Cream of dairy crop at expo

It's no bull, they really do it bigger and better in the United States, says Ian McCormack who travelled to Madison in Wisconsin to visit the World Dairy Expo.

Ian, who owns a dairy farm on the outskirts of Stratford, was drawn to the expo to see the cows. "As a breeder it was great to see up close some of the animals that I sire my own herd from." He was reassured after seeing the cows up close and personal, "they were the cream of the crop".

"I breed my stock for milk production as well as type, and breeding with American and Canadian bulls results in a level of milk production that just isn't matched by New Zealand stock."

The expo was held over five days and had thousands of visitors through each day.

Ian was offered the opportunity to go on the trip through Semex, an artificial insemination company, along with Mark Rowland, who used to own a farm in Stratford.

Ian says it is not just the stock on show that is impressive, "it is also fascinating to see the kinds of technology that is being produced for dairy farms", although some isn't applicable to New Zealand farms "because they have a different climate their stock is actually housed for the majority of the year so the way we do things is very different".

Another highlight of the trip was getting to see the World Expo 2014 Reserve Supreme Champion, RF Goldwyn Hailey. "Hailey has won at previous expos and is a magnificent animal - you have to see the size of her udder to believe it."

Given the opportunity, Ian says he would jump at the chance to go to the expo again as it offers a wealth of knowledge about what is coming for the future of dairy farming.

"I would encourage other farmers to consider going to the expo, the information you come away with is invaluable."