 50 participants are present. The topics vary from year to year – this year the main issue was nature preserved areas and how we breed the most suitable animals for the purpose of re-establishment and preservation of our nature and leisure areas.
Many producers cease milk production these years. It seems as if Hereford is getting a good share of the new beef producers with arise from the “retired” milk people.
In the early spring we lost our honorary member, Mr. Jacob Holm, Tange Hereford. Jacob was known to every Danish Hereford breeder, and he was for many years a highly respected member of the Board. Jacob was involved in many of the early imports of polled Herefords, and his Tange-herd was at the very top both as to breeding and to production. The Society will honour the memory of Mr. Jacob Holm.
Facts and figures about Hereford
The number of purebred registered Herefords is still declining a little. However the total number is nearly the same as last year, so is the number of purebred, registered calves. At total we have just below 10 000 animals in the central database.
The number of inseminations increase slightly (3%) to a total of 2 400 of which 1 700 are first inseminations. We have had a fine increase in semen export last year. Nearly 4 000 doses of Hereford semen has been dispatched, a trend we of course hope will continue in the years to come. The reason is undoubtedly our present very high ranking stock of AI bulls, some of which have BV indices of a magnitude, we have never seen before.
For the first time we have sufficient statistics on slaughtered young bulls, registered at abattoirs. Totally 5 200 young Hereford or Hereford-cross bulls have been slaughtered and EUROP classified, 1 800 in the youngest group, 3 400 in the oldest.
At the performance test Hereford continue to increase results. 20 bulls were tested with the following results, measured from the age of 238 to 392 days: daily gain 1651g (1646 g) and loin muscle area 81,2 sqcm (78,8 sqcm). Especially the increase in loin muscle area is important as it is correlated with the EUROP carcass score.
Shows
Results from the National Beef Cattle Show at Herning. Judge Bill Quan, Ireland. January 2006.
Male Grand Champion: Praestebro Online V27 ET, 17 months old, junior champion, owner Praestebro Polled Hereford, Ringe. Imported as an embryo from Canada. Sire Remitall Online 122L, Dam GL T Profound 80U on Kilmorlie Deliverence ET 80U.
Reserve Male Grand Champion: Haurum Verner 15 months old, junior reserve champion, owner Mr. Lars Bastrup, Uldum. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam Haurum Pipper/Bastrup Mads.
Female Grand Champion: Moeskaer Lady Kashmir 1086 ET, 10 months old, calf champion, owner Moeskaer Polled Hereford. Imported as an embryo from Canada. Sire: NS Keno 005, Dam Golden-Oak 1G Kashmir 7K on S&S Basic 1G.
Reserve Female Grand Champion: Bojskov 1 Viol, 21 months old, junior champion, owner Mr. Gert Petz, Toftlund. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam Swedish born 132 Diba av Brunared/Harvie Falcon 15 F.
Interbreed winner for performance tested bulls was 3 year old Hereford bull Praestebro U2, owned by Mr. Knud Erichsen, former President of the Society. There is much prestige in this title; some years have gone since Hereford won for the last time. This year a Simmental bull was second and a Limousine bull third.
Results from the National Show at Herning. Judges Duncan Lees and Gordon Stephenson, Canada. June 2006.
Male Grand Champion: Roost 1 Volmer, 20 months old, junior champion, owners Edel & Egon Petz, Branderup. Sire: Roost 1 Erold Ryder, Dam: Roost 1 Space Girl on RMR 1 Pilot.
Reserve Male Grand Champion: Slyk`s 1 Agro, junior reserve champion, bred by Mr. Jens Peter Soe, Ringkoebing, owned by Mr. Ib Ravn, Vejen. Sire: Harvie 1 Jackpot 74J, Dam: Slyk`s 1 Tula/Harvie Falcon 15F.
Female Grand Champion: Roost 1 Space Girl, 5 years old, cow champion, owners Edel & Egon Petz, Branderup. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam: Diba av Brunared on Harvie Falcon 15F.
Reserve Female Grand Champion: Praestebro Virginia, 26 months old, reserve cow champion, owner Praestebro Polled Hereford, Ringe. Sire: RMR 1 Pilot, Dam: Rosenkaer Susanne/WHN Fortress.
Please note that Female Grand Champion is the dam of Male Grand Champion and that RMR 1 Pilot, imported as an embryo from Canada is in quite a few of above mentioned pedigrees....
Closing remarks.
2006 has been a busy year with many fine results for Herefords in Denmark. Not only are we usually at the top at shows as to number, we also often take the first place at interbreed competitions.
With new breeders Hereford is very popular, not least due to the reputation for a calm and docile temperament, which is highly recognized by former dairy and leisure time farmers.
Danish Hereford - Excellent production cattle
The Danish Hereford Association has always been known for a very serious breeding program. Many Danish top breeders have also been active all over Europe.
From the very beginning the best genetic material was imported from England, later on from USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The import consisted at first of live animals, later on of semen and embryos. Results of the Danish breeding work have not been unnoticed: to day we are net exporters of Hereford semen.
Through all the years European Associations and breeders have purchased breeding material in Denmark to improve their own stock, we have had exports to most European countries. The great export has been possible due to the high veterinary standard in Danish herds.
Breeding goals for Danish Herefords:
- Improvement of slaughter quality (Carcass conformation)
- Improvement of daily gain
- Keeping a high fertility and easy calving
- Keeping a functional exterior
Our extensive registration system (calving performance, weight for age, carcass weight and conformation, linear scoring of exterior) allows the calculation of breeding indices with high accuracies.
BREEDING PLAN
The Hereford Associations breeding plan in short terms:
- Careful selection of bull dams and sires
- Performance testing of min. 20 bull calves-year at station,
- Selection of the best performance tested bulls for use in A.I.
- Selection of young bulls with high breeding values as herd bulls.
Breeding values are published as indices with rolling base, average 100, standard deviation 5. Seven basic indices are worked together in a Total Merit Index, the so-called S-index.
Imported bulls or semen must have high EPD values and accuracies and a pedigree, which avoids inbreeding.
CROSS BREEDING:
Cross breeding with Hereford improves dairy breeds and continental breeds of beef cattle, adding to them the Hereford qualities: quiet temper, easy calving and good fertility. Also the meat quality is improved by Herefords unique content of intramuscularly fat, a quality well appreciated by the consumers.
HISTORY:
The first Herefords came to Denmark in 1951, imported by 3 squires, Carl Christian Scavenius, Klintholm Estate, Flemming Dahl, Valnæsgaard Estate and Axel Reedtz-Thott, Gavnø Estate. Until 1966 Danish Herefords were registered in the Herd Book of NAB (Nordiska Avelsforening for Biffraser), in 1967 the Danish Hereford Herdbook was initiated. In 1969 the Danish Hereford Association was established, the first president being A.C. Conradt-Eberlin, Sørup.
The first polled Herefords arrived in Denmark in 1970, imported from Merrymead Farm in Buckinghamshire by Ruth & Jørgen Holm Thomsen, Juelsgaard, Ringkøbing.
Estonia
The breeding of beef cattle became consistent in Estonia in 1978 when the import of mainly Hereford cattle from the former Soviet republics as well as from Denmark and Finland began. About 650 cows were bought in six years. This breeding material was of mediocre quality.
In 1982, the Club of Estonian Hereford Breeders was founded (with Aigar Surrmaa as president). Ties of friendship were established with the Scandinavian counties. The club became a member of the European Hereford Breeders Association in 2000.
When Estonia regained its independence, there was a big recession in animal production and also in beef cattle husbandry. A third out of 2 000 beef cows remained. Due to difficult times in beef cattle husbandry, the Hereford Club lost its importance was liquidated.
In 1982, the Club of Estonian Hereford Breeders was founded (with Aigar Surrmaa as president). Ties of friendship were established with the Scandinavian counties. The club became a member of the European Hereford Breeders Association in 2000.
When Estonia regained its independence, there was a big recession in animal production and also in beef cattle husbandry. A third out of 2 000 beef cows remained. Due to difficult times in beef cattle husbandry, the Hereford Club lost its importance was liquidated.
Fiji
Cattle were introduced in Fiji in the late 1800's by the Europeans. In Fiji cattle are kept for two purposes. They are farmed commercially for beef and milk and are kept by individual sugar cane and rice farmers for draught power. The last national Agricultural Census put the total cattle herd at over 280,000 heads with 43,000 farms involved in cattle farming. The Western division on the main islands of Viti Levu, is the major cattle grower having more than 155,000 heads (55%).
Ireland
The Hereford was introduced to Ireland in 1775, from that time the Irish livestock breeder has found in the Hereford a unique ability to adapt to varying managements, environments and feed resources. The Hereford female has established herself as a superior mother cow with the capacity to meet producer’s demands for productivity and efficiency. The Irish dairy farmer has long recognized the merit of using a Hereford sire on his Friesian dairy cattle. The black Hereford cross Friesian animal is always saleable at a premium price.
The modern Irish Hereford is well muscled with good size and volume with strong feet and legs. The modern Irish Hereford sire is built to withstand the rigors of tough breeding seasons. Irish Hereford cross animal is a bye word and its ability to forage is unquestionable. Irish Herefords are bred to realize their maximum potential under extreme conditions. There is a consistency and uniformity of size in the Irish Hereford. The wide genetic base of the breed allows for specialization to meet the variety of needs from the beef producer.
The Production of Herefords in Ireland
Irish Hereford producers are aiming at a naturally produced top-quality carcass - efficient feed conversion - high growth rate and increased length with a careful watch on conformation, easy fleshing and milk production. It is felt that Irish Herefords have reached the optimum height and the greater emphasis is now on conformation. Fertility and docility and longevity are also major breed assets. The Irish Department of Agriculture weight recording, performance testing and progeny testing programs have been an important element and measurement in the progress and adaptation of the breed. The new Irish Cattle Breeding Federation will expand and develop on this in the years ahead.
Our best customer for bulls is the Irish dairy farmer. During this last decade the Irish dairy herd has lost a lot of its dual-purpose character through the introduction of more extreme milk-producing bloodlines. While benefiting the dairyman, this policy has presented the meat industry with difficulties. These can only be overcome by the use of beef sires which have a definite advantage for growth conformation and fleshing ability on this type of animal. We are confident that the Hereford breed is in a position to supply these sires.
Increasingly Hereford bulls are used as terminal sires in continental cow beef based commercial beef suckler herds to provide earlier maturity and improve beef eating quality. 348,030 Hereford sired calves were born successfully in 1999. The Hereford cross beef cow is the top choice of Irish commercial beef suckler farmers producing some 285,673 live calves in 1999.
Ireland's relative freedom from any major epizodic diseases has been a contributing factor in this success.
Ireland exports a large proportion of its agricultural production and thereby adds to the food store in the E.C. Pressure on the E.C. Budget and G.A.T.T. will inevitably force production down and herein lays an opportunity for Herefords to play their part in increasing margins to Irish and European farmers by replacing quantity with quality. The influence of the green lobby and the ban on hormones has already resulted in a noticeable upturn in the demand for Herefords for their early maturity and their ability to finish more economically at lower weights.
On the home market the total size of the food bill, in all sectors of the catering market is £500 million per year and 80% of the butchers kill are Hereford or Hereford cross heifers. The main reason for this superiority being taste and flavour, as Irish consumers dislike the dry meat of Continental breeds. To promote the superiority of Hereford beef Irish Hereford Prime Ltd. was set up and has achieved considerable success including a major French award for quality and excellence.
Irish Pedigree Hereford registrations for the year to 30th June, 2003 were approximately 3,700. (3,578 horned and 122 polled) In the past we have been successful in exporting Herefords to the U.K., Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Canada, U.S.A., Argentina, Australia, France and South Africa.
The modern Irish Hereford is well muscled with good size and volume with strong feet and legs. The modern Irish Hereford sire is built to withstand the rigors of tough breeding seasons. Irish Hereford cross animal is a bye word and its ability to forage is unquestionable. Irish Herefords are bred to realize their maximum potential under extreme conditions. There is a consistency and uniformity of size in the Irish Hereford. The wide genetic base of the breed allows for specialization to meet the variety of needs from the beef producer.
The Production of Herefords in Ireland
Irish Hereford producers are aiming at a naturally produced top-quality carcass - efficient feed conversion - high growth rate and increased length with a careful watch on conformation, easy fleshing and milk production. It is felt that Irish Herefords have reached the optimum height and the greater emphasis is now on conformation. Fertility and docility and longevity are also major breed assets. The Irish Department of Agriculture weight recording, performance testing and progeny testing programs have been an important element and measurement in the progress and adaptation of the breed. The new Irish Cattle Breeding Federation will expand and develop on this in the years ahead.
Our best customer for bulls is the Irish dairy farmer. During this last decade the Irish dairy herd has lost a lot of its dual-purpose character through the introduction of more extreme milk-producing bloodlines. While benefiting the dairyman, this policy has presented the meat industry with difficulties. These can only be overcome by the use of beef sires which have a definite advantage for growth conformation and fleshing ability on this type of animal. We are confident that the Hereford breed is in a position to supply these sires.
Increasingly Hereford bulls are used as terminal sires in continental cow beef based commercial beef suckler herds to provide earlier maturity and improve beef eating quality. 348,030 Hereford sired calves were born successfully in 1999. The Hereford cross beef cow is the top choice of Irish commercial beef suckler farmers producing some 285,673 live calves in 1999.
Ireland's relative freedom from any major epizodic diseases has been a contributing factor in this success.
Ireland exports a large proportion of its agricultural production and thereby adds to the food store in the E.C. Pressure on the E.C. Budget and G.A.T.T. will inevitably force production down and herein lays an opportunity for Herefords to play their part in increasing margins to Irish and European farmers by replacing quantity with quality. The influence of the green lobby and the ban on hormones has already resulted in a noticeable upturn in the demand for Herefords for their early maturity and their ability to finish more economically at lower weights.
On the home market the total size of the food bill, in all sectors of the catering market is £500 million per year and 80% of the butchers kill are Hereford or Hereford cross heifers. The main reason for this superiority being taste and flavour, as Irish consumers dislike the dry meat of Continental breeds. To promote the superiority of Hereford beef Irish Hereford Prime Ltd. was set up and has achieved considerable success including a major French award for quality and excellence.
Irish Pedigree Hereford registrations for the year to 30th June, 2003 were approximately 3,700. (3,578 horned and 122 polled) In the past we have been successful in exporting Herefords to the U.K., Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Canada, U.S.A., Argentina, Australia, France and South Africa.
Namibia
The Namibian Hereford is a fast growing, very fertile, medium maturing beef breed of distinctive red brown and white colour and marking. Breed standards identify the priorities of the Hereford and continuously aim at the long term improvement of the breed through effective breeding and selection policies. These standards are regularly updated to meet the continuous changes in our beef industry.
Over the years, it was necessary for cattle breeders to make changes and adapt new breeding principles. Factors such as changes in consumer preferences towards lean beef, the development of the feedlot industry, and improvement in technology made the change from a compact, early maturing type to a leaner, faster growing type inevitable. Conformation and production goals of the Hereford were re-evaluated and selection was directed towards traits of economic importance, e.g. fertility, milk production, growth, and carcass quality.
Over the years, it was necessary for cattle breeders to make changes and adapt new breeding principles. Factors such as changes in consumer preferences towards lean beef, the development of the feedlot industry, and improvement in technology made the change from a compact, early maturing type to a leaner, faster growing type inevitable. Conformation and production goals of the Hereford were re-evaluated and selection was directed towards traits of economic importance, e.g. fertility, milk production, growth, and carcass quality.
New Zealand
The New Zealand Hereford Association – an incorporated society was formed in 1896. Its primary objective is to promote the Hereford breed within New Zealand, whilst maintaining the integrity/purity of the breed. The Association is governed by a twelve person council, which is responsible for setting Association policy and determining the future direction of the Hereford breed in New Zealand.
Members are backed by one of the largest beef breeding societies in New Zealand with close links to Australia and North America’s largest beef breeding societies. The New Zealand Hereford Association is also affiliated with the World Hereford Council.
Devoted to the promotion and development of the breed in New Zealand, the information and assistance it provides is designed to give five members an edge over competition and improve investment return, whatever their level of interest in the breed. Staff members are available to offer professional advice on various matters, including queries relating to bull and female selection, embryo and semen.
History of the Association
1896 – New Zealand Hereford Association formed
1899 – Hereford Herd Book Vol. I printed
1929 – First importation of Polled Herefords
1955 – “Hereford in New Zealand” published
1956 – New Zealand Hereford Association pedigrees were accepted on a reciprocal basis by the World Hereford
Council
1960 – First National Show and Sale
1968 – Herefords in New Zealand Vol. II published
1973 – New Zealand Herefords prints its first own breed annual
1976 – F E Humphreys honoured by Hall of Fame in USA
1981 – Hereford House is opened
1984 – World Hereford Conference at Christchurch
1987 – Began performance recording on Breedplan
1992 – Began performance recording on Breedplan at ABRI, Armidale, Australia
1993 – Hereford Prime NZ Ltd – Branded Beef is launched
1996 – The New Zealand Hereford Association Celebrates 100 years of progress
Members are backed by one of the largest beef breeding societies in New Zealand with close links to Australia and North America’s largest beef breeding societies. The New Zealand Hereford Association is also affiliated with the World Hereford Council.
Devoted to the promotion and development of the breed in New Zealand, the information and assistance it provides is designed to give five members an edge over competition and improve investment return, whatever their level of interest in the breed. Staff members are available to offer professional advice on various matters, including queries relating to bull and female selection, embryo and semen.
History of the Association
1896 – New Zealand Hereford Association formed
1899 – Hereford Herd Book Vol. I printed
1929 – First importation of Polled Herefords
1955 – “Hereford in New Zealand” published
1956 – New Zealand Hereford Association pedigrees were accepted on a reciprocal basis by the World Hereford
Council
1960 – First National Show and Sale
1968 – Herefords in New Zealand Vol. II published
1973 – New Zealand Herefords prints its first own breed annual
1976 – F E Humphreys honoured by Hall of Fame in USA
1981 – Hereford House is opened
1984 – World Hereford Conference at Christchurch
1987 – Began performance recording on Breedplan
1992 – Began performance recording on Breedplan at ABRI, Armidale, Australia
1993 – Hereford Prime NZ Ltd – Branded Beef is launched
1996 – The New Zealand Hereford Association Celebrates 100 years of progress
South Africa
The Hereford Breeders Society of SA was founded in 1917. Over the years the breed progressed to become one of the most important beef breeds in Southern Africa. Currently there are approximately 100 stud breeders in South Africa and Namibia respectively.
The Hereford Breeders Society is devoted to the promotion of the breed in Southern Africa. The Hereford Council of 8 members represents the breeders of South Africa. They are responsible to maintain the Hereford's strategic position in the beef industry and keep up with developments on the Hereford breed locally and worldwide.
Symposia, judging courses and Hereford workshops are organised on a regular basis to stimulate ideas among breeders as well as to encourage new members to the breed.
The Hereford Breeders’ Society is one of the founding members of the World Hereford Council. One of the Council members of the Society is also a member of the World Hereford Committee. During 1992 the 11th World Hereford Congress was held in Cape Town where scientists, breeders and interested parties in the beef industry came together.
The Hereford Journal is published annually with a variety of articles and information relevant to the Hereford breeder and all interested in the beef industry.
The Hereford Breed is currently in a growth phase in South Africa with a steady growth in the numbers of registered animals.
SA Hereford Upgrading System Due to the large number of purebred non-registered Herefords that exist in South Africa, and to increase Hereford numbers and extend the breed's gene pool, the South African Hereford Council in 1995 approved a new upgrading system for all pure commercial Hereford cattle in South Africa. These animals are separately registered by the South African Hereford Society into the following three generations:
Appendix A
Any female which originates from a herd of which the breeder can give proof of origin and has the desired genotype cum phenotype characteristics of a Hereford and complies with the minimum breed standards as determined by the Council from time to time shall be eligible for registration as an Appendix A female in the Appendix Register of the Pureblood Hereford Division.
Appendix B
The progeny of an Appendix B or Full blood female of the Pureblood Hereford Division mated with a Full blood or a Herd Book Proper Hereford sire or the progeny of a Herd Book Proper female of the Proper Hereford Division mated with a Full blood Hereford sire, which comply with the breed standards and in respect of which all other registration requirements have been met shall be considered as a Full blood animal and be eligible for registration in the Full blood Proper.
The animals will only qualify to be registered in an upgrading register after a full inspection on the cattle by qualified Hereford inspectors.
These "appendix" cattle are already contributing a significant percentage of the total animals registered with the Hereford Society. The South African Hereford Council felt by allowing this system will not only help to increase Hereford numbers, but at the same time reduce the pro rata costs of the society which may again stimulate membership. Since these animals can take part in official performance testing and breeding values (EBV's) are also estimated through BLUP, more accurate and reliable genetic breeding values can be obtained for the whole breed. These animals are only incorporated into the genetic evaluation system if information on the parents, birth dates and performance data is available.
The Hereford Breeders Society is devoted to the promotion of the breed in Southern Africa. The Hereford Council of 8 members represents the breeders of South Africa. They are responsible to maintain the Hereford's strategic position in the beef industry and keep up with developments on the Hereford breed locally and worldwide.
Symposia, judging courses and Hereford workshops are organised on a regular basis to stimulate ideas among breeders as well as to encourage new members to the breed.
The Hereford Breeders’ Society is one of the founding members of the World Hereford Council. One of the Council members of the Society is also a member of the World Hereford Committee. During 1992 the 11th World Hereford Congress was held in Cape Town where scientists, breeders and interested parties in the beef industry came together.
The Hereford Journal is published annually with a variety of articles and information relevant to the Hereford breeder and all interested in the beef industry.
The Hereford Breed is currently in a growth phase in South Africa with a steady growth in the numbers of registered animals.
SA Hereford Upgrading System Due to the large number of purebred non-registered Herefords that exist in South Africa, and to increase Hereford numbers and extend the breed's gene pool, the South African Hereford Council in 1995 approved a new upgrading system for all pure commercial Hereford cattle in South Africa. These animals are separately registered by the South African Hereford Society into the following three generations:
Appendix A
Any female which originates from a herd of which the breeder can give proof of origin and has the desired genotype cum phenotype characteristics of a Hereford and complies with the minimum breed standards as determined by the Council from time to time shall be eligible for registration as an Appendix A female in the Appendix Register of the Pureblood Hereford Division.
Appendix B
- The female progeny of an Appendix A female of the Pureblood Hereford Division mated with a Full blood or Herd Book Proper Hereford sire, which comply with the breed standards and in respect of which all other registration requirements have been met shall be eligible for registration as an Appendix B female in the Appendix Register of the Pureblood Hereford Division.
- Females which comply with the breed standards and of which the breeder can, even though the parents are not registered, supply the extended pedigree in respect of Appendix A ancestors shall be eligible for registration as Appendix B animals in the Appendix Register of the Pureblood Hereford Division.
The progeny of an Appendix B or Full blood female of the Pureblood Hereford Division mated with a Full blood or a Herd Book Proper Hereford sire or the progeny of a Herd Book Proper female of the Proper Hereford Division mated with a Full blood Hereford sire, which comply with the breed standards and in respect of which all other registration requirements have been met shall be considered as a Full blood animal and be eligible for registration in the Full blood Proper.
The animals will only qualify to be registered in an upgrading register after a full inspection on the cattle by qualified Hereford inspectors.
These "appendix" cattle are already contributing a significant percentage of the total animals registered with the Hereford Society. The South African Hereford Council felt by allowing this system will not only help to increase Hereford numbers, but at the same time reduce the pro rata costs of the society which may again stimulate membership. Since these animals can take part in official performance testing and breeding values (EBV's) are also estimated through BLUP, more accurate and reliable genetic breeding values can be obtained for the whole breed. These animals are only incorporated into the genetic evaluation system if information on the parents, birth dates and performance data is available.
Sweden
"The Swedish Hereford Association" was founded in1959. It is open for everybody. Norway, Denmark and Finland joined the Association in 1964, and the name became "The Nordic Hereford Association". In 1974 each country had a sufficient number of members to start its own Association, and finally our Association got its present name, " The Swedish Hereford Association".
The first Hereford cattle were imported to Sweden by Mr. Sixten Fredin. They were offspring of English Herefords, imported to Norway in 1949 by Major Ole Sandberg, Hamar. He was the first to import Herefords to Scandinavia. The next year Mr. Fredin bought 10 more heifers from Major Sandberg. From the very beginning the interest in Herefords was great and in 1954, with the support of the Swedish Department of Agriculture, 150 Herefords were imported from The British Isles. During the following 20 years many imports were made from England and Ireland, both privately and through the Association. In 1974 the first cattle from Canada came to Sweden. "Munka Hereford" bought 74 animals, and ever since Canada has been the biggest supplier of prime quality cattle to Sweden. Cattle of very good quality has also been sold to Sweden from Denmark, Finland and Norway.
"The Swedish Hereford Association" celebrated its "50 years with Herefords" at the Julita Estate in 2002. Julita is a museum for Agriculture and goes back to the 18th century. At the same time there was the Swedish Agriculture Day being held. We had arranged a show with Bent Sörensen from Denmark as the judge. Some visitors came from different parts of the world, such as Australia and Canada.
The first Hereford cattle were imported to Sweden by Mr. Sixten Fredin. They were offspring of English Herefords, imported to Norway in 1949 by Major Ole Sandberg, Hamar. He was the first to import Herefords to Scandinavia. The next year Mr. Fredin bought 10 more heifers from Major Sandberg. From the very beginning the interest in Herefords was great and in 1954, with the support of the Swedish Department of Agriculture, 150 Herefords were imported from The British Isles. During the following 20 years many imports were made from England and Ireland, both privately and through the Association. In 1974 the first cattle from Canada came to Sweden. "Munka Hereford" bought 74 animals, and ever since Canada has been the biggest supplier of prime quality cattle to Sweden. Cattle of very good quality has also been sold to Sweden from Denmark, Finland and Norway.
"The Swedish Hereford Association" celebrated its "50 years with Herefords" at the Julita Estate in 2002. Julita is a museum for Agriculture and goes back to the 18th century. At the same time there was the Swedish Agriculture Day being held. We had arranged a show with Bent Sörensen from Denmark as the judge. Some visitors came from different parts of the world, such as Australia and Canada.
UK
The Hereford Cattle Society was founded under the patronage of Queen Victoria in 1878. The Herd Book was opened in 1846 and since 1886 has been closed to any animal whose sire or dam has not been previously entered so that, for over 100 years, the purity of the breed has remained intact.
Area Associations
There are nine Hereford Area Associations located throughout the UK. These clubs are directly affiliated to the parent Society and are always pleased to welcome new members. Members can take advantage of local contacts for advice and also attend regional events, such as herd visits and judging competitions.
There is also a Young Hereford Members Association for the under 26’s, providing young breeders with special discounts and their own competitions.
These Clubs and Associations play an important role, linking Members with the Society.
Area Associations
There are nine Hereford Area Associations located throughout the UK. These clubs are directly affiliated to the parent Society and are always pleased to welcome new members. Members can take advantage of local contacts for advice and also attend regional events, such as herd visits and judging competitions.
There is also a Young Hereford Members Association for the under 26’s, providing young breeders with special discounts and their own competitions.
These Clubs and Associations play an important role, linking Members with the Society.
USA
Vision Statement
To be the preferred beef breed for producers and consumers
Mission Statement
AHA will provide the leadership to record, protect, promote and facilitate the production and consumption of Hereford beef
Core Strategies
I. Continue to grow Certified Hereford Beef program
II. Develop a more aggressive and targeted industry marketing plan to positively influence the perceptions and value of Hereford cattle
III. Increase the quality, consistency and reliability of Hereford genetics
IV. Continue to grow AHA net revenue through current / new products, programs, services or partnerships
V. Increase the educational opportunities for our members, prospective members and customers
VI. Continue to grow and emphasize our youth development programs and create a young breeder development program
VII. Invest in developing global markets for our Hereford genetics
Herefords came to the U.S. in 1817 when statesman Henry Clay of Kentucky made the first importation of a bull and two females. These cattle and their offspring attracted considerable attention, but they were eventually absorbed by the local cattle population and disappeared from permanent identity.
The first breeding herd in America is considered to be one established in 1840 by William H. Sotham and Erastus Corning of Albany, N.Y, and for practical purposes Herefords in the U.S. date from the Sotham-Corning beginning. The more densely populated eastern area of the U.S., including herds in New England, was the early home of Herefords. From there they fanned out to the South, Midwest and West as population expanded and demand for beef increased.
Several breeders were active in exhibiting at fairs and exhibitions in the East and Midwest where the Herefords met with great success. Records from the 1844 New York State Fair show that 11 Herefords were exhibited there and were "highly praised." Perhaps the greatest early interest in the breed came from the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia where T.L. Miller was awarded a medal for the first-prize herd.
Buckeye
The Buckeye Polled Hereford Association was birthed in 1943. It was the child of necessity which, coupled with sound organizational management, grew at a rate seldom witnessed in breed organizations.
In September 1943 an all Polled Hereford dispersal sale winding up the J. W. Williams Estate had proven to be very successful. After this success, there were several progressive Polled Hereford breeders who, wanting to develop a market, realized that it could be possible to do so through a cooperative breeder sale. The first meeting was held in Zanesville in October 1943, having been called by T. W. McGovern of McConnelsville, Ohio with some 18 breeders present.
Since the majority of the breeders came from the southeastern portion of the state, a question was posed as to whether this organization should be of several counties in that area or if possibly it wouldn't be wise to take in the entire state. The name Buckeye Polled Hereford Association was adopted to signify statewide coverage but in a short period of time members were joining from all of the surrounding states.
In addition to Mr. McGovern, the first vice president was J. C. Thompson, Lore City, Ohio and the secretary-treasurer was R. L. Siler of Zanesville. The Board of Directors consisted of S. L. Bliss, Chandlersville; Harry R. Blume, Sugar Grove; Claire Finley, Crooksville; George H. Wilking, Zanesville; and H. Dana Williams, Wilmington.
Things move rapidly, on Friday, April 28, 1944, Ohio's first Polled Hereford Breeders Sale was held at the B&O Railroad Yards, Zanesville, Ohio. There was a show with L. P. McCann as judge, Earl Gartin was the auctioneer and Don Chittenden was on hand representing the Hereford Journal. Don later served as secretary of the American Polled Hereford Association for many years. By this time there were 45 members and the consignor's list totaled 20 firms with 63 head of cattle being sold in the first sale.
On the back cover of the first sale catalog the following paragraph appears, which is quite interesting and informative: "Facts about Polled (Hornless) Herefords not generally known. The American Polled Hereford Breeder's Association was organized in 1907 and in that same year Polled Rupert No. 88 was brought to Southeastern Ohio. Mated to registered Horned Herefords; 60% of the offspring was polled. Naturally local breeders became interested and started using Polled bulls.
From this southeastern section of Ohio, Polled Herefords have gone to the Hawaiian Islands, Cuba, Australia and to many states. With his background, it is believed those wanting Polled (Hornless) Herefords should know they are available from dependable breeders in Ohio and adjoining states. Polled Herefords for many generations of Polled blood on both sides back of them, and with these thoughts in mind the breeders have organized the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association."
In addition to the aforementioned officers and directors some of the members appearing in the First Sale Catalog were: Bentley Brothers, Sabina; Dr. Charles E. Vidt, Blue Crystal Farm, Hilliards; A. L. Carter and Sons, Zanesville; J. L. Delarber, Defiance; Don Finley, Malta; A. Goff and Sons, Washburn, WV; H. E. Herron and Sons, Chandlersville; Ora and Chester Kline, Osborn; Hugh M. Lynch, Chillicothe; John and Frank Nelson, Crooksville; Howard Rex, Blue Rock; Curt Richardson and John Rutledge, both of McConnelsville; Edwin Schafer, Aid; Paul Shaw, Zanesville; Garfield Watson and Son, Sarahsville; S. E. Ward and Son, Lisbon and Forest Weinrich, Logan.
The second sale was held a year later at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds, Zanesville, Ohio during which 96 head were cataloged - a show with Don W. Chittenden, Eastern Representative, American Hereford Association, as judge. The American Polled Hereford Association was represented by B. O. Gammon, Secretary.
By the time the third annual Spring Sale had rolled around in 1946, membership was up to 102 members and it became necessary to also have Fall Shows and Sales.
The rapid development and importance of this area was recognized when in 1946 an Eastern National Show and Sale was held in Columbus, Ohio - a big three day affair with 300 head of Polled Herefords from 33 herds representing 15 states vying for $5,000 premium funds.
The Buckeye Polled Hereford Association has been particularly blessed with a roster of outstanding and dedicated secretaries.
In 1954, the National Show and Sale was held in Columbus, Ohio at the Ohio State Fairgrounds with a $10,000 premium fund. From that time on a Buckeye Eastern National has been held in Springfield, Ohio with at $5,000 premium fund, and it became known as "The Little National" because so many winners at this show went on to win at the National.
As to how good Buckeye Polled Hereford cattle are, we respectfully submit two instances of excellence. At the National in 1958, Buckeye members captured 13 of 20 blues and in 1951, three of four National Champions were shown by members of the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association. They were Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Knowlton, Champion Female; Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Haberer, New Lebanon, Reserve Champion Bull and Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hunslinger, Reserve Champion Female.
In 1962, at the National held in Jackson, Miss., Buckeye member Leon Falk, Jr., Schellsburg, Pa., was the Premier Breeder and Exhibitor. In 1963, the following Buckeye Polled Hereford Association members stood high at the National held in Indianapolis, Ind.: Floyd Ballard and Son, Nashport, Ohio; Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.; John Watson, Sarahsville, Ohio; Mrs. Mary K. Sprague, Springfield Ohio, and Falklands Farms, Schellsburg, Pa. The winnings included Champion Bull, The New Breeder Award, and many firsts.
The Buckeye Junior Polled Hereford Association was founded in 1962 and Carl Haines was the first President. This energetic group has been a real asset in our state and represents Polled Herefords in a positive manner. The name of the association was changed in 2000 to Ohio Buckeye Herefords Association.
The Buckeye Poll-ettes was formed by Helen Hartfield. It has been a very active membership and their accomplishments are numerous and effective. The Buckeye Scholarship Program assists a deserving Animal Science major at the Ohio State University each year. Our first recipient was John Phillips. John was associated with the Polled Hereford World for many years.
Recognized breeders who have outstanding contributions toward the development of Polled Herefords in the Ohio region and have served the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association enthusiastically are named to the Buckeye Hall of Honor:
The 45th National Polled Hereford Show and Sale was held in Columbus, Ohio, in December of 1967. It was a tremendous success. The Buckeye Association had prepared for this event for a period of five years. Hospitality, good crowds and exceptional cattle have never been surpassed at the National.
All Buckeye members are represented at the various shows, sales and events held in the state, region, and nation by our charming Queen and Princess. These lovely young ladies always make us proud because they reflect the spirit and enthusiasm of our State and our breed. This fine program has been serving the Buckeye Association for over 25 years.
The APHA Standard of Perfection show held in Columbus in 1981 honored Paul Deer of Springfield while the 1993 show honored Bill Nolan of Chillicothe.
We all take great pride in the rich heritage that has come to us in a relatively short period of time. Certainly the pioneers of the Buckeye were sound in their principles and enthusiastic about the future. They set their sights high and all have served well. The members of the Buckeye feel that with our great Polled Hereford cattle, our fine spirit of cooperation and our great faith in each other we will continue to accomplish the very goals for which the Association was born.
Missouri
Formed in the early 1950's, Central Missouri Polled Hereford Breeders Association (CMPHBA) joined with the following mission statement, which still holds true today:
The purpose of the association is to improve the quality of members' Polled Hereford cattle by the exchange of ideas and experience among members at meetings, shows, sales and activities and encourage closer relationship within the association.
To be the preferred beef breed for producers and consumers
Mission Statement
AHA will provide the leadership to record, protect, promote and facilitate the production and consumption of Hereford beef
Core Strategies
I. Continue to grow Certified Hereford Beef program
II. Develop a more aggressive and targeted industry marketing plan to positively influence the perceptions and value of Hereford cattle
III. Increase the quality, consistency and reliability of Hereford genetics
IV. Continue to grow AHA net revenue through current / new products, programs, services or partnerships
V. Increase the educational opportunities for our members, prospective members and customers
VI. Continue to grow and emphasize our youth development programs and create a young breeder development program
VII. Invest in developing global markets for our Hereford genetics
Herefords came to the U.S. in 1817 when statesman Henry Clay of Kentucky made the first importation of a bull and two females. These cattle and their offspring attracted considerable attention, but they were eventually absorbed by the local cattle population and disappeared from permanent identity.
The first breeding herd in America is considered to be one established in 1840 by William H. Sotham and Erastus Corning of Albany, N.Y, and for practical purposes Herefords in the U.S. date from the Sotham-Corning beginning. The more densely populated eastern area of the U.S., including herds in New England, was the early home of Herefords. From there they fanned out to the South, Midwest and West as population expanded and demand for beef increased.
Several breeders were active in exhibiting at fairs and exhibitions in the East and Midwest where the Herefords met with great success. Records from the 1844 New York State Fair show that 11 Herefords were exhibited there and were "highly praised." Perhaps the greatest early interest in the breed came from the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia where T.L. Miller was awarded a medal for the first-prize herd.
Buckeye
The Buckeye Polled Hereford Association was birthed in 1943. It was the child of necessity which, coupled with sound organizational management, grew at a rate seldom witnessed in breed organizations.
In September 1943 an all Polled Hereford dispersal sale winding up the J. W. Williams Estate had proven to be very successful. After this success, there were several progressive Polled Hereford breeders who, wanting to develop a market, realized that it could be possible to do so through a cooperative breeder sale. The first meeting was held in Zanesville in October 1943, having been called by T. W. McGovern of McConnelsville, Ohio with some 18 breeders present.
Since the majority of the breeders came from the southeastern portion of the state, a question was posed as to whether this organization should be of several counties in that area or if possibly it wouldn't be wise to take in the entire state. The name Buckeye Polled Hereford Association was adopted to signify statewide coverage but in a short period of time members were joining from all of the surrounding states.
In addition to Mr. McGovern, the first vice president was J. C. Thompson, Lore City, Ohio and the secretary-treasurer was R. L. Siler of Zanesville. The Board of Directors consisted of S. L. Bliss, Chandlersville; Harry R. Blume, Sugar Grove; Claire Finley, Crooksville; George H. Wilking, Zanesville; and H. Dana Williams, Wilmington.
Things move rapidly, on Friday, April 28, 1944, Ohio's first Polled Hereford Breeders Sale was held at the B&O Railroad Yards, Zanesville, Ohio. There was a show with L. P. McCann as judge, Earl Gartin was the auctioneer and Don Chittenden was on hand representing the Hereford Journal. Don later served as secretary of the American Polled Hereford Association for many years. By this time there were 45 members and the consignor's list totaled 20 firms with 63 head of cattle being sold in the first sale.
On the back cover of the first sale catalog the following paragraph appears, which is quite interesting and informative: "Facts about Polled (Hornless) Herefords not generally known. The American Polled Hereford Breeder's Association was organized in 1907 and in that same year Polled Rupert No. 88 was brought to Southeastern Ohio. Mated to registered Horned Herefords; 60% of the offspring was polled. Naturally local breeders became interested and started using Polled bulls.
From this southeastern section of Ohio, Polled Herefords have gone to the Hawaiian Islands, Cuba, Australia and to many states. With his background, it is believed those wanting Polled (Hornless) Herefords should know they are available from dependable breeders in Ohio and adjoining states. Polled Herefords for many generations of Polled blood on both sides back of them, and with these thoughts in mind the breeders have organized the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association."
In addition to the aforementioned officers and directors some of the members appearing in the First Sale Catalog were: Bentley Brothers, Sabina; Dr. Charles E. Vidt, Blue Crystal Farm, Hilliards; A. L. Carter and Sons, Zanesville; J. L. Delarber, Defiance; Don Finley, Malta; A. Goff and Sons, Washburn, WV; H. E. Herron and Sons, Chandlersville; Ora and Chester Kline, Osborn; Hugh M. Lynch, Chillicothe; John and Frank Nelson, Crooksville; Howard Rex, Blue Rock; Curt Richardson and John Rutledge, both of McConnelsville; Edwin Schafer, Aid; Paul Shaw, Zanesville; Garfield Watson and Son, Sarahsville; S. E. Ward and Son, Lisbon and Forest Weinrich, Logan.
The second sale was held a year later at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds, Zanesville, Ohio during which 96 head were cataloged - a show with Don W. Chittenden, Eastern Representative, American Hereford Association, as judge. The American Polled Hereford Association was represented by B. O. Gammon, Secretary.
By the time the third annual Spring Sale had rolled around in 1946, membership was up to 102 members and it became necessary to also have Fall Shows and Sales.
The rapid development and importance of this area was recognized when in 1946 an Eastern National Show and Sale was held in Columbus, Ohio - a big three day affair with 300 head of Polled Herefords from 33 herds representing 15 states vying for $5,000 premium funds.
The Buckeye Polled Hereford Association has been particularly blessed with a roster of outstanding and dedicated secretaries.
In 1954, the National Show and Sale was held in Columbus, Ohio at the Ohio State Fairgrounds with a $10,000 premium fund. From that time on a Buckeye Eastern National has been held in Springfield, Ohio with at $5,000 premium fund, and it became known as "The Little National" because so many winners at this show went on to win at the National.
As to how good Buckeye Polled Hereford cattle are, we respectfully submit two instances of excellence. At the National in 1958, Buckeye members captured 13 of 20 blues and in 1951, three of four National Champions were shown by members of the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association. They were Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Knowlton, Champion Female; Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Haberer, New Lebanon, Reserve Champion Bull and Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hunslinger, Reserve Champion Female.
In 1962, at the National held in Jackson, Miss., Buckeye member Leon Falk, Jr., Schellsburg, Pa., was the Premier Breeder and Exhibitor. In 1963, the following Buckeye Polled Hereford Association members stood high at the National held in Indianapolis, Ind.: Floyd Ballard and Son, Nashport, Ohio; Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.; John Watson, Sarahsville, Ohio; Mrs. Mary K. Sprague, Springfield Ohio, and Falklands Farms, Schellsburg, Pa. The winnings included Champion Bull, The New Breeder Award, and many firsts.
The Buckeye Junior Polled Hereford Association was founded in 1962 and Carl Haines was the first President. This energetic group has been a real asset in our state and represents Polled Herefords in a positive manner. The name of the association was changed in 2000 to Ohio Buckeye Herefords Association.
The Buckeye Poll-ettes was formed by Helen Hartfield. It has been a very active membership and their accomplishments are numerous and effective. The Buckeye Scholarship Program assists a deserving Animal Science major at the Ohio State University each year. Our first recipient was John Phillips. John was associated with the Polled Hereford World for many years.
Recognized breeders who have outstanding contributions toward the development of Polled Herefords in the Ohio region and have served the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association enthusiastically are named to the Buckeye Hall of Honor:
The 45th National Polled Hereford Show and Sale was held in Columbus, Ohio, in December of 1967. It was a tremendous success. The Buckeye Association had prepared for this event for a period of five years. Hospitality, good crowds and exceptional cattle have never been surpassed at the National.
All Buckeye members are represented at the various shows, sales and events held in the state, region, and nation by our charming Queen and Princess. These lovely young ladies always make us proud because they reflect the spirit and enthusiasm of our State and our breed. This fine program has been serving the Buckeye Association for over 25 years.
The APHA Standard of Perfection show held in Columbus in 1981 honored Paul Deer of Springfield while the 1993 show honored Bill Nolan of Chillicothe.
We all take great pride in the rich heritage that has come to us in a relatively short period of time. Certainly the pioneers of the Buckeye were sound in their principles and enthusiastic about the future. They set their sights high and all have served well. The members of the Buckeye feel that with our great Polled Hereford cattle, our fine spirit of cooperation and our great faith in each other we will continue to accomplish the very goals for which the Association was born.
Missouri
Formed in the early 1950's, Central Missouri Polled Hereford Breeders Association (CMPHBA) joined with the following mission statement, which still holds true today:
The purpose of the association is to improve the quality of members' Polled Hereford cattle by the exchange of ideas and experience among members at meetings, shows, sales and activities and encourage closer relationship within the association.
World Hereford Council
The Hereford breed has stood the test of time for over 250 years and since those early days Herefords have been exported to over 120 countries throughout the World.
The World Hereford Council estimates the total population of Herefords and Hereford cross cattle to be in excess of 100 million.
Mission:
"To preserve, and improve, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the inherited constitution, purity and docility of the breed of cattle known as Herefords which has enabled it to thrive in extreme climatic and feeding conditions throughout its history."
To-day the International Organisation the “World Hereford Council” organises a World Hereford Conference every 4 years and the European Hereford producing countries come together every 2 years for an informal gathering.
Council Objectives, Goals, and Responsibilities Objectives:
1. To assure the herd books of all member countries are in order and properly record the ancestry of the breed
2. To increase the popularity of Herefords and Hereford influence cattle.
3. To encourage all countries raising Herefords to be active members of the Council.
4. To encourage and facilitate worldwide trade of Hereford Genetics.
5. To encourage communication and co-operation between all member countries so that the Hereford breed's popularity and genetic influence will continue to grow worldwide.
6. To be a resource centre and provide, through the use of the World Hereford Council Website, the opportunity for producers to source the genetics and the management information they require to help them raise a quality product more efficiently.
7. To encourage more applied research including identifying of genetic markers and sharing of this information in order to provide our members with improved selection tools.
8. To create a stamp for the WHC as certification of all .
9. To help develop an international carcass EPD program for countries working with branded beef-
10. To expand the role of the council and generate revenue through sponsorships, endorsements and services.
Goals:
1. To have at least a 3-continent genetic evaluation available to our producers by 2008
2. To have all countries exporting Hereford beef establish a common nomenclature that identifies the country of origin and the eating quality specifications,
3. To have all countries transferring data, documentation and other relevant information by Internet.
4. To have some genetic markers for identifying various abnormalities and for meat quality for our consumers by 2004.
5. To have at least 60% of the members using a unique international numbering system
6. To encourage all countries to share their research that is beneficial of the breed and the producers.
7. To have all countries using predominantly DNA Genotyping for parentage qualification by end of 2002,
8. To have the communiqué Global Horizons posted on our Website ('www.herefords.com)
9. To expand the 2002 planning committee meeting to reports from various Council working committees.
10. To generate new sources of revenue through new services, sponsorships, and special activities.
Responsibility:
1. The World Hereford Council and its' members are ultimately responsible for assuring that the breed is achieving its greatest potential.
2. Assuring that all breeders have access to the tools and information, that can assist them in
a. Providing the beef production chain with optimum efficiency. b. Provide the consumer with a healthy and enjoyable eating experience, every time.
3. To encourage all segments of the industry i.e. cow calf producer, feeder, packer, processor, and consumer to be considered an integral part of our business.
4. To provide encouragement and leadership to all Hereford producing countries.
5. To facilitate open and continuous communication.
What does the Secretary General do?
The World Hereford Council exists to promote Hereford breed excellence and to encourage world-wide trade of Hereford genetics. It all began in 1951 when there was concern that some Herefords being traded between countries were not directly traceable to the English Herd Book. A meeting was convened in Hereford, England on July 13th 1951 and the New Zealand representative at that meeting was Mr. R. Mead from Wakefield in Nelson.
The three items on the agenda were the international pedigree Hereford registration and acceptance, the international veterinary conference and the formation of a permanent council of world Hereford breed societies and associations. The meeting decided to form a permanent council to be known as the World Hereford Council. The object of the World Hereford Council was, and still is, the promotion of the interests of the Hereford breed throughout the world and to provide a medium for the settlement of any problems that may arise between member countries. The headquarters of such council was to be situated at the Hereford Herd Book Society, Great Britain.
In 1956 the World Hereford Council met in Buenos Aires and one of the topics was the universal standardization of veterinary tests between exporting and importing countries. This is one subject that has never been resolved by Council and probably never will be as health requirements and regulations varied between all countries and altered frequently in those days and the situation remains the same today.
A general policy for polled and horned Hereford cattle was a big issue at that conference. Polled Hereford cattle numbers were increasing rapidly at that time and their acceptance was the subject of a lengthy debate. Mr. Humphreys' (from New Zealand) perseverance, patience and diplomacy was largely responsible for an amicable outcome which was that both horned and polled Hereford cattle should be considered as one breed. For the sake of easy reference, however, it was recommended that both horned and polled Herefords be designated separately in the records of the member countries, leaving the method of action in the hands of the societies concerned.
At that time it was assumed that the Secretary of the Hereford Herd Book Society would act as the Secretary for the World Hereford Council and any expenses incurred would be paid by member countries. At succeeding conferences the role of the Secretary altered and the title for the position became Secretary General of the World Hereford Council. Mr. Tony Morrison of England was the first Secretary General and his counsel on Hereford matters was greatly respected by Hereford breeders from all parts of the world. Gradually rules and regulations governing the World Hereford Council and its members were formalized and the role of the Secretary General more clearly defined. In 1968 the rule regarding the location of the headquarters of the Council was altered to read that the registered offices shall be situated with the Hereford Herd Book Society in Great Britain or wherever deemed necessary.
The significance of the alteration to that rule did not become apparent until 1984 when Mr Morrison advised delegates at the New Zealand World Conference that he would be retiring after the tenth World Conference in Spain in 1988. Mr Duncan Porteous was subsequently appointed as the World Secretary General and all the historic records of the World Hereford Council were shipped to Canada. Duncan managed a dual role combining his position as General Manager of the Canadian Hereford Society with that of the Secretary General of the World Hereford Council. Duncan's contribution to Herefords in Canada and to Herefords around the world has been immense.
Over the years the emphasis has moved away from rules and regulations to matters of more economic value for Herefords. Branded Hereford Beef, performance recording and research items have been topics of interest at conferences. An annual subscription is paid by member countries of the World Hereford Council and that revenue covers all administration services. The Secretary General manages the finances and presents annual reports to a financial committee at meetings or conferences.
Volumes of conference minutes and proceedings have been carefully bound and are to be kept for posterity. They were shipped from Canada and are now stored in New Zealand. Shifting the historic records to a new locality was relatively easy but I am quite sure that before the days of electronic communication it would have been quite impractical for a Secretary General to reside in Australasia. It is the view of the New Zealand Hereford Council that the Secretary General should be elected every four years and perhaps the locality of that Secretary General should be regionally rotated. This recommendation was put to delegates at the last meeting and will be fully discussed and voted upon at the next conference.
Hereford marketing and promotion are obvious responsibilities for the Secretary General and a web site promoting as many sires as are available from all member countries is one of the objectives of the Council. Collating research projects, beneficial to Hereford breeders is another objective and during the next four years the World Hereford Council plans to complete a global evaluation program for the Hereford breed
DNA and other technical advances, including the Global Evaluation program will increase the choices for registered Hereford breeders in the future.
This will ensure the Hereford breed has a major role to play in the growth of the beef industry around the world.
The World Hereford Council estimates the total population of Herefords and Hereford cross cattle to be in excess of 100 million.
Mission:
"To preserve, and improve, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the inherited constitution, purity and docility of the breed of cattle known as Herefords which has enabled it to thrive in extreme climatic and feeding conditions throughout its history."
To-day the International Organisation the “World Hereford Council” organises a World Hereford Conference every 4 years and the European Hereford producing countries come together every 2 years for an informal gathering.
Council Objectives, Goals, and Responsibilities Objectives:
1. To assure the herd books of all member countries are in order and properly record the ancestry of the breed
2. To increase the popularity of Herefords and Hereford influence cattle.
3. To encourage all countries raising Herefords to be active members of the Council.
4. To encourage and facilitate worldwide trade of Hereford Genetics.
5. To encourage communication and co-operation between all member countries so that the Hereford breed's popularity and genetic influence will continue to grow worldwide.
6. To be a resource centre and provide, through the use of the World Hereford Council Website, the opportunity for producers to source the genetics and the management information they require to help them raise a quality product more efficiently.
7. To encourage more applied research including identifying of genetic markers and sharing of this information in order to provide our members with improved selection tools.
8. To create a stamp for the WHC as certification of all .
9. To help develop an international carcass EPD program for countries working with branded beef-
10. To expand the role of the council and generate revenue through sponsorships, endorsements and services.
Goals:
1. To have at least a 3-continent genetic evaluation available to our producers by 2008
2. To have all countries exporting Hereford beef establish a common nomenclature that identifies the country of origin and the eating quality specifications,
3. To have all countries transferring data, documentation and other relevant information by Internet.
4. To have some genetic markers for identifying various abnormalities and for meat quality for our consumers by 2004.
5. To have at least 60% of the members using a unique international numbering system
6. To encourage all countries to share their research that is beneficial of the breed and the producers.
7. To have all countries using predominantly DNA Genotyping for parentage qualification by end of 2002,
8. To have the communiqué Global Horizons posted on our Website ('www.herefords.com)
9. To expand the 2002 planning committee meeting to reports from various Council working committees.
10. To generate new sources of revenue through new services, sponsorships, and special activities.
Responsibility:
1. The World Hereford Council and its' members are ultimately responsible for assuring that the breed is achieving its greatest potential.
2. Assuring that all breeders have access to the tools and information, that can assist them in
a. Providing the beef production chain with optimum efficiency. b. Provide the consumer with a healthy and enjoyable eating experience, every time.
3. To encourage all segments of the industry i.e. cow calf producer, feeder, packer, processor, and consumer to be considered an integral part of our business.
4. To provide encouragement and leadership to all Hereford producing countries.
5. To facilitate open and continuous communication.
What does the Secretary General do?
The World Hereford Council exists to promote Hereford breed excellence and to encourage world-wide trade of Hereford genetics. It all began in 1951 when there was concern that some Herefords being traded between countries were not directly traceable to the English Herd Book. A meeting was convened in Hereford, England on July 13th 1951 and the New Zealand representative at that meeting was Mr. R. Mead from Wakefield in Nelson.
The three items on the agenda were the international pedigree Hereford registration and acceptance, the international veterinary conference and the formation of a permanent council of world Hereford breed societies and associations. The meeting decided to form a permanent council to be known as the World Hereford Council. The object of the World Hereford Council was, and still is, the promotion of the interests of the Hereford breed throughout the world and to provide a medium for the settlement of any problems that may arise between member countries. The headquarters of such council was to be situated at the Hereford Herd Book Society, Great Britain.
In 1956 the World Hereford Council met in Buenos Aires and one of the topics was the universal standardization of veterinary tests between exporting and importing countries. This is one subject that has never been resolved by Council and probably never will be as health requirements and regulations varied between all countries and altered frequently in those days and the situation remains the same today.
A general policy for polled and horned Hereford cattle was a big issue at that conference. Polled Hereford cattle numbers were increasing rapidly at that time and their acceptance was the subject of a lengthy debate. Mr. Humphreys' (from New Zealand) perseverance, patience and diplomacy was largely responsible for an amicable outcome which was that both horned and polled Hereford cattle should be considered as one breed. For the sake of easy reference, however, it was recommended that both horned and polled Herefords be designated separately in the records of the member countries, leaving the method of action in the hands of the societies concerned.
At that time it was assumed that the Secretary of the Hereford Herd Book Society would act as the Secretary for the World Hereford Council and any expenses incurred would be paid by member countries. At succeeding conferences the role of the Secretary altered and the title for the position became Secretary General of the World Hereford Council. Mr. Tony Morrison of England was the first Secretary General and his counsel on Hereford matters was greatly respected by Hereford breeders from all parts of the world. Gradually rules and regulations governing the World Hereford Council and its members were formalized and the role of the Secretary General more clearly defined. In 1968 the rule regarding the location of the headquarters of the Council was altered to read that the registered offices shall be situated with the Hereford Herd Book Society in Great Britain or wherever deemed necessary.
The significance of the alteration to that rule did not become apparent until 1984 when Mr Morrison advised delegates at the New Zealand World Conference that he would be retiring after the tenth World Conference in Spain in 1988. Mr Duncan Porteous was subsequently appointed as the World Secretary General and all the historic records of the World Hereford Council were shipped to Canada. Duncan managed a dual role combining his position as General Manager of the Canadian Hereford Society with that of the Secretary General of the World Hereford Council. Duncan's contribution to Herefords in Canada and to Herefords around the world has been immense.
Over the years the emphasis has moved away from rules and regulations to matters of more economic value for Herefords. Branded Hereford Beef, performance recording and research items have been topics of interest at conferences. An annual subscription is paid by member countries of the World Hereford Council and that revenue covers all administration services. The Secretary General manages the finances and presents annual reports to a financial committee at meetings or conferences.
Volumes of conference minutes and proceedings have been carefully bound and are to be kept for posterity. They were shipped from Canada and are now stored in New Zealand. Shifting the historic records to a new locality was relatively easy but I am quite sure that before the days of electronic communication it would have been quite impractical for a Secretary General to reside in Australasia. It is the view of the New Zealand Hereford Council that the Secretary General should be elected every four years and perhaps the locality of that Secretary General should be regionally rotated. This recommendation was put to delegates at the last meeting and will be fully discussed and voted upon at the next conference.
Hereford marketing and promotion are obvious responsibilities for the Secretary General and a web site promoting as many sires as are available from all member countries is one of the objectives of the Council. Collating research projects, beneficial to Hereford breeders is another objective and during the next four years the World Hereford Council plans to complete a global evaluation program for the Hereford breed
DNA and other technical advances, including the Global Evaluation program will increase the choices for registered Hereford breeders in the future.
This will ensure the Hereford breed has a major role to play in the growth of the beef industry around the world.