Bob’s decades of dedication to Ayrshire
There isn’t too much Bob Lawson, of Sunshine Ayrshires, based near Woodville, doesn’t understand and love about the breed, he’s been in the business of breeding since the age of 8 years old.
Now tracking seriously towards three score and ten, Bob says, he continues to gain enjoyment from seeing incremental improvements year on year in animal traits. Some of his stud cow families extend back to the first herd of Ayrshires 60 years ago.
“It’s been so wonderful through all these years to see these families pass on their wonderful characteristics to their progeny and in turn see that spread around the country to other breeders and commercial dairy farmers,” Bob says.
He’s gathered a reputation around the country for the quality of his Ayrshires and the genetic gain passed on from his stud’s progeny. A careful eye and maintaining meticulous records is all part of Sunshine Ayrshires reputation, longevity and success.
Bob leases the farm and this year has just renewed the lease for a further three years, with a right of renewal for a further three. “That will take me to 75 years old and I might think about retiring,” Bob says with a chuckle. Somehow the idea of stepping away from a life of breeding and dairy farming seems unlikely!
Sunshine Ayrshire stock have, one again, proven their worth at North Island shows, with several heifers receiving praise from judges.
“Sunshine Dales Diva is a great calf that has been undefeated this year. She won the Ayrshire junior championship and she was first in her breed class and then went on and won in the Ayrshire,” Bob says proudly.
Sunshine Dales Diva was awarded Supreme junior championship and also won the senior heifer calf in the All breeds. As if that wasn’t enough, she was then placed Reserve junior championship up against the yearlings. “Razell Dazzel was also placed second in the Ayrshire calf class and Reserve junior championship.”
At the NZ Dairy Event, Sunshine Ayrshires’ continued to shine with Dale Diva winning the senior class. “And my Autumn born calf, Premier Timing Sheba, also gained honourable mention while Dales Diva took our the junior championship up against yearlings.” Bob says Sunshine Dales Diva is a wonderful calf, proving this on stage as undefeated this year. “To top it off, we also won the best isle at Dairy Event.” Bob says its gratifying to see the quality of the stud’s stock represented across so many prestigious awards, continuing a legacy Sunshine Ayrshires reputation has been built on over successive family generations.
Ayrshires originate from Scotland prior to 1800, the result of different strains of native cattle being crossed. Early breeders were selective in their breeding, resulting in what we know see as an efficient grazer, with great vigour and milk production efficiency. Udder conformation is a particularly strong trait in the breed, along with the very high quality of milk cows produce. The benefits flow from the hybrid vigour Ayrshire introduce across other herds, as Bob explains.
“They carry increased longevity, really efficient milk production and they’re very robust, so they adapt well to various environments.” Taught by his mother who had a wonderful eye for constitution and desirable traits for breeding, Bob’s been judging since he was 15 years old. These days Bob has a select few shows he likes to present his heifers and cows in and his record of achievement ranks very highly across successive generations. The farm is 132ha, made up of a 68ha milking platform and 64ha run-off. For the size of herd Bob has these days, the farm works well.
Looking back on his many years breeding and judging Bob says he’s very proud of what Sunshine Ayrshires has achieved. “Breeding is a fascinat- ing blend of science and art. You have all the tools available to make breeding decisions from but just as much, you have to have a feel for how an animal presents. I really enjoy seeing the progeny born each season.”
Author: Sue Russell
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Business Rural North – Spring 2025
