The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust is thrilled to announce the partnership with Barenbrug is not only continuing but expanding to include another partner – Farm Source.
Following on from the success when Barenbrug donated a specially-formulated equine pasture seed mix to the CatWalk Trust’s fundraising efforts in 2017, Farm Source have joined to become the distribution partner. This will enable the seed to be available throughout the Farm Source stores located nationwide making it more accessible to a wider market.
The new partnership will see a $25 donation from both Barenbrug and Farm Source for every bag of seed sold – a direct donation to CatWalk, New Zealand’s only charity dedicated to funding research into a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
CatWalk Trust Relationship Manager Chris Lovelady says the charity is thrilled to once again partner with Barenbrug and to welcome Farm Source.
“Farm Source has an extensive network of stores and personnel throughout NZ and to have them join together with Barenbrug to support spinal cord injury research is such a boost to our work towards finding a cure for SCI.
After the incredible support we received from Barenbrug in 2017, and the high demand for the pasture mix, we are aiming to raise a further significant amount in 2019/20 and having Farm Source join us will help us to achieve this.
The CatWalk Trust is committed to a world that’s free from paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, and with Barenbrug and Farm Source generous support we can continue to fund research projects that cannot advance without financial investment.”
“The Trust has strong ties with the equestrian and agricultural industry, so partnering with Barenbrug and Farm Source is a natural fit. When they offered to partner with us to enable this project to continue, we were over the moon,” says Mrs Lovelady.
Barenbrug Marketing Manager Graham Kerr says he’s very happy to be able to support the CatWalk Trust and the important research it funds, and on top of that, he thinks it’s also a great opportunity for horse owners.
“We have a great deal of respect for the Trust’s pursuit of a cure for spinal cord injury-caused paralysis, and very pleased to make this donation to further the incredible research that The CatWalk Trust supports.
“The seed selection for the horse pasture mix has many potential benefits, and a range of applications from large scale horse properties to smaller lifestyle blocks.”
“We’ve designed it with the Trust to directly reflect horses’ specific dietary needs. It’s high in fibre, low in sugars and contains negligible safe endophytes, making it an ideal mix for grazing horses.”
About the Specialist Horse Pasture Mix
Most pastures in New Zealand are dominated by perennial ryegrass and white clover, largely sown for sheep and cattle. Such pastures are not ideal for horses.
As well as having relatively low fibre, ryegrass also tends to be high in sugars, particularly during spring and autumn. This can have negative behavioural impacts on some horses and also cause serious problems such as contributing to laminitis.
The Barenbrug CatWalk Trust Specialist Horse Pasture Mix contains brome, cocksfoot and a small amount of low endophyte ryegrass. Brome and cocksfoot contain no endophyte and are higher in fibre content than ryegrass.
Bags are available at $200+GST per 25kg bag (recommended sowing rate for 1 hectare). For more information visit www.catwalk.org.nz, https://www.barenbrug.co.nz/ and to place orders please contact your nearest Farm Source store https://store.nzfarmsource.co.nz/.
