The main development is that after one year we have obtained a New Zealand Food Safety Authority Licence to sell our Lowline Beef at Farmers Markets. We have the first licence under new rules for the sale of red meat at stalls. This we feel is a major break through and allows us to get recognition for Lowline Beef in the retail market. It's not without some restrictions, currently we can only go to Markets in the Franklin District and only sell beef we produce.

Robert is at Pokeno Market on Sundays.

All the meat has to be slaughtered at an approved Abattoir and Vacuum Packed by approved Meat Packer. We sell at the markets from a Mobile Chiller which keeps the product at an approved temperature. So far the venture into this looks more than promising, with spring and the summer coming we expect further improvement in the sales.

We produce a whole range of meat cuts and with experience we will arrive at what gives us the best results for the market we service. We have to be honest we have made some errors in this regard.

The second major development is that we have sold seven heifers to Thailand in conjunction with CVR Ambreed. Five are pregnant to Tartan Farms Wallace and the remaining two are 2008 heifer calves. We hope to be able to promote further exports of live animals in the future.

We are now rearing further Lowline Jersey Cross calves and have the first batch of 25 well on their way to weaning they are all the progeny of Tartan Farms Wallace. The second batch of about 15 are due at the end of mid Septembert and are the progeny of Cherryvale Drummond. We will be monitoring the calves this season on weaning for size, conformation and weights gains.

Have to mention the weather, it's been wet but not that cold except for five consecutive major frosts. The grass has started to grow, but the mud has been of concern especially around the calf pens. Feed has not been a problem so far this winter and feel we will not use all our hay in storage.

The Lowline Herd is some what depleted with the sales of Purebred Registered Lowlines, we still have further 2 year old bulls for sale to the Dairy Industry and now hoping some of the success of Margo Hays with her crossbred steers filters its way to the industry in New Zealand.

The future for our Australian Lowline Breed is very positive and in these economic times I feel that they will become a Mainstream Beef Breed.

Committed to the Promotion of the Australian Lowline Beef Breed