Chris Douglas, of Monymusk Polled Herefords at Te Anau, became a Covid-19 statistic when he contracted the virus either during the World Hereford Conference, in Queenstown, or at the Wanaka A&P Show.
But that hasn’t changed his opinion of the conference.
Mr Douglas is "stepping back" from both the Hereford Association Council and dealing with the breed at a national level.
"The hugely successful conference was a good time to bow out as it was quite a coup getting the event to Queenstown and the Wanaka show."
"The 400 attendees were blown away by our scenery and cattle. The whole event was a massive team effort from our Hereford staff and council."
He said a contact of his tested positive for the virus and then he had the test as well, self-isolating when it came back positive.
"I had cold-like symptoms, but was not badly affected, but the biggest thing was no one else caught it from me," he said.
The conference, which was held between March 9 and March 13, was attended by 400 delegates and 35 people tested positive.
"For the number of people attending, the infection was very low compared to other clusters like Marist College and the Bluff wedding," he said.
Mr Douglas wants to spend more time with his wife Jayne, their children Henry, Amanda and Ben, and grandchildren Ruby (6), Eva (4), Jack (2), Marli (3) and Albee (six months).
He also intends to breed a better Hereford bull, a goal which he says is movable and elusive but that is part of the fun.
"You are never done with trying to breed better stock.
"With breeding you have goals, but you never get completely there, which is the really neat part about it."
And there is always the golf.
"Golf is taking up a bit of time, but the Herefords remain a huge passion. Everyone says I am besotted with them and I suppose I am. They are so rewarding and I am quite proud of what we have done."
Mr and Mrs Douglas moved from Amberley to their 196ha property at Te Anau in 1984 with 17 stud Herefords.
They now run 5000 Romney commercial sheep, as well as 280 stud cows and heifers, on 980ha.
As the farm has expanded, Amanda and Henry run the various blocks while he looks after the stud. Ben is an accountant in Nelson and does the books.
"The operation is something we enjoy and gives everyone a sense of purpose," he said.
"Henry and Amanda are taking on more responsibility and I am stepping back a bit."
A particular highlight was when one of their bulls, Monymusk Gallant, was sold for $71,000 in 2013, which remains the highest on-farm auction price paid for a Hereford bull in New Zealand.
"Gallant was smaller, meatier but ticked all the boxes and had excellent EBVs."
Mr Douglas spent 13 years on the Hereford Association Council and was the committee chairman for promotion and marketing, as well as sitting on the national sales committee.
He was also registry chairman.
"I have enjoyed the time and the opportunity to have some influence in the direction of a breed that has been so rewarding to me.
"My time on the council has been absolutely brilliant and it has never been a burden."
The national Hereford sale has moved from led sales to the development of successful North and South Island grazing units where bulls from various studs are run under the same conditions and same feed levels.
They are then sold at the national sales.
"They were very successful until Mycoplasma Bovis had a negative effect on participants and sales."
Monymusk hosted delegates from the World Hereford Conference during the South Island tour, and they hosted the conference’s young breeders’ judging competition on the farm.
"Their knowledge and passion was just amazing.
"I am not retiring, rather stepping back as I wanted to give some young breeders the opportunity to get on the council and become involved at national level," he said.
Monymusk Polled Herefords
- Owned by the Douglas family.
- They run 280 cows and heifers, plus stud bulls on 980ha.
- They usually sell about 40 bulls during their annual on-farm sale and also run about 5000 Romney ewes, with 145% lambing.
- All lambs are fattened.
- During their bull sale earlier this month they sold 39 of the 40 for an average of $8404.
- Those that are surplus go to the dairy industry, while steers go to the Alliance hand-picked grade and they are regular suppliers to Hereford Prime.
- Monymusk is a rolling hill country with good balance of heavy country and freer draining flats plus a good area of cow grazing hill.
- Chris and Amanda Jeffries from Grassmere Polled Hereford Stud, near Cheviot, and the Kane family from Westholm stud at Tapanui bought MonyMusk Gallant for $71,000 in 2013.
- Progeny of Monymusk Gallant, owned by Grassmere Polled Hereford Stud, fetched the top national prices in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
