We need to start with the man who’s behind this conference, Russell Tocker. For those of you that don’t know Russell, he’s a very passionate man. Russell likes to keep his mind busy so he knows a lot about a broad spectrum of topics.
Russell milks 740 cows through a 40 set herringbone shed with his brother on a family farm. The Tiakitahuna herd is a mixed bag with majority friesian and jersey cows. Russell’s favourite shorthorn family is his Time family and his favourite Ayrshire family is his Clown family.
Russell with his love of breeding cows has chosen the milking shorthorn breed for the ability to improve. Milking shorthorns were not known to have very good index’s or be the top of the line cows but because of that there’s so much opportunity to improve each generation from the last. He uses NZ Ayrshire over his Milking shorthorn heifers to get a smaller size of animal with the great udders and capacity he desires.
Russell is on the milking shorthorn sire proving board and is the New Zealand board member for the International Red Dairy Breed Federation.
Russell has seen a lot of herds and is hoping people will want to come and see his herd and the scenery around. He believes people will enjoy seeing where he’s from, what he’s doing and how he’s adapted/ adapting to the ever changing conditions around him.
