Tahora Farm Holstein Friesian Stud
Tahora Farm Holstein Friesian herd has constantly been looked on as being one of the top pedigree Holstein herds in New Zealand since its foundation in 1963 by Jim and Judith Geddes. Tahora Stud has now been taken over by their son Dean, and his wife Jo, and is a herd that still creates plenty of attention and admiration and continues to maintain and set very high standards for dairy breeding genetics.
Background to the Tahora Stud
When Jim and Judith established the Tahora Stud it was based on the breeding philosophy and success of Judith’s late Grandfather L H Leslie and her late father Merton Leslie. L H Leslie bred registered Friesians from 1925 through to 1938 and during that time showed or bred six Canterbury Champion cows as well as the 1934 Royal Show Champion cow Pareora Ethel Burkeje. This cow had a production record of 25,656 lbs. of milk at 5 years of age. This herd started the dynasty of the Leslie/Geddes families’ success in breeding one of the best examples to be found in Holstein Breeding of superior conformation, outstanding production and longevity.
Merton Leslie established the Lesdale Stud in 1948 and it was he who founded the “L”, “C”, “J” and “P” families that are still so strong in the herd today. He bred three Canterbury Champion cows and after moving to the North Island bred the twice Royal Show Champion Lesdale Peration Limpet EX.
Jim and Judith meanwhile had established the Tahora Stud and followed on that breeding 
philosophy, breeding and showing Royal Show Champion and Reserve Champion cows three times plus three other Royal Champions. Tahora Linmack Lara EX achieved the honour three times. In the meantime Tahora TB Leyma EX was becoming New Zealand’s highest lifetime production champion. 1990 saw the importation from Australia of Murribrook Insp Toni and she has been the matriarch of founding a very prominent family in the Tahora herd of today.
Dean took over the Tahora stud in 1991 and has continued building on the strong foundation and with the same success as his family before him. He has bred six Canterbury Show Champion cows and five Royal Show Champion Holsteins as well as two Royal Show Champion Jersey cows. Dean has also been aggressive in his approach to expanding his bloodlines from his best cows by using an Embryo Transplant (ET) program.
Tahora Stud is a very important part of the family tradition of breeding, showing and the promoting of the Holstein breed of dairy cow in New Zealand and overseas. The family background shows they have achieved great success and have been rewarded with 75 years of breeding and showing Royal Show Champions.
