Calf scheme beats last year

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 266, 6 December 1988, Page 6

Calf scheme beats last year

Donations to the 1988 IHC Wrightson Calf Scheme have already exceeded last year's total with a good part of the season still to run.

The scheme's national co-ordinator, Mick Murphy, says the number of calves donated to date this year exceeds 2600 compared to last year's final total of 2399 animals. The scheme - known as "Supporting IHC with Calves" - contributed more than $300,000 to IHC funds in 1987 and this year's increase in the number of calves donated has been augmented by a lift in the calf market. "Supporting IHC With Calves" has run stands at a number of agricultural events during the

year including the national field days at Mystery Creek near Hamilton, the Royal Show at Hastings, the Gisborne Show and the Ellesmere Show at Leeston. The national field days stand resulted in 87 calves, three up on the previous year's event. Heavy rain effectively reduced what is normally a three -day event to two, so the trend for an increase in the number. of calves donated then became apparent, Mr Murphy says. Another trend has ben

for IHC branches which traditionally receive high numbers of calves to record large increases this year; Franklin branch is up 50 per cent, Nelson by the same amount, Rotorua 25 per cent, King Country 22 per cent and Thames Valley, Tauranga and Manawatu between 12 and 15 per cent. Tauranga East scourced a total of 74 calves in 1987 but already has 97 pledged this year at last report. Mr Murphy puts the increased support this year down to better planning by IHC branches, greater awareness by Wrightson stock agents and

the fact that every year the scheme is becoming better known by the farming community. "The farming families of New Zealand have been quite magnificent in their response to our rather nervous request to them to save a calf and thereby help a person with an intellectual handicap. "Wrightson's greater involvement through their stock agents i s going to make a whole heap of difference to the final outcome of the calf scheme this year and, of course, to the benefits passed on to the IH person at local level," Mr Murphy says.