Big numbers tipped for NZ World Hereford Conference

Visitors will travel from the Americas, Scandinavia and the UK for the quadrenniel feature, according to New Zealand Herefords general manager Posy Moody.

The Australian contingent will comprise a cross-section of industry players such as producers and key officials from Herefords Australia, including general manager Andrew Donoghue.

The conference offers a full three days of presentations on a range of topics, stopovers at two Hereford studs in the Central Otago hill country and a show visit.

Ms Moody believes the conference, which runs for a week from March 9, will be an "exciting time" for breeders and returns NZ to the hosting fold after it previously staged the WHC in 1984.

She said NZ farming and breeding methods would be a major drawcard.

Ms Moody said visitors were eager to learn about NZ's latest farming systems and discuss using our Hereford sires in their studs.

The conference, for which animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim has taken naming rights, coincides with the Wanaka A&P Show, an iconic event blending wood chopping and sheep dog trials with other entertainment options.

Organisers have planned a show visit on March 13. It will be headlined by a Hereford Feature Show under the watchful eyes of head steward Robert Kane, WHC Young Breeders Competition co-ordinator Rebecca Paterson and judges James Murray, Stuart Robbie and Gemma Hain.

Day two of the conference (May 10) will incorporate country reports and innovation presentations and keynote speakers will broach such subjects as multi-country genomic evaluation.

On March 11 stud visits and discussions on regenerative grazing management and the importance of scanning and IMF will fill the day and whether social media or science hold the best future for beef will be the discussed on March 12.