Breeding and showing cattle have been a passion in the Horn family for the past 110 years.
It all began when Robert Letham Horn took an interest in cows after moving to New Zealand from Scotland in the 1800’s.
After purchasing a farm at Ohau, Robert founded the Kuku Stud in 1914 and together with his sons, took their first cattle to a show in Carterton in 1918.
In 1924, Robert’s son, Allan Horn Snr carried on the love of breeding and showing cattle, creating his own Stud called Allandale which he moved to Levin in 1941 with his sons, Allan Jnr, and Ronald.
In 1967, the Kuku and Allandale Studs were joined together, and they are the oldest Jersey Studs owned by one family in New Zealand. Alan Jnr’s son Peter Horn bought his first calf and began to exhibit cattle with his father and grandfather.
Today, Peter and his wife Kathy, along with daughter Letitia, farm on their 70ha property near Fielding, milking 220 cows.
Letitia manages the farm and Peter is still very involved on what goes on day to day.
The family tradition and passion continues into the fifth generation with Letitia and sister, Michele actively involved with the breeding and showing of cattle. Together, they have Ypres Jerseys and Letitia, has Allandale Ayrshires.
In 2023 Letitia went to the USA and learned from a top showman, new ways to implement into the preparation with their cattle prior to a show. Working with a nutritionist in the lead up to and during the 2024 New Zealand Dairy Event, allowed them to get the right macros and micros into the cows to assist them to transition into the show, with a balanced diet plus three feeds of meal per day including probiotics and protein.
Letitia said this has been the first year she has noticed the cows have been happy and aggressive with their feed.
With a great team of outstanding helpers who all get along together, including Michele’s husband Roy and his brother, Brett, who do all of the fitting, Letitia said the cattle get the best 24/7 care at the show.
Picture: Allandale Tbone Quintet – placed 2nd in the Jersey five and six year old in milk and won best udder in the Jersey Class. She was also Reserve Interbreed Intermediate Senior/Senior Supreme Best Udder in the Supreme Interbreed awards.
Letitia Horn (left) and Michele Horn (right)