1. Beef Farming History

2. Introduction of Beef Cattle to New Zealand
Reverend Samuel Marsden landed the first cattle in Bay of Islands in 1814.
By the 1840’s Shorthorns were imported from Australia.

3. Beef cattle’s primary role was to clear land to be used for sheep farming

4. By 1851 - For every 6 sheep there was 1 cattle beast

5. By 1950’s the ratio was 12-14 sheep per one cattle beast

6. By 2000 the ratio had decreased to 9 sheep per 1 cattle beast due to an increase in popularity in beef breeds

7. Main Beef Breeds
Early maturing breeds, therefore can be bred early as well as finished early.
They can also tolerate harsh conditions.

8. Aberdeen Angus

9. Hereford

10. White Face Angus X Hereford

11. Exotics Beef Breeds
Introduced to New Zealand to increase cattle beast size and leanness of meat.
Pure bred exotics require high quality feed so are suited to intensive farms

12. Charolais

13. Limousin

14. Simmental

15. Belgium Blue
High meat yield

16. Wagyu
Very high quality meat

17. Murray Grey

18. Cross Breeding
Cross breeding has enabled farmers to incorporate the exotic breed qualities into our main beef breeds.
This new cross breeds has qualities of both and used on semi-extensive farms.

19. Angus vs Charolais
The angus calf is actually 5 weeks older then the charolais!!

21. Friesian Bulls Easily available as by product of dairy farms.
Fast growth rates and produce lean meat!
This bull beef is mainly exported to USA to be used in hamburgers.

22. Dairy Beef Dairy cows X Beef bulls
These are surplus calves off dairy farms grown as bulls, steers or heifers for the prime beef or manufacturing beef.
Friesian bulls
Friesian X Hereford (beef bull)
Jersey X Murray grey (beef bull)

23. Minor Breeds

24. Belted Galloway

25. White Galloway

26. Santa Gertrudis
Survives in hot, dry conditions

27. Red Devon