This year a new incentive for the youth to purchase and exhibit pedigree cattle is being introduced at the Waikato A&P Show.
Twenty spring-born, high type calves have been offered for sale by high profile breeders of Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn cattle - including local breeders animals Tim and Jo Barclay, Don and June Ferguson and David and Wendy Harker.
The sale is this Friday at 7pm at the Claudelands' Showgrounds and anyone is welcome to attend.
Buyers must be either under the age of 25 at the time of the sale or they must nominate a person under 25 who will handle and exhibit the animal at future shows.
There will be special Futurity classes for these animals at both the Waikato Show in October and the NZ Dairy Event in January each year. The final class for these animals as two year olds, where there are cash prizes at stake.
Organisers Heather Fowlie and Matt Satherley wanted to create a system that would encourage the young breeders of the future, no matter what breed they wish to work with.
They say this is a great opportunity for any young person to purchase a high quality show calf of any breed and perhaps start their own stud.
"So much can be learned when you prepare and show an animal. It takes commitment and dedication to present an animal at its best and also offers great fun and camaraderie with like-minded people.
There are a lot of young teenagers out there who loved preparing a calf for agricultural days but were no longer able to do this once they attend high school. This sale offers an opportunity to those youths to continue to work with dairy cattle."
The new initiative has been supported by breeders and sponsors. Bell-Booth have sponsored the ribbons and product prizes, Brian Robinson Livestock will donate a percentage of the commission and the Breed Societies and Semex have contributed towards prize money.
- Catalogues are available from Brian Robinson Livestock - 027 2410051.