Page 10 - Hereford Magazine 2021

Two new faces on NZ Herefords council

Eileen McWilliam

Stud: Te Taumata Poll Herefords.
Location: Gladstone, Wairarapa.
Stock: 1500 sheep and 275 cattle – Romney and Border
Leicester stud sheep run alongside polled
Hereford stud cattle.
Family: Husband Alistair, children Ella, 16, Kayla, 14,
Jessica, 11, and Robert, 8.

Alistair and Eileen manage and run the farm themselves, Eileen grew up on her family’s pedigree Simmental
after becoming partners with Alistair’s father, Jim, in Ranch in Oregon, USA.
McWilliam Stud Stock in 2003, and the kids regularly “I had a strong involvement in the Oregon Junior
help with all aspects of farm work. “We’re a very family Simmental Association, being a board member for many
orientated business,” Eileen says. “I take care of the years and regularly competing locally, regionally and
administration side of the business and the three studs, nationally, which involved preparing and showing cattle,
and work alongside Alistair on bigger farm jobs. My public speaking, livestock judging and livestock knowledge
favourite job is sorting up and assessing the cows at culling competitions. I also competed nationally in the US College/
and mating times and discussing pedigrees, genetics and University livestock judging circuit on the Oregon State
mating options. It is so rewarding seeing the calves the University Team in 1996/97.”
following winter.” She has an animal science degree (livestock production)
The Hereford stud, established by Alister Noel McWilliam from Oregon State University and did a PhD in ruminant
in 1962, offers about 30 two-year-old bulls for sale each year. nutrition at Massey University in 2005. She joined the NZ
It is known for producing high quality, top-performing Herefords council in early 2020.
bulls for mostly hill country clients, with a focus on “I am looking forward to being part of the team that
constitution, longevity, and maternal production. “We work will continue to keep our breed association relevant to our
hard to provide genetics that will make our clients money breeders and the wider beef industry, and to help support
and help them achieve their production targets.” the growth of our breed in the market.”

Chris Jeffries

Stud: Grassmere Herefords.
Location: Cheviot, North Canterbury.
Size: 598 hectares.
Stock: 1350 ewes and hoggets, and 200 stud cows
and heifers.
Family: Wife Amanda, daughter Maddie, 17,
and son Gus, 19.

Chris and Amanda farm their 598ha property themselves working with and showing Herefords around the UK,
with occasional help from casual staff. and taking part in the NZ Herefords youth ambassador
They have 200 stud cows, including heifers (100 Hereford programme at the World Hereford Conference in Australia
and 100 Angus), which are calved on their flats for in 2004.
recording purposes. He says he’s looking forward to being part of a strong
Between 12 and 15 Hereford bulls are sold annually team on the NZ Herefords council.
at auction. “Our sale has been very strong in recent “I want to help drive the Hereford breed in a positive and
years. Last year’s average was $8500,” Chris says. “We’re profitable direction.”
aiming to breed strong, robust Herefords that will thrive The sheep side of the farm has 1350 Romney ewes mated,
in all environments. We pay special attention to fertility, including hoggets, with 600 mated to Romney and the
structure, constitution and docility, and combine those balance to terminal sire. The ewes lamb un-shepherded on
traits with strong performance data.” hill country and tail approximately 140 to 150%.
The Grassmere stud was established in 1966. Chris has As well as squash, one of Chris’s hobbies is hunting, but
been involved with Herefords for about 35 years, including he says that’s mainly for pest control!

8 HEREFORD MAGAZINE Year 2021