Katikati A&P celebrates 90 years | Rural

It's a milestone celebrating 90 years when the Katikati Agricultural & Pastoral Society hold their annual show on Sunday, February 5.

The usual events - including the Highland Dancing competition, ever popular Milking Competition, cattle judging, horse events and calf club - are supported by special events for family entertainment; a petting zoo, belly dancers, bowhunter, carnival rides and huge clydesdale horses.

President of the Society, John Howard, has been breeding cattle for 20 years and buys his bulls from Manawatu and the South Island. He is once again entering his Arundel Hereford Stud cattle, a two-year-old heifer and rising one year bull and heifer.

They were sired by the son of a top bull bought in by a New Zealand syndicate from Australia. John bought the son Anaconda from a Manawatu stud.

"He's a lovely bull with a good temperament and he has left some very nice cattle. If you have a good blood line with good strong genetics they will stay with you," John says.

Firmly believing cows are the main thrust of the stud, he says, "They are very important. If you haven't got a good female line, you are not going to get the benefits of a good stud bull,"

Last year John also showed Anaconda progeny at the Katikati show, competing in all classes, and did well.

"You show because you want to keep the stud in front of the public and it gives a good comparative base for the cattle."

John's herefords have also won hereford sections at Waikato as well as competing successfully in all breeds events.

Replacing his bull every two years, John has bought a new bull from Kevin and Jane McDonald's Kairuru Stud in Reporoa. He says they are good breeders who won the top award in New Zealand and he is looking forward to calves on the ground next spring which he will exhibit.