Southern dairy farmers featured among the winners at the 2025 Holstein Friesian New Zealand Awards.
More than 100 people attended an awards ceremony at the association’s annual conference in Invercargill last month.
The 2025 cow of the year was awarded to Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP, owned by Cummings Family Trust (Helen and Jock Cummings, of Wyndham) and bred by Owen and Cathy Copinga, of Rivendell Holsteins, of Te Puke.
Chosen from six finalists, 2012-born Beatric was deemed to be the cow who had contributed the most to the Holstein Friesian breed on a continual basis.
In a statement, Mrs Cummings said winning the cow of the year award was a "huge surprise".
Beatric was a much loved part of the herd, Mrs Cummings said.
"She is certainly one awesome cow — she is a strong-minded and strong-willed type of cow."
The winner of the 2025 Mahoe Trophy was Busybrook Pokerface S3F, bred by Nathan and Amanda Bayne, of Henley Farming Company Ltd, near Oamaru.
The trophy was awarded to the New Zealand-bred Holstein Friesian sire, based on sire proof, and earns the most points for traits, daughter production, conformation and management.
Stephen and Judith Ray, of Balclutha, were the senior team winners of the 2025 Animal Health Progeny Competition with Seagull-Bay Supersire-ET.
The award was presented to the senior progeny team with the highest points for classification based on the 2024-25 seasons inspections, scores for udder overall and final score, production worth and protein breeding value.
Three distinguished service awards were also presented at the awards dinner, recognising the dedication and passion of HFNZ members Katy Button, Judith Ray and Mrs Cummings. The award recognises individuals who had made a lasting impact through their dedication, leadership and service to the Holstein Friesian community.
Robert and Ann Marie Bruin, of Meander Holsteins in Otautau, won the Withers Trophy for Meander Mason April-ET S2F GP84. The award recognises an elite heifer from the 2023 Discovery Project in her first lactation as a 2-year-old.
An auction at the conference raised more than $16,500 to support the HFNZ Black & White Youth programme, which helps young Holstein Friesian breeders by providing training, leadership development and exposure to industry events and opportunities. — APL.
