Contents
Introduction
Carterton A&P
Danniverke Centennial A&P
Speckle Park NZ Open Day
Central Districts Field Days
Sydney Royal Show
Intro
Introduction
2009 - 2010 have been very exciting so far as we have introduced SpecklePark cattle to NZ Farmers.
The support from NZ farmers and the level of interest from both the beef and dairy industries has been fantastic and we look forward to keeping you all updated as this exciting new breed develops into a well known and competitive alternative to exisisting cattle breeding options.
This magazine is our scrap book of various news articles, field days and shows we have attended so far. Please check back and follow our progress!!
Thanks
SpecklePark NZ team.
Carterton Show
Carterton A&P Show 31st October -1st November 2009
First time showing the SpeckleParks!
Star of the show - "Mr Speckle" - a SpecklePark x Fresian steer.
We held a "Guess the weight of the Steer" competition with the winner receiving an X-Box !!
The actual weight was 498kg and was won by a Carterton lady. Over 250 entries so thanks everyone.
Purebred calves still on mother but took 4 crossbred calves that we'd hand reared.
Great to finally show people what they looked like ,especially at our local A&P show.
Fantastic that so many kids came and patted the calves and brushed them - very quiet to handle.
Danniverke AP
Danniverke Centennial A&P Show - Febuary 5th - 6th 2010
We proudly put up our new Speckle Park canopy (although it took considerably longer than the "15minutes for 2 people" instruction sheet!)
We had 'round 2' of our "Guess the Weight of the Steer " competition of our now famous "MR SPECKLE".
We were very lucky to have as our prize a rugby ball signed by the 2009 ALL BLACK TEAM! this was generously sponsored by LION BREWERIES - Thanks LION!
MR SPECKLE had gained an impressive 82 kgs since Carterton - with over 250 entries yet again, there was one winner with the exact weight - 580kg's
The calves were a big drawcard as it's always valuable for the commercial beef farmer to see what the progeny across a variety ofbreeds are like.
Great to meet a lot of new people . Go the VIKING MOTEL!
Waio Open Day
Open Day at Waiorongomai - March 4th 2010!
The best way to see animals is "on farm" so thought we'd have an open day to show off both our purebred calves and wide range of crossbred calves.
We had a great day for it and welcomed a range of farmers and stock agents from as far afield as Bluff!!Even a group of farmers on a 4-wheel drive tour couldn't resist checking out "the next big thing"!!
Thanks to Richard Anderson from "Andersons Meats' in Masterton for kindly donating sausages to feed the troops and for showing such a positive interest in the potential of the SpecklePark breed as a top quality beef product.
Look forward to serving up SpecklePark sausages next time!!
Central District Field Days
Central District Field Days - March 2010
Set up our site on Wednesday 17th March.
We took "Mr Speckle" - our 20month old Fresian x SpecklePark steer , 4 pure bred SpecklePark Bull calves and 4 pure bred SpecklePark Hiefer calves (age 7months).
We were fortunate to have the support of
Technifarm
who kindly sponsored us enough fencing panels to keep the animals well secured but still enable the public to view them easily. Thanks
Technifarm
! Look forward to working with you in the future.
Had a great 3 days at our first Field Days with large numbers by our site and a lot of interest including those who came specifically to see the Speckle Park cattle.
CDF Newspaper
CENTRAL DISTRICT FIELD DAYS NEWSPAPER 2010
By Denise Gunn
CENTRAL Districts Field Days
will give the crowd an opportunity to view a new cattle breed to NewZealand - purebred
Speckle Park
.
Wairarapa farmers Raymond Matthews and Bruce McKenzie first saw
Speckle Park
cattle at the Canadian Agribition in 2006. Mark McKenzie also viewed the cattle there in 2007.
The families were so impressed by the cattle that a decision was made to bring this breed to NewZealand for farmers in this country to take advantage of. In 2008, the Matthews family of Waiorongomai and the McKenzie family of Maungahina, imported70 embryos and semen from Canada to create
Speckle Park New Zealand.
In 2008 we put in 70 embryos and artificially inseminated 100 cows, said Charlie Matthews of
Speckle Park New Zealand
.
The following year, the team put in 70 embryos and artificially inseminated 75 heifers.
The resulting calves have lived up to, if not exceeded, all expectations, said Mr Matthews.
There are now 52 purebred
Speckle Park
calves in New Zealand.
Speckle Park cattle originated from an English-bred White Park crossed with Shorthorn and Angus.
Mr Matthews said the
Speckle Park
cattle are a similar mature size to a traditional Angus or Hereford.
They are a British breed, not a composite.
They have a high quality carcass with numerous small intramuscular fat deposits or marbling.
Speckle Park
carcasses have already been awarded Grand Champion titles at the Calgary Stampede Hoof and Hook shows.
CDF Article b
Mr Matthews said the breed is a hardy animal thriving in the sub zero temperatures of Canada.
The breed is now also extensively farmed throughout Australia and doing well in a much hotter climate.
The dark pigmented skin and black hair on the points (ears, eyes, lower legs and teats) mean the cows rarely suffer from the effects of the sun or snow.
Speckle Park
cattle are renowned for their quiet temperament which is essential to any cattle breeding or finishing programme.
Mr Matthews said
Speckle Park
cattle will appeal to both commercial beef farmers and dairy farmers. He said the beef finisher will be able to take advantage of an easy doing animal with the Speckle Park breed.
Dairy farmers in an AI programme or natural mating could also use a follow-up Speckle Park bull, with a market for both bull and heifer calves.
Mr Matthews said the hybrid vigour to any beef herd by the introduction of a new breed cant be underestimated.
The half-breed calves we have on the ground now at Waiorongomai would have to be the best calves that we have ever produced.I believe that is a combination of an outstanding new breed combined with the benefits of hybrid vigour.
The Central Districts Field Days will be the first time these purebred animals will be seen by the wider New Zealand public, said Mr Matthews.
For further information visit www.specklepark.co.nz
CDF Pics
Central District Field Days March 2010 - Fielding
Page 24
Sydney Royal Easter Show - April 9th 2010
We attended the judging of the Speckle Park cattle class at the Sydney Easter Show where the cattle were very well received and drew a lot of very positive attention.
Mark and Charlie were appointed as Directors of "SPECKLE PARK INTERNATIONAL INC." at the AGM during our time at the show.
A visit to a "Six Star Speckle Park" farm - Bimbadeen - at Meadow Flat near Bathhurst gave us the opportunity to see more cattle and we were lucky enough to be served a rib-eye-fillet steak from a Speckle park x Fresian hiefer at the 'Lithgow Workingmans Club' - Thanks to Shane - the head Chef, for his hospitality and kitchen tour of a fantastic restaurant .
