Notes and News

Contact Problem

As a result of an attempt to hack into the Contact facility of the Rare Breeds Website, viewers experienced some difficulties in getting through to us for several hours on 30-31 July. The facility is now operating again.

We trust this did not cause too much inconvenience.
    [31.7.2010]

G W & R G Mitchell, and D R Allen

Due to a computer malfunction, we have lost contact details for G. W. & R. G. Mitchell and for D. R. Allen. Would they, or anyone who knows them, please contact website@rarebreeds.co.nz
    [28.7.2010]

NEW PIG BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION WEBSITE

The New Zealand Pig Breeders' Association has a new website at www.pigs.co.nz containing a lot of information about purebred pigs in this country.
    [26.7.2010]

NEW PAGES ON WEBSITE

New pages added to the Rare Breeds Website during the past year or so include:
      » Caspian Horses     [23.6.2010]
      » Arapawa Goat AI Trial     [23.5.2010]
      » Kiore – the Maori Rat     [24.4.2010]
      » New Zealand (NI) Poultry...Association     [15.2.2010]
      » Rare Breeds Book     [14.1.2010]
      » Pitt Islanders     [20.9.2009]
      » Welsh Cob Horses     [24.5.2009]
      » The Damara in Southern Africa     [28.2.2009]
Check them out.

Changes to Webmart and Breeders Directory

At the 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand (Incorporated) it was decided, with no dissentions, that as from 1 May 2010 only members of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society would be entitled to listings on the Website's Directory and Webmart. See Policy for details.
 

RARE BREEDS NEWZ 89

The May issue of the quarterly publication of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand has been distributed to members of the Society. The front cover (see right) shows three Arapawa goats on Arapawa Island, photographed by Colin Aitchison from the deck of their batch. Inside are articles on the Annual General Meeting (including a photo montage) and the Rare Breeds Book launch, Rare Chance, Muscovys, Rural Heritage Day, Otago Taieri Show, Wiltshires, Arapawa Sheep Meat, Wool Wine and Rare Breeds, etc.

And of course there are all sorts of other items, notices and advertisements.

The quarterly NewZ is sent to all members of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand.   (See » Join the Rare Breeds Conservation Society for details.)
    [29.4.2010]

CASPIAN HORSES

Caspian Horses are very rare in New Zealand, and there are only about 1000 world-wide.

One of our members who has some stallions and an aging mare, is desperately seeking other mares to ensure the survival of the breed in this country.

Can you help? Any information on the breed in New Zealand would be most welcome.

Contact editor@rarebreeds.co.nz in the first instance.
    [21.4.2010]

Enderby Cattle – A Unique Opportunity

Would you like to own a breeding unit of Enderby Cattle – the rarest cattle in the world?

The Rare Breeds Conservation Society will give a breeding unit to a suitable caregiver, but with some conditions.

Contact Dave Matheson (03) 329 9897 evenings, for details.     [15.4.2010]

Wool from old sheep

AgResearch is looking for wool from some really old sheep. We would prefer English Leicester, Drysdale and Merino but we will consider other breeds. It would be ideal if there was some younger related animal hopefully of the same breed available, but we cannot afford to be fussy looking for oldies. Please contact Scobie (03) 321 8688 or via email scobie@agresearch.co.nz
      [16.7.2009]

 
Lady, the founding matriarch of all Enderby cattle alive today, has died. The following was written by Dave Matheson, who has looked after this very rare breed since 2002.

On the 26th May 2009 Lady was found dead in her paddock, tucked under a dry hedge. She had eaten hay the day before and showed no signs of struggle where she lay. It would seem she did not suffer much and died reasonably quietly. She had found the last two winters a little tough and was fed separately, but bounced back to good condition over the warmer months. However she was taken off the island seventeen years ago as an adult so most likely was well past twenty years – a great age for a cattle beast. She had a very interesting life for a cow. Born wild on a deserted island, had helicopter and boat rides back to the mainland, and travelled from Bluff to Auckland over the years. She was shown at Canterbury and Auckland A & P shows, was donor of the first cloned cattle in the world, and was the first breed of animal saved from extinction by cloning. Her life was threatened by activists against genetic engineering until they realized cloning was not G.E., and she was insured for $30,000 for the Auckland show. She appeared many times on TV, was talked about worldwide on radio, and appeared in many papers and magazines – she even appeared in TIME. Lady fascinated people worldwide in that she came from a breed of seaweed eating cattle. I always loved the fact that although born wild she quickly settled down to be as quiet as any domestic cow eating hay from the bale as it was opened. And in the yards always calm despite all the treatments she had to get her in calf. Lady was lucky to meet a number of good people. Michael Willis who rescued her, William Vivanco and David Wells from AgResearch, the Auckland Royal A & P Association who sponsored her along with Beverley McCulloch and Michael Trotter. She will be missed.

See » Enderby Cattle for details of this breed.
    [26.5.2009]

POULTRY CLUB CONTACTS

World Animal Day

World Animal Day is 4 October. Go to the » World Animal Day website for details and suggestions – plus items about last World Animal Day.

    [20.4.2010]

Charities Act Registration

The Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand Inc. was registered as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005 on 30 June 2008 (Registration Number CC30930) and is listed in the Charities Register. This contains information about registered charities for people who may wish to make donations, do volunteer work for, use the services of or find out more about a particular charity. This includes where the charity operates and the sector it works in, contact details, services, charitable purpose, beneficiaries, governance structure and officers.

The Society also has donee organisation status with the IRD. This means that people can claim a tax credit (rebate) for donations made to the RBCSNZ. If you want to claim this tax credit, please ask for a receipt when you make your donation.
    [22.2.2009]

Texas Longhorn Embryos

If you are interested in obtaining Texas Longhorn embryos please contact Greg Mckay, Xcell Breeding Services Ltd, P O Box 165, Kaiapoi.   Phone: (03) 327 9555   Fax: (03) 327 9088   E‑mail: greg@xcell.co.nz

      [23.12.2007]

RBCS Registration Programme

Registrations will now be accepted for the following breeds:
Arapawa sheep, Arapawa goats, Awassi sheep, Enderby cattle, Lakenvelder cattle, Enderby rabbits, Pinzgauer cattle
To qualify for registration, the provenance of the animals must be supplied (i.e. details of their background, who or where they were obtained from, etc. to verify that they are a pure representative of the breed) and each animal must be identified individually (this can be your own eartag, tattoo, etc., sufficient to distinguish the animal from others).
There is currently no fee or inspection required for registration.
Please contact the Secretary of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society (ava.hunt@woosh.co.nz) if you would like to register your animals. See Registration Scheme and Inventory for details.
    [20.4.2010]

RARE BREEDS BROCHURE

A full-colour brochure for the Rare Breeds Society has been printed. Copies of this brochure will be made available upon request from members for distribution at shows, field days, meetings etc. - or for just handing on to a prospective member. Enquiries should be made to Ava Hunt, Secretary RBCSNZ, Limehills Post Centre, Limehills 9660.

See also
NEWS ARCHIVES