Celebrations are underway this week at CRV Ambreed as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, culminating with a special gala dinner tonight at The Atrium at Wintec in Hamilton.
Earlier this week, more than 50 business and industry leaders joined the CRV senior management team and their Dutch executive colleagues from the Netherlands to mark the occasion.
CRV chairman Peter Broeckx, chief executive Roald van Noort, and chief operating officer Huib Jan Kransenberg will also join more than 200 staff, past staff and breeders at tonight’s dinner.
CRV Ambreed managing director Angus Haslett says it is a special week for the company, with an opportunity to formally celebrate milestones and acknowledge those who have played a key role in CRV’s success.
“CRV has been in the business of herd improvement for over 140 years. We’ve spent 50 of those years committed to research and development in the New Zealand dairy industry.
“During this time, we’ve worked together with farmers through constant changes in farming systems, herd sizes, and on-farm technology. We know Kiwi dairy farmers and we understand their business.
“CRV continues to invest in new technologies and genetic innovations to help New Zealand farmers breed healthy and efficient cows, with great temperaments and smaller environmental footprints.
“Running a local breeding programme for the last five decades has allowed us to breed the type of animal that suits New Zealand’s unique farming systems.
“Our celebrations this week are an opportunity to recognise those that have been part of our journey and thank them for their hard work and support over the years.”
The gala dinner will feature addresses from Messrs Haslett, Noort and Broeckx, with the CRV breeding team announcing the induction of two sires into the CRV Hall of Fame.
“We are delighted that CRV is the preferred partner of choice for our breeders, with a reputation for providing excellent service and fostering great relationships,” says Haslett.
“We are proud to partner with breeders to offer farmers the very best genetic solutions for their herd. We work hard to ensure our breeders can be proud of their CRV marketed sires. We welcome the opportunity to recognise two exceptional sires tonight.”
CRV staff are experts in their field. The company is home to a team of nearly 200 people with a wealth of knowledge and experience in herd improvement genetics.
“Our people know their stuff and are passionate about helping farmers breed better cows that they love to milk,” says Haslett. “An important part of tonight’s celebrations will be recognising the dedication and commitment of our team.”
When asked if CRV Ambreed will be here in another fifty years, Haslett is quick to affirm and says the company has a keen eye on the future.
“The majority of dairy farmers understand they need to make an investment in new innovations that will enable them to farm sustainably. We’re excited about the part that genetics will play in this solution.
“It’s a new era in dairy farming, with technology giving us valuable data to help us make smarter decisions. With the help of CRV globally, we are working to develop solutions for converting genetic data into meaningful information that can be used to drive success on-farm and help farmers build more resilient businesses.”