President’s Annual Report 2010

The last 12 months have seen an increase in demand for Murray Grey bulls particularly from the dairy sector.  This demand does however vary depending on the dairy market and the payout to farmers.  Reports also indicate stronger demand for Murray Grey sired calves at sales.

The dairy bull market is very significant for our breed and feedback from this sector is important for breeders in influencing selection decisions.

A recent inquiry for bulls for the dairy beef AI sector had the following specifications;

Bulls to be Silver
Birthweight EBV to be below the breed average
200 and 400 day Growth EBV’s to be at or above the breed average.

The above illustrates what is important to the dairy sector;

1. Live calves
2. Colour marking
3. Good early growth rates.

The Society went into the last financial year knowing that money would be tight given that income from investments would approximately halve.  It is pleasing to see that we have survived the downturn  so far, according to the financial report.

A change to a Windows based system for Breedplan is looking to cost the Society $8,000 at present.  This matter is still under discussion with PBB (representing the breed Societies) and ABRI.

Earlier this year, members of the Society hosted two young people from Australia, the Murray Grey Youth Ambassadors, Kurt Wise from Western Australia and Courtney Smith from Victoria. They had won the study tour of NZ as an annual award made at their National Show and Sale in 2008 and 2009.  Thankyou to all those who were able to host them during their visits, I’m sure both our visitors and the hosts gained from the experience.

Thankyou to all those members who have promoted the breed in various ways throughout the country, promotion of the breed at Field days and Shows allows contact with the beef industry, potential customers and the general public.  This provides valuable feedback on how Murray Grey’s are comparing in the market place against the other breeds.

Trevor Clarke
PRESIDENT

President’s Annual Report 2009

The emergence of the international financial crisis has impacted or will impact on everyone. The Society will be affected by the reduction in interest income from investments over the next 12 months and possibly longer.

The Council has considered the introduction of a Dairy Index over the past 12 months. Such indexes weight EBV’s for a particular market. The council has decided in the interim to not introduce a Dairy Index due to the concern that any gain will be long term and the impact of an additional cost at this time with income reducing is not prudent.

ABRI are in the process of changing the operating system for Breedplan. This will introduce greater flexibility with the system being accessed through Windows. The downside is that this comes at a cost. This will be part of the negotiation with ABRI for the new service contract.

The introduction of Steer classes at shows and Fieldays has introduced an additional avenue to promote Murray Greys. The recent Show at Feilding had Murray Grey’s prominent in all Steer classes.

My thanks goes to all those who have helped promotion through the Mystery Creek Fieldays, Feilding Best of Beef and Shows throughout the country.

The Council is responsible for making the ongoing decisions for members. Currently we only have 3 councillors of a possible six. Councillors are there to represent you, the individual members. Currently we do not have anyone representing the top half of the North Island. If you have someone that you consider would be suitable as a councillor for the northern half of the North Island please let a councillor know so we can consider them as a co-opted member to council. Ideally we would have a councillor for each region of the country.

As individuals we need to give consideration as to where the Society is going.

Other Breed Societies are feeling the same decline in members and registered cattle. There comes a point where a few members cannot support the structure of an individual Society.
Should we consider interested members just joining the Australian Society?
We are struggling to maintain a Council and as noted in a previous newsletter we have struggled to reach a quorum for the AGM in the recent years. Should we consider further reducing the quorum?

We need more input for the Society to move forward successfully. Please consider your future, email, write or phone a Councillor, lets think about the options and more importantly, please attend the Annual Meeting and discuss some ideas on where to from here.

Trevor Clarke
President

President's Report 2008

Over the last 3 years the Council has concentrated on improving the availability and access to new and improved methods of evaluating pedigree cattle. This is continuing with the consideration of Index’s which are based on EBV’s to identify bulls that are suitable for the Dairy industry and a replacement index for the Beef industry.

DNA testing is now available for 8 tenderness genes, 8 marbling genes and 8 feed efficiency genes. Our breed is presently a leader in terms of numbers of cattle with the highest numbers of tenderness genes. Such testing is very well advanced in other species and we can expect continuing advances in this technology.

Another consistent thread the Council has maintained is to continue generic advertising of Murray Greys to a level the Society can afford.

The marketing of Murray Grey beef has long been discussed and considered by many within the Society in the past. The council wants to establish a quality standard and brand name that can be used by individuals, clubs or other approved organisations in the marketing and selling of Murray Grey beef in the future.

I would like to thank all those who have contributed in various ways to the smooth running of the Society and the promotion of our breed by putting cattle on display at Shows, manning stands and displays at Field days, organising and participating in the Southland herd tour and the contributions and production of Progress magazine.

My thanks to my fellow councillors for their contributions and commitment to moving the breed forward.

Trevor Clarke
President

President's Report 2007

National Bull Sale /Beef Expo
2007 represents the re introduction of a National Sale for Murray Grey’s in New Zealand.

2 Bulls have passed inspection and will be at the sale. This represents an opportunity to purchase bulls which are performance recorded and considered superior animals from their herds. For the sale to be a success it needs the support of members for it to be an ongoing activity.

PBB Relocation
PBB plan to relocate to a site within the Agricultural Business area of Manfeild Park in a purpose built facility later in the year / early next year.

Beef Workshops
Five workshops are to be run by ABRI around the country late June/early July this year.

Monday 25th June Workshop, Cromwell
Wednesday 27th June Workshop, Lincoln
Friday 29th June Workshop, Te Awamutu
Monday 2nd July Workshop, Napier
Tuesday 3rd July Workshop, Feilding

Dairy Index
We are awaiting an update from ABRI including costs.

Recording of Gene Marker results in Breedplan
This requires a change to the software to enable an additional line of information to be included. The other breeds are to be approached as the cost will be much lower if shared with the other breeds.

Approved AI Sires
Council approved the listing of Approved AI Sires on the Website. The Sire list will be included at the next update.

Transfer forms
Transfer forms will be available from the website from the next update. If you do not have access to the website you can obtain transfer forms from the PBB office.

Herd Tour
Council has approved a Herd Tour to be hosted by the Southland Club in March 2008.

AGM
The AGM will be held at the Steeple Conference Centre, Kingsgate Hotel Palmerston North at 5pm on Tuesday 15th May, to be followed by the Annual dinner. The bull sale will be held the following day. Please make dinner bookings with Lindy Lawrence by Monday 14th May.

Trevor Clarke
President

January, 2006

As the breed enters its second century we can look forward to entering a new period of development. Not many breeds can say with confidence the date the animal that founded their breed was born. The first grey calf that was born in 1905 on the Sutherland property along the Murray river valley near Albany NSW was the starting point of our breed.

Thirty five years ago another milestone, when the first Murray Greys set foot on New Zealand soil. As 2005 moved into 2006 yet another, the NZ Murray Grey Society changed from being an independently administered Society to join the other major beef breeds which come together under the umbrella of Performance Beef Breeders. The move benefits all the participants with the advantages of promotion, technical developments, economies of scale and computer access to the breed data base of all performance recorded Murray Greys internationally. Murray Grey breeders will be able to use this as another tool to aid in their future selection decisions.

To improve anything we must continually try new things and think outside the square. Developing a breed of cattle is no different. As we move into the second century of Murray Grey progress I welcome you to the new era and new opportunities presenting themselves to those of us who breed “the silver cattle with the golden future.”

Trevor Clarke
President