Canterbury A&P Show 2017

Canterbury A&P Show

The Canterbury A&P Show is the largest of its type in New Zealand and attracts over 100,000 visitors to this Christchurch-based event. It receives over 7,000 livestock and feature competition entries across 20 sections. A number of international judges are invited to participate.

Few NZ Limousin breeders are involved with showing nowadays but the Canterbury Show is one of the few in NZ that still attracts a range of Limousin entries across all age groups.

The James Family (Ben More) are stalwarts of the show and exhibited 11 animals this year. In their 9^th year showing, Gary Kennett and Marilyn Montgomery (Piwakawaka) exhibited 9 animals.

ALBS President Mick O’Sullivan was invited to judge the Limousin section and Interbreed classes. He received the usual ribbing being an Aussie cousin but his comments were well received all the same. Sandy also enjoyed her time there and even managed to get sunburnt!

Supreme Champion Limousin went to an eight year old cow, Piwakawaka Erin (s: ROMN Justice), with a striking heifer calf-at-foot (s: Wulfs Amazing Bull). Erin went on to win the All Breeds Cow & Calf class against some stiff competition from a number of other breeds.

Piwakawaka Erin with calf-at-foot and three-year-old bull Piwakawaka Kagan (s: Mandayen Vision Y329) also took out the Interbreed Pairs Competition.

It was wonderful to have Limousin cattle doing so well against the other breeds.

Limousin Section results:

Supreme Champion Limousin Piwakawaka Erin with calf-at-foot

Senior Champion Piwakawaka Erin with calf-at-foot

Senior Champion Bull Piwakawaka Kagan

Senior Champion Cow Piwakawaka Erin with calf-at-foot

Junior Champion Ben More Max (s: Meriden Poll Heavyduty)

Junior Champion Bull Ben More Max (s: Meriden Poll Heavyduty)

Junior Champion Heifer Piwakawaka Moneybags

Students from several high schools also helped out with preparing and leading the animals for both teams. Several participated in the handlers, judging and interschool competition.

A multi-breed led-steer competition was introduced three years ago to the programme and has proved to be very popular. The yearling steers are used in the Young Auctioneers’ Competition where they were ‘dummy’ auctioned and sold. The two-year-old steers were put up for sale.

This year a Ben More steer made top money at $2610 ($3.58/kg/LWT). A close second was a Piwakawaka steer which made $2600 ($3.68/kg/LWT). This represents a strong premium over the current schedule and were significantly ahead of the other steers (all Angus base) which sold to $2100. It was a wonderful example of how Limousin could increase revenue and generated a lot of discussion.

Overall, Limousin competed very strongly against the other breeds at the Show which helped raise the profile of the breed. Showing cattle is a huge commitment in terms of time and expense but it does maintain the breed’s visibility out there in the real world.

Gary Kennett

Piwakawaka Limousin

For full show results click the link below: