Benchmark Programme
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM NZ HEREFORDS
BENCHMARK AWARDS 2022
The Boehringer Ingelheim Benchmark awards have been highly regarded by NZ Herefords breeders and commercial buyers of registered bulls for many years. The awards highlight the very top performing females in the NZ Herefords gene pool, by recognizing those cows that get in calf every year and continue to produce quality calves year after year.
With the NZ Herefords Selection Indexes being updated in 2021, the 2022 Benchmark Awards have also been updated.
The first update of the awards is now all Benchmark Dams must have their first calf before 2 years and 3 months of age.
This reflects the practice of mating yearling heifers becoming the usual practice on the majority of commercial farms Hereford genetics are used on. This now means the 4 tiers of
Benchmark Dams can be described as the following;
• Benchmark Dam: meets the Benchmark criteria after 3 or 4 calves
• Silver Benchmark Dam: meets the Benchmark criteria after 5 or 6 calves
• Gold Benchmark Dam: meets the Benchmark criteria after 7 or more calves
• Platinum Benchmark Dam: Dam of 3 or more Benchmark Dams
Other improvements to the Benchmark awards include, all a cow’s calves requiring a birthweight to be recorded and the use of the new Hereford Prime and Beef Heifer Indexes in place of the old Hereford Prime and Export indexes.
The 2022 benchmark animal qualifying criteria is as follows:
BENCHMARK DAMS
- First calf must be born before two years and three months of age.
- Average calving interval of 391 for first three calves and 382 for first four calves.
- Maternal value is in the top 10% of the Trans-Tasman Hereford analysis.
- Indexes in the top 30% of the Trans-Tasman Hereford analysis for both Hereford Prime and Beef Heifer Indexes
- Calves must be reared by own dam and have a birthweight and 200-day weight recorded.
- Dam must have a registered calf recorded no more than two years prior to current group run cut off.
SILVER BENCHMARK DAMS
- All criteria as above for Benchmark Dam.
- Average calving interval of 378 for first five calves, and 375 for first six calves.
GOLD BENCHMARK DAMS
- All criteria as above for Benchmark Dam.
- Average calving interval of 373 on first 7 or more calves. The Benchmark awards also recognize:
BENCHMARK DAM BREEDERS
Those breeders who have bred five or more benchmark dams.
BENCHMARK SIRES
Bulls that have sired three or more benchmark dams.
PLATINUM DAMS
The dam of three benchmark dams. Can be any combination of gold, silver or standard.
All the Dams who have qualified under the new criteria are listed on the following pages. To find a full list of benchmark animals refer to the ‘Technical’ tab or click “online search’, on the NZ Herefords website.
Platinum Dams
The dam of three benchmark dams. Can be any combination of gold, silver or standard.
Gold Benchmark Dams
1. Seven or more calves with calving interval averaging no more than 373 days.
2. Other criteria as for benchmark dams.
Silver Benchmark Dams
1. First calf before two years and two months.
2. Other criteria as for benchmark dams.
Benchmark Sires
Sires having produced three or more benchmark dams.
Benchmark Dam Breeders
Breeders of five or more benchmark dams.
