Brief return south brings rewards
Former Southland dairy farmer Owen Copinga recently returned to the province and left with a top position at Holstein Friesian New Zealand.
Mr Copinga and his wife Cathy sold their dairy farm and stud herd Rivendell Holsteins in 2023, ending more than 20 years of dairy farming and breeding Holstein Friesians in Isla Bank.
They moved to Te Puke to be closer to family and have since invested in kiwifruit, pine trees, a dairy farm and property.
Mr Copinga returned to Southland for the Holstein Friesian New Zealand annual conference in Invercargill last month.
At the annual meeting, he was elected president of the association.
He was vice-president and treasurer for the three years prior.
Now was the right time to take on the top position because he was no longer farming "24/7" and he lived closer to the association's national office, he said.
"I've got more time to dedicate to it and there are a lot of industry matters I'm really interested in and I will always have a passion for this breed."
The appeal of the breed was it "being dialled-in to converting feed to milk".
Holstein Friesian were the best dairy breed to mate a beef sire to, such as Hereford, to produce calves in demand.
The 2025 Holstein Friesian New Zealand Awards were part of the conference and Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP won cow of the year, which was bred by Mr and Mrs Copinga and was now owned by the Cummings Family Trust, of Wyndham.
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Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Brief return south brings rewards
Holstein Friesian New Zealand president Owen Copinga visits Fairleigh dairy farm in West Otago, as part of the association's annual conference. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE Former Southland dairy farmer Owen Copinga recently returned to the province and left with a top position at Holstein Friesian New Zealand. Mr Copinga and his wife Cathy sold their dairy farm and stud herd Rivendell Holsteins in 2023, ending more than 20 years of dairy farming and breeding Holstein Friesians in Isla Bank. They moved to Te Puke to be closer to family and have since invested in kiwifruit, pine trees, a dairy farm and property. Mr Copinga returned to Southland for the Holstein Friesian New Zealand annual conference in Invercargill last month. At the annual meeting, he was elected president of the association. He was vice-president and treasurer for the three years prior. Now was the right time to take on the top position because he was no longer farming "24/7" and he lived closer to the association's national office, he said. "I've got more time to dedicate to it and there are a lot of industry matters I'm really interested in and I will always have a passion for this breed." The appeal of the breed was it "being dialled-in to converting feed to milk". Holstein Friesian were the best dairy breed to mate a beef sire to, such as Hereford, to produce calves in demand. The 2025 Holstein Friesian New Zealand Awards were part of the conference and Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP won cow of the year, which was bred by Mr and Mrs Copinga and was now owned by the Cummings Family Trust, of Wyndham.
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Southern farmers among award winners
Southern dairy farmers featured among the winners at the 2025 Holstein Friesian New Zealand Awards. More than 100 people attended an awards ceremony at the association's annual conference in Invercargill last month. The 2025 cow of the year was awarded to Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP, owned by Cummings Family Trust (Helen and Jock Cummings, of Wyndham) and bred by Owen and Cathy Copinga, of Rivendell Holsteins, of Te Puke. Chosen from six finalists, 2012-born Beatric was deemed to be the cow who had contributed the most to the Holstein Friesian breed on a continual basis. In a statement, Mrs Cummings said winning the cow of the year award was a "huge surprise". Beatric was a much loved part of the herd, Mrs Cummings said. "She is certainly one awesome cow — she is a strong-minded and strong-willed type of cow." The winner of the 2025 Mahoe Trophy was Busybrook Pokerface S3F, bred by Nathan and Amanda Bayne, of Henley Farming Company Ltd, near Oamaru. The trophy was awarded to the New Zealand-bred Holstein Friesian sire, based on sire proof, and earns the most points for traits, daughter production, conformation and management. Stephen and Judith Ray, of Balclutha, were the senior team winners of the 2025 Animal Health Progeny Competition with Seagull-Bay Supersire-ET. The award was presented to the senior progeny team with the highest points for classification based on the 2024-25 seasons inspections, scores for udder overall and final score, production worth and protein breeding value. Three distinguished service awards were also presented at the awards dinner, recognising the dedication and passion of HFNZ members Katy Button, Judith Ray and Mrs Cummings. The award recognises individuals who had made a lasting impact through their dedication, leadership and service to the Holstein Friesian community. Robert and Ann Marie Bruin, of Meander Holsteins in Otautau, won the Withers Trophy for Meander Mason April-ET S2F GP84. The award recognises an elite heifer from the 2023 Discovery Project in her first lactation as a 2-year-old. An auction at the conference raised more than $16,500 to support the HFNZ Black & White Youth programme, which helps young Holstein Friesian breeders by providing training, leadership development and exposure to industry events and opportunities. — APL.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Bull prices reflect industry confidence
Confidence in the beef industry has bull buyers bidding up, a Teviot Valley stud owner says. Limehills Polled Hereford Stud sold all of the 49 bulls it offered at its 46th annual sale in Millers Flat last week. The rising 2-year-old bulls sold for an average of $10,300 and four were sold to studs. Stud co-owner Gray Pannett said the strong sale result was a reflection of the confidence in the beef industry and the Hereford breed. The average price might be the highest in the history of the sale. "It would be one of the better ones. I don't think we've had a higher one, not for a while anyway. It'll be up there." Richard Hore, of Beaumont Station near Millers Flat, paid the top price of $24,000 for Limehills Supreme 230080, sired by Limehills Stardom 190168. In the sale catalogue, Limehills Supreme 230080 was pitched as a "powerful square set bull with growth and carcass". Farmers had more discretionary income to spend on bulls this season compared with last season and the sector was in a positive space. Addressing more than 100 people at the end of the auction, his wife Robyn said he "lives and breathes Herefords" and the sale result was recognition of his hard work. Southern bull sales Foulden Hill and Bluestone, Middlemarch. Hereford: Sold 9 of 14. Average $6556. Top $9500. Santa Gertrudis and Braford: Sold 4 of 5. Average $7125. Top $10,500. Hereford heifers: Sold 6 of 6. Average $2133. Top $2800. Peters Angus, Beaumont. Sold 20 of 22. Average $8400. Top $16,500. Limehills Hereford, Millers Flat. Sold 49 of 49. Average $10,300. Top $24,000. Monymusk Hereford, Te Anau. Sold 30 of 37. Average $7839. Top $17,000. Pikoburn Angus, Western Southland. Sold 15 of 16. Average $8533. Top $19,500. Waiau Herefords, Western Southland. Sold 12 of 14. Average $6092. Top $10,500. Pourakino Herefords, Western Southland. Sold 13 of 15. Average $9500. Top $20,000. Wainuka South Devons, Western Southland. Sold 3 of 4. Average $6666. Top $10,000. Kowai Angus, Wendon. Sold 12 of 20. Average $6541. Top $11,000. Waikaka Herefords, Waikaka. Sold 16 of 27. Average $4875. Top $10,500.
