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December 2019 Edition
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Winners are grinners: clover-Lane Aftershock Sue-eT brings a smile to the face of owners Duncan Pipe and robbie Wakelin after taking out the South Island’s supreme champion Holstein Friesian at the New Zealand Agricultural Show.
North Canterbury farming brothers win big at Show A dairy cow co-owned by a North Canterbury family has been named the South Island’s supreme champion Holstein Friesian.
❚ by brad markham Clover-Lane Aftershock Sue-ET took out the coveted accolade at the recent New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch. The bovine beauty is co-owned by brothers John and Robbie Wakelin, who milk 300 cows at Rangiora, and Duncan Pipe. “I still can’t believe it. The win is totally unexpected and topped off a pretty amazing day in the show ring,” Robbie said.
“Sue takes it all in her stride. She has so much presence. She just stands there with her head up, happily chewing her cud.” The five-and-a-half-year-old cow produced 796 kilograms of milksolids last season. She won multiple titles at the Holstein Friesian South Island Championships, including supreme champion cow and champion best udder. “I saw Sue for the first time when she was being shown here as a calf. I thought she
was an amazing animal,” Robbie said. “I loved her mother and I always knew Sue had potential. We’re so happy Duncan let us become co-owners of her.” The Wakelin’s stud, Belbrook Holsteins, had 11 cows and heifers at the show. It was their first time competing since 2017. Many breeders didn’t show last year because of the threat posed by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak.
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