The Milking Shorthorn president David Wood is farming on the same farm his father and grandfather farmed on, with his family actively involved. They settled on the farm in 1933 from Kumeroa sitting at 900 ft above sea level between Fielding and Palmerston North at Hiwinui. From the cowshed looking towards the back of the scenic farm, the land looks rather flat however the 2 kilometre hike has six hidden gulleys creating a rolling to steep contour. The family started registering animals in 1938 and have been milking Shorthorn cattle ever since. David’s daughter Anja has a keen interest, having her own genetics within the Northbrook herd under the prefix Hiwinui. The passion is also followed by both boys; Richard with the Richwood prefix and Karl, now sharemilking, with the Kowhai prefix (inherited from his grandfather Jim). David’s older daughter, Catriona, also works on the family farm part-time and her daughter, Ruby has reared many calves for showing.
Northbrook has been breeding cows for over 50 years, starting out with cows David bought from Milking Shorthorn breeder dispersal sales. Showing has also been a passion for David and the family with strings taken to local shows in and around the Manawatū and Taranaki. In the early days there were a few champions. Northbrook have been supporters of the biggest dairy show in New Zealand, New Zealand Dairy Event (NZDE), since its inception with both David and Johanna serving on the NZDE Committee.The culmination of their showing career was winning the 2024 Supreme Exhibit in the Combined Breeds with Northbrook Wok sired by Treeton Pingerly. Northbrook regularly sells young stock sharing their genetics around New Zealand and Northbrook has also had a number of bulls in the Red Breed Genetics scheme, the bull proving team of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association. Within the herd there are many descendants from David’s favourite cow family “Northbrook Way” and he has had bulls leaving good animals throughout the country from his “Northbrook Bishop” family.
David has always supported young people and demonstrates this by opening their farm up to children to rear calves for local school pet days. One year 16 children would come to the farm after school and on weekends to prepare their chosen calf. With covid shutting down most local pet days the amount of interest has definitely declined however David continues to support the children interested in taking a calf to their school pet day and championship days. He also sits on the Manawatū Oroua Boys and Girls Committee and was made a life member for his service to this group. Attending every year to support young boys and girls as they start their showing journey. In 2024, David, with the support of the young girls from next door (who started showing at their school pet day with his calves) created the first Milking Shorthorn youth team for Dairy Event 2024 which has carried through to 2025.
David is constantly looking for outcrosses in his breeding program. He focuses on a medium sized cow that is true to breed. He wants a fertile animal with good feet and legs, longevity, and good udders. More importantly he is always on the lookout for better components. This creates an excitement when it comes to calving time, David finds delight going to the springers paddock to find the new calves.
Wonderful article !