As attention turns to New Zealand’s DairyEvent, slated for January 20-22, the country’s exhibitors are all critically assessing their entries every day.

Warren and Michelle Ferguson slicing into the cake to celebrate 75 years of farming with Ferdon Genetics in April 2024. Photo: Mud Media.

One of the king-hitting teams is a name no-one underestimates – Ferdon Genetics – at Otorohanga, in the heart of New Zealand’s Waikato, in the North Island. It is known globally for its Jerseys – which comprise 75% of the herd. Ferdon today also includes 25% Holsteins and some classy registered Ayrshires. The farm is run by Warren and Michelle, together with their son, Corey, milking 200-210-head on 75 effective hectares. 

The 2024 Grand Champion Jersey Ferdon Tbone Veneer (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga). Photo: Evie Tomlinson.

This is home to the reigning NZ DairyEvent Senior and Grand Champion Jersey, Ferdon Tbone Veneer EX, who will defend her title in two weeks time under US judge Terri Packard. Ferdon’s NZ DairyEvent team includes 24-head (18 in-milk, six calves).

Ferdon Comerica Viyella (the Queen of the decade)

Ferdon has always been a force at the NZ DairyEvent – winning Grand Champion Jersey eight times, Supreme Dairy Cow four times, and Premier Jersey Exhibitor for nine successive years. One of their most well-known exponents is Ferdon Comerica Viyella (the Queen of the decade), who won Grand Champion Jersey five times and Supreme Dairy Cow three times at this show.

Find out more about this family’s Royal connections, its rich back story, and the breeding philosophy which takes no notice of New Zealand’s index system…

The Ferguson family right before the 75 years of Ferdon sale in April 2024 were united and ready for action. Photo: Mud Media.

Warren and Michelle are continuing a legacy at Ferdon Genetics that is ground in passion, resourcefulness, and a tight family laden with big personalities. 

They are industry disruptors – the ones that change the tempo, tone, and the results. They aren’t afraid to test the market or to test themselves, which makes them vital for the industry’s growth and progress. 

They have sold cattle to Australia, the UK, Kenya, and South Africa.  Warren judged the Holsteins at Australia’s International Dairy Week in 2022, the Ayrshires in 2017, and the Jerseys in 2012.

Ferdon Tbone Veneer just two weeks out from defending her Grand Champion title at the NZ DairyEvent in Feilding on January 20-22. Sheila Sundborg.

Where their family story first switched gears into a global perspective was in 1975 when Warren’s parents, Don and June, travelled to the UK. It was a bold move at the time, when travel and communication wasn’t immediate, nor taken for granted.

Don and June visited the (now defunct) English Royal Show at Stoneleigh Park near Kenilworth, where UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II’s, cows were being exhibited. Don wasn’t that impressed by the royal herd, and told her somewhat-startled herdsman as much, showing him photographs of the Ferdon Genetics’ Jerseys at home in New Zealand.

Don would later meet Her Majesty in person in 1977, in the lounge of the Te Rapa Racecourse at Hamilton on the North Island. And, when Queen Elizabeth returned to New Zealand in 1990 for the Commonwealth Games, she asked to visit the Ferguson family’s farm.

Queen Elizabeth II and Don looking at the cows at Ferdon.

A RIGHT ROYAL VISIT

And, so it was that on February 4, 1990 Ferdon welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to Ferdon’s farm. It was an event he shared with his family and the community, who lined the road to Ferdon to welcome her. After the official welcome, Her Majesty and Don wandered a freshly mowed paddock viewing Ferdon’s grazing herd. 

Ferdon Tandras Elizabeth pictured with Her Majesty the Queen and Don Ferguson at Windsor.

Ferdon Tandras Eve drew the Queen’s eye that day, and her full sister, Ferdon Tandras Elizabeth, would later be exported and included in the Windsor herd.

A garden party was held for family and friends while Her Majesty, Don and June, the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, and Warren and Michelle enjoyed a cup of tea in the front room, which included a spread of pikelets, blueberry tarts, asparagus rolls and Bell tea.

“Our memorable moments of the day were having all the family introduced to her Majesty, sitting talking to her in the sitting room with Dad and Mum, and just sharing the day with family and friends,” Warren said. 

Michelle added, “The young girls sat in the chair that The Queen had sat in and finished her cup of tea.”

The 1990 farm visit – Queen Elizabeth II with Don and June Ferguson on their farmhouse steps. Photo / Richard Wallace Photography

Warren finished, “One memory, in particular was seeing Dad after The Queen had left, and he was just so full of pride that Queen Elizabeth II had visited his home and farm to see the cows that Ferdon had bred.” 

The Queen’s presence is remembered as gracious and warm – and she left a lasting impression, not simply as a Monarch, but as a new friend who appreciated the values and traditions of Ferdon’s cows and of the Ferguson family. 

She would go on to import their genetics to the UK, to become a partner on a select group of animals with Ferdon, and to establish a friendship with Don, which lasted until his passing in 2017. The Queen then extended her friendship to Warren and Michelle until her own passing in 2022. 

Warren Ferguson (with Michelle Ferguson in support) wasn’t planning for their 75 years of Ferdon Sale in April 2024 to be emotional, but more than once Warren had to check himself as he prepared to let go some of his favourite families and animals. Photo: Mud Media. 

A DREAM IS BORN

Don’s love of the registered Jersey cow was initially encouraged by Arthur Lovelock, from the Glenmore Stud, where he helped farm and show. The story goes that while Don was at compulsory military training, he sent his parents of to buy Oakley Bellbird. This family remains in the herd today represented by the BrightEyes family.  

Warren’s path into the family farm was accelerated in 1975 when his parents and younger siblings spent four months living in a flat at Windsor Castle in the UK, where Don was working as The Queen’s herdsman. Warren stayed home to run the farm with the help of his Aunt and Uncle. He struggled to combine the farm with school, and left his formal education behind, aged 15 years. From there, he continued to work alongside his parents for their entire farming career. The first animal Warren bought was Ferdon Choice Bambi – the same family as Bellbird and BrightEyes. 

Maternal cow families were the centre of Don’s breeding. He successfully linebred to Ferdon Glens Glory. Warren’s accession to a lead role on-farm included the infusion of North American sires – notably Lesters Sambo and Lencrest Blackstone. 

“We are now looking to use some of our own sires from our top cow families, as well as using the North American Genetics,” Warren said.

Ferdon’s herd is on track to average 500kg MS per cow this season. Photo: Mud Media.

“GREAT COWS COME FROM GREAT FAMILIES.”

The key traits Ferdon focusses on today include udders, front ends, capacity, rump and legs – in short – balance.

New Zealand has a strong commercial dairy farming base, with a much smaller emphasis on show cows. Warren believes the two shouldn’t be so separate.

“We find it difficult with the perception that we are just breeding show cows,” he said. “We are breeding a cow that has to be able to pay the bills, and we think that having both makes no difference. 

Ferdon Follys Viyella 19yrs old right in the photo and Ferdon Blackstone Rose 13yrs old left living the retired life.

“A good type cow should be able to milk, to be shown, and to last for many years. The cows we choose to show have also been our top producers over the years. Both Comerica Viyella EX and Ferdon Bstone Rose EX have been top producers in New Zealand.

“We strongly advocate that a show cow and dairy/commercial cow are one and the same. If our cows where not commercially viable we would not still be here farming. The show cows’ milk contribution is huge, and it’s really missed when we take them out to the shows.”

Everything is grounded in the maternal lines at Ferdon.

Top price Jersey and top price in the 75 years of Ferdon sale in April 2024 was the final animal to sell. Ferdon Fizz Viyella EXC sold for $24,000. She was pictured with the sale crew and one of the three new owners (on the halter) Peter Hansen, of Lilac Grove Jerseys (Canterbury). The sale averaged $7305 overall. Photo: Mud Media.

“They have always been one of our main stays, and many of our foundation families are still here. We also look to the new cow families around the world to be introduced into Ferdon – for example – the Duncan Belles and Veronicas are now both here. We like to see what we can get from joining top families together. 

“Great cows come from great families.”

Consistently winning Premier Jersey Exhibitor banners comes down to the bigger picture.

Ferdon Tequila Caramel (left) and the defending Grand Champion Ferdon Tbone Veneer owning the paddock. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.

“Although we have some outstanding individuals, the goal is to breed a line of cows that contribute to this success. The ‘V’ family is a testament to this. One year we had a Viyella in every age class, and from our five Champion Cows at the NZ DairyEvent, four have been Viyellas.”

Staying ahead of the curve, includes returning to the NZ DairyEvent at the end of January with the defending Grand Champion Jersey.

“It is very rewarding to get these results with animals you breed, and we all strive to win the big one. But we are always looking for the next one to come through.”

That includes Holsteins.

“Because we have ventured into Holsteins that is exciting to see what we can breed using our own breeding selections. We are also interested in exporting semen and embryos more, so time will tell.”

Michelle Ferguson follows the show cows home. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.

THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS

Ferdon is a pasture-based farming operation. They feed three to four kilograms of mixed grain in the dairy (the recently installed in-shed feeding) at milking. The balance of their diet is grass, silage and hay. Their young stock are reared off-farm by graziers after weaning. Their production goal is an average of 500kg Milk Solids per cow.

Because the farm is long and walking negatively impacts milk production, the family runs two herds for cow comfort to protect their older cows. The farm is 75% flat contour with some rolling contour.  Their biggest seasonal challenge on-farm is managing wet weather in the spring. 

The challenges within the industry in general comes down to politics, payout, and succession.

Ferdon milk through a 24-a-side herringbone dairy. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.

“The New Zealand Breeding Worth Index and the Kiwi Cross cow is a challenge in itself. Our payout can also fluctuate because 95% of our product is exported. Also, advocating for the Jersey breed – often in the presence of non-Jersey farmers has becoming hard – yet the Jersey cow is much more efficient at converting food into profit and very easy on the environment compared to other breeds because of their superior feed conversion efficiency,” Warren said.

“Farm succession is a hard one, which I think is similar for everyone all around the world now. In addition, climate change and how we can combat and work with it is increasingly challenging for the dairy industry, and it isn’t getting any easier to find a work force who want to milk cows.”

Ferdon Blackstone Lippy, aged 11, will complete in the aged cow class at the NZ DairyEvent this January. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.

MOVING FORWARD

Michelle and Warren are looking towards Corey – who also works for the Semex Alliance – to continue the dream.

Warren (left) and son Corey Ferguson consider their potential milkings times for some of this year’s NZ DairyEvent team. The cows pictured (left to right) are the 2024 NZ DairyEvent Honourable Mention Intermediate Champion, Ferdon Skyclass Fancy 21, Ferdon Chrome Maida (owned by Jerome and Holly Ferguson), Ferdon Valentino Faline (3yrs and Reserve Intermediate Champion, Waikato Show). Photo: Sheila Sundborg.

“We will still continue to breed to strong cow families and keep our cow families evolving to meet the ever-increasing demands of dairying,” Warren said. “It will be Corey and the next generation that will help keep Ferdon’s legacy and Jersey dream alive.”

Ferdon Chrome Brighteyes is owned in partnership with Simon Gaskin, from the UK. Simon is flying to New Zealand to join the Ferdon team for the NZ DairyEvent this year to see her show. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.

That includes preparing 24-head, including partnership animals (one with their UK partner Simon Gaskin who is flying to New Zealand) for the NZ DairyEvent. The family prepares their team on pasture, ad-lib hay, additional grain, and increasing amounts of protein with Dried Distillers Grain, and Soy.

“We try to keep it as simple as possible at home,” Warren said.

Ferdon’s famous independent thinking continues to shine through to the fifth generation of this extended and inclusive family who love farming, breeding, and showing cows.

Warren finishes, “We are a small unit in the whole scheme of things in New Zealand, we don’t follow trends, and we dance to the beat of our own drum when it comes to breeding the kind of cows we want.”

Key Takeaways:

• Ferdon Genetics, a leading dairy farming company in New Zealand, is known for its Jerseys, Holsteins, and Ayrshires.
• The farm, run by Warren and Michelle, and their son, Corey, milks 200-210-head on 75 hectares.
• Ferdon has won Grand Champion Jersey eight times, Supreme Dairy Cow four times, and Premier Jersey Exhibitor nine consecutive years at the NZ DairyEvent.
• Ferdon Comerica Viyella, a well-known exponent, won Grand Champion Jersey five times and Supreme Dairy Cow three times at the show.
• Ferdon’s family values both commercial and show cows, breeding top producers like Comerica Viyella EX and Ferdon Bstone Rose EX.
• Ferdon is committed to introducing new cow families from around the world.

Summary:

Ferdon Genetics, a prominent New Zealand dairy farming company, is known for its Jerseys, which make up 75% of the herd, along with 25% Holsteins and some registered Ayrshires. The farm, run by Warren and Michelle and their son, Corey, milks 200-210-head on 75 hectares. Ferdon has been a significant force at the NZ DairyEvent, winning Grand Champion Jersey eight times, Supreme Dairy Cow four times, and Premier Jersey Exhibitor for nine successive years. Ferdon Comerica Viyella, one of their most well-known exponents, won Grand Champion Jersey five times and Supreme Dairy Cow three times at the show. The family’s passion, resourcefulness, and big personalities have led them to sell cattle to Australia, the UK, Kenya, and South Africa. Ferdon’s family believes having both commercial and show cows is essential for their success.

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