HBT Ram Catalogue 2018

1

First with the Bay’s news

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W

elcome to the 2018 Ram catalogue and with it the opportunity to o learn about the all-important ram sales coming up shortly. We’ve a bum mper line up p of articles for you this year about genetics, self-shedding sheep,, some advice from a local vet, a run-down of New Zealand’s dairy sheep breeeds and severall other stud profiles.

This publication is distributed extensively to rural areas throughout th he lower North Island and reaches a wide and highly appropriate audience. If yo ou’d like to adveertise next year or if you have news or views to share we’d love to o hear from yo ou.

The Ram catalogue will be available online at www.hawkesbaytodayy.co.nz

CONTENTS P3

Texel-a fantastic breed

P4/5

B+LNZ Genetics: Putting the power in farmers’ hands

P6

A commitment to breeding bettter sheep

P7

Purchasing rams to make even more money

P8/9

In praise of self-shedding sheep p

P10

Collaboration to improve lamb b eating quality

P11

Auction at Turiroa for the first time

P12

Bred strictly for high performance, structural soundness and constitution

P13

Use the right farm vehicle

P14

The Taihape Perendale sale

P15

Farming under the spotlight

P16/17 Dairy sheep breeds in New Zeaaland P18

Preparing for a dry summer

FEATURES MANAGER Shirley Randell 06 873 0834

The first Lacaune cross lamb born from AI at Waikino, courtesy of Peter Gatley.

See page 13 for more details.

FEATURES WRITER Chrys Ayley 06 872 2 8430

Cover image courtesy off Rob b Tennent: a Pah hiwii Romney siire 495/16 wiith ha NZ Matter NZ eernal nall Wo na Wort Wort rth rt th iin n nd deexx off 271 de 714.

4. His is figgures ures ur es put putt him in tth he tto top op o p5 5% % in in N NZ Z fo orr p prod r d ro du uct u ction ctio ct io io on n aacross ac cro oss ss all all l llinked inke in ked maternal mate ma teern rnal al flocks flocks cks regardless ck regaardle re rd dless ss of of breed. bree br eed. ee d. See Seee p page agge 6 fo for more for m ree d mo details. e aiils et ls.

48 years of performance recording. Full SIL figures available for all sale rams.

Marlow qualifies as a FE Gold stud. If you are serious about improving your flock’s Facial Eczema tolerance, don’t be persuaded by studs that are not.

All sale 2ths sired by sires passing Ramguard FE test at 6. All stud ewes sired by rams passing at 6. Marlow has been a finalist twice in FE Tolerance category of Sheep Industry Awards.

Fertile, easy care genetics with an emphasis on growth and survival.

SIL MW+M indexes above 2300 for all 2th sale rams.

Marlow C O O P W O RT H S 11th Annual On Farm Ram Sale NOW AT 1529 NGAPAERURU ROAD, TE URI, DANNEVIRKE

+/3.&3- )(, /31/ 45A?= 46=? >!= :50% 95=A!;?' 26<8 9?=>!=$0#"?

0#B *?07@6?%B Steve Wyn-Harris 027 222 3284 06 855 8265 swyn@xtra.co.nz www.marlowcoopworths.co.nz

ROCKLEA SOUTH SUFFOLKS & POLL DORSETS ON FARM RAM SALE, FRIDAY 7TH DEC 2018 - 2:00PM - BY AUCTION • EYE MUSCLE SCANNED • SIL RECORDED • ALL SIRES DNA FOOT SCORED approx 120 South Suffolk Rams approx 35 Poll Dorsets on offer For further information or catalogues please contact:

Simon Prouting 06 374 3661, e: prouting@inspire.net.nz, 1529 Ngapaeruru Road, Te Uri, Dannevirke

JH0088974©

All sale rams carcase scanned for eye muscle area.

3

TEXEL -

A FANTASTIC BREED

By Chrys Ayley

F

ormed by Andy Phillips and Stewart Cowan in 2016 Wairarapa Texel Developments has expanded considerably and is now in the position to offer over 100 rams for sale this year.

The pair has more than doubled their ram sale numbers in the first two years by purchasing Fairlea Texel stud earlier this year which has given them the ability to focus on a ruthless culling regime. The base flock of Texel ewes was sourced from the original Wairarapa Texel Developments which was one of the first Texel studs in New Zealand.

“We don’t suffer any structural faults no matter how good the pedigree or figures.

That’s the beauty of having 650 ewes, you can cull very, very hard, cream rises to the top theoretically,” Stewart says. Stewart has been involved with Texels’ since 1990 and says it’s a fantastic, underestimated breed.

In 2016 Andy and Stewart entered into a 50/50 partnership. They’d been doing business together for many years and Andy saw what the breed could do for him in a commercial situation as far as carcass configuration, yield grading and

carcass yield payments goes. The main focus is to build up to a max of 600 top ewes plus replacements at this current time.

Texels are a very vigorous and extremely robust breed. “Their constitution was immediately apparent in the first couple of years of running my initial stud Pukeoru Texels flock 159,” Stewart says. They have a terrific constitution, and are able to turn poor quality pastures into kilos of meat and have a somewhat natural resistance to worm burden.”

Motumatai, where the stud is based, is 20 minutes east of Masterton and consists of 552ha of Wairarapa eastern hill country which experiences extreme winter wet and prolonged summer dry. The stud grazes within a flock of 2,300-2400 mixed age commercial ewes and will be lambing 650 ewes this year. Motumatai also run sheep, bull beef and an Angus beef cow herd for grass control.

Andy and Stewart will be selling privately this year with the sale season being mid to late November through to about the end of January early February.

WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS Wairarapa Texel Developments was formed in 2016 by Andy Phillips and Stewart Cowan. The base flock of Texel ewes were sourced from the original Wairarapa Texel Developments which was one of the first Texel studs in New Zealand. With the purchase of Fairlea Stud from the Manawatu 2017-18 also a well known established stud, Wairarapa Texel Developments has become one of the larger Texel studs in New Zealand. Currently lambing 650 ewes at Motumatai, 20 minutes east of Masterton.

The partners have addressed the lack of selection pressure within the Texel stud breeding industry. All stud ewes are run within a commercial flock of 2700 ewes at Motumatai. Thus allowing us to breed Texels that have true selection pressures put on them. Ewe hoggets are mated. All male and female progeny are EMA scanned with only the best retained for stud.

A continuous concentrated effort by the partners to insure structure, muscling and fertility are abundant in our flock, has led to strong sales of well grown functional terminal and maternal sires.

With the Myomax gene ( muscling) present, lambs are higher y!"lding often $8.00 to $11.00 per head on y!"ld grading processing.

FLOCK No 10 SIL No 2960 Stud sires are:

-Microphthlmia clear -DNA footrot scored -DNA cold tolerance scored -Myomax Gold only -Brucellosis accredited

With over 100 Rams for sale this year !

We look forward to your enquiry Andy 063722770 halfy490@gmail.com Stew 063722770 texels4u@gmail.com Or Facebook page: wairarapa texel development

4

PUTTING THE POWER IN FARMERS’ HANDS B+LNZ GENETICS:

W

ithin a year, sheep farmers will have direct access to New Zealand’s national flock’s genetic evaluation.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics National Sheep Genetics Manager Annie O’Connell says this will put power firmly in the hands of commercial farmers.

“Interacting with our sheep genetic evaluation is undergoing a complete re-design. Trusty old SIL is being replaced by nProve, a more intuitive and user friendly system that will empower people to make better use of breeding values when selecting rams.

“The project will roll out in modules, beginning with the breeder-facing sections.

A slow roll out allows the design team to deliver in the short term, while continuing to learn and develop with real users.

However, it will be well into next year before the commercial farmer sections are released. But this process does mean it will hit the ground running.”

In the meantime, Dr O’Connell says SIL’s FlockFinder and recently-released ram buying indexes are the two top tools for commercial farmers to tap into.

FlockFinder

This free smart-phone app identifies breeders producing rams suitable for a

farmer’s specific purposes. Users can search by breed, location, owner name, stud prefix, SIL flock number or by traits recorded (including DNA parentage).

Ram buying indexes

B+LNZ Genetics’ ram buying indexes – New Zealand Maternal Worth (NZMW) and New Zealand Terminal Worth (NZTW) – were only introduced last year, but are already proving a very popular tool for commercial farmers.

Dr O’Connell: “These standard index figures provide one number that’s comparable across all connected SIL rams, regardless of breed. The higher the number, the better the ram.”

Dual purpose rams have a New Zealand Maternal Worth figure (NZMW); the average NZMW is 1600. While terminal rams have a New Zealand Terminal Worth (NZTW) and its average is 1150. Terminal rams have lower scores than maternal rams, because their index is calculated from a smaller number of traits.

The index also extends to specific traits, like FE tolerance or resistance against internal parasites. “For instance, if you’re looking for facial eczema tolerance, identify breeders who prioritise FE, then ask them for NZMW + X, with X representing the FE trait.

“Or, if you’re looking for resistance to internal parasites, identify breeders who prioritise this trait, then ask them for NZMW + FEC.” Dr O’Connell says the same rule of thumb applies to the health traits: The higher the number, the better the ram.

“When you enquire about rams this year, ask your breeder for NZMW and/or NZTW figures. Use NZMW if you breed your own replacements, and NZTW if you need a terminal sire.”

For more, visit ramindex.co.nz

The Mangahauhau Hampshires Ram sale is on Friday 7th December 2018.

3rd annual sale at the Matawhero Sale Yards at 12 noon. 65 strong hill country breed rams.

Contact Mark and Rose Candy 06 8637255

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B+LNZ Genetics’ ram buying indexes were only introduced last year, but are already a hit with commercial farmers.

The NZMW can be tailored for additional traits of interest:

Abbreviation

NZME

NZTW

When to use

If you are breeding both terminal and replacement stock

If you are only breeding terminal stock

• Reproduction • Survival • Growth • Adult Size • Wool

• Survival • Growth • Meat Yield

Core traits

NZMW +

Meat (M)

Traits drawn on: Reproduction Survival

NZMW +

Facial Eczema (x)

NZMW +

Worm FEC (F)

Growth Adult Size Wool Meat yield

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A COMMITMENT TO

BREEDING BETTER SHEEP

By Rob Tennent

P

ahiwi is a family owned stud with a proud history of supplying farmers with Romney rams for over 60 years, with rams sold to properties in both the North and South islands. Our main client area has always been the east coast and we have bred for fast growing early maturing sheep which suit the east coast climate.

The elite stud flock is 850 ewes lambing plus replacement hogget’s lambing, hogget mating is standard practice for us and it is awesome to see our clients getting some great results with their hogget mating although hogget mating does not suit every farm.

We also began breeding Suffolk’s in the mid 80’s, we got into Suffolk’s as this was a large terminal sire breed base with the most potential for genetic improvement.

We then began a Suftex flock in 2005 after the demand for Suftex rams grew. We first mated Texel rams carrying 2 copies of the Mycostatin muscling gene over a group of Suffolk ewes, this flock is now stabilised with 400 ewes and 170 replacements lambing.

The big point of difference with our Romney flock is our commitment to breeding better sheep. This is an easy thing to claim,

however we back it up with very accurate recording utilising EID tagging for accurate efficient data capture, with disciplined selection and minimal animal health inputs so that our data is robust. These are exciting times in the sheep breeding industry, we work with other breeders with similar objectives to improve linkage on SIL and use genomics (DNA testing) to add more accuracy and improve genetic gain for us and more importantly our clients.

In farming we are always looking at new ways to do things better and sheep breeding is no different. As a result of a major upgrade of SIL every ram sold now has a new single index, for maternal breeds this is the NZ Maternal Worth Index (MNZW), and terminals the NZ Terminal Worth Index (NZTW). This one figure tells us how good the ram really is comparable across all connected flocks regardless of breed.

The key traits included in the index give a prediction for production when looking at a young ram, and for flocks using 5 and 50 k testing this becomes more accurate. For flocks like Pahiwi that measure other traits such as Worm FEC, this index can be added next to the NZMW.

Rob Tennent seen here during tagging.

Over time it is becoming easier for farmers to select rams and make informed decisions on ram buying and at the end of the day it is about results and choosing a breeder who is challenging their stock and producing accurate robust data. There are always the non-negotiables at Pahiwi, constitution and structural soundness.

Genetic improvement is faster when we make the predictions of how an animal may breed more accurate.

Our website has a good run down on our breeding objectives and some detail on the traits we record across the three breeds.

We also recently started a Facebook page as another way of keeping people up date with Pahiwi Rams.

EXPERTS IN

STUD RAM

CARTAGE

! 60 years of breeding high performance Romneys backed up with clients achieving top results

Through our network of branches we cover the N.I. and provide Interisland Cartage for:

! 8 years into breeding for facial ezcema tolerance ! Hill country bred utilising performance recording and gene technology ! Proven dark faced terminals locking in 100% hybrid vigour

! Tough hill country bred terminals, performance recorded with focus on survival, growth and meat ! Members of the Premier Suftex breeding group

JH008897 JH00 JH0088971© 88971© 1©

! Hill country bred, performance recorded with focus on survival, growth and meat

• Prime Stock • Stud Stock • Store Stock • Dairy Shifts

For more information on our breeding programs please contact us for a chat or visit our website.

DAVE TENNENT 027 445 0952 pahiwi@xtra.co.nz

ROB TENNENT 06 855 4943 027 932 1034 robtennent@hotmail.com

www.pahiwi-rams.co.nz

Phone: 24 HOURS 0800 668 342 Info@farmerstransport.co.nz

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PURCHASING RAMS

TO MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY

By Dave Warburton BVSc, Vet Services Hawke’s Bay

B

uying rams is an important decision.

Although the deal is done on just one day of the year, you need to seek out the right breeder. The ram flock provides 80% of the flock’s genetic progress. You can take your flock performance backwards with poor decisions!

Breeding is all about selection pressure which occurs in a variety of ways: 1. Feed pressure. The flock needs to be under some feed pressure to identify the ewes that can’t cope under commercial conditions and which are best to breed from.

2. Measurement. The flock needs to be measured for the traits of interest to you. Fertility, survival, growth and adult size are the most economically important traits. There are also health traits such as facial eczema and worm resistance scores which you need to be seriously considering if you want sheep to be grazing your farms long term.

Other traits that can be measured are muscle scanning, wool weight, wool quality, dag score and hogget fertility. If the traits of interest aren’t measured by your ram breeder then you won’t be able to

make the right selection and improve your genetics of the flock.

Did you know that SIL can compare between flocks and between breeds? It’s not perfect, but if the breeder is using SIL correctly and sharing rams with other stud breeders appropriately then you are able to compare apples with apples. If your ram breeder is a closed flock or doesn’t use SIL then there is no objective ability to compare performance between flocks.

Did you also know that the SIL indexes have economic weightings? This means the index figure you see is measured in cents.

For example, a ram with an index of 3000 compared to a ram with an index of 2000 is a difference of 1000 cents ($10). The rams pass half of this difference on to each lamb progeny, so if each ram sired 300 progeny in their lifetime, the higher index ram would generate an extra $1500 profit ($5 per lamb, being the half of that value which he passes to the lamb).

Now high index sheep aren’t necessarily suitable for all farming environments. High performance requires high levels of feeding to turn the figures into actual on-farm performance. If you can’t feed them then

the performance can’t be expressed and you may be better off with lower figured sheep with, for example, better body condition score breeding values (a new trait measured).

Get the most out of your breeder…

Get in touch with your breeder early and ask for a selection of rams with the traits you are looking for. Then on sale day all the rams put up for you will be the right genetic package and all you have to do is select the type and structure you like.

If you do it the other way around – select the rams on type and then look at the data – more often than not your brain chooses what you like the look of rather than what is in the SIL figures and down the track your flock performance will tell you that you got it wrong.

Vet Services Hawke’s Bay can help you review your genetics from an objective viewpoint, looking at where you are, how these breeds are performing in the region and then how do we get to where you want to be long term.

Happy hunting!

DORPER one sheer rams for Sale. $ 500ea. Orders taken now LINCOLNS are the

“Heaviest wool producing breed known” 9kgs+ per sheep stock unit wintered.

1.

Cross breeding with Lincoln can increase wool production by up to 23% in one cross.

2.

Bring wool production back to an economic level in one cross over any breed.

Ten+ years quicker than any comparative wool breed. “Guaranteed”

3.

Rams available in Central Hawke’s Bay, trucked to any part of NZ with one phone call.

4.

Largest Flock in NZ 2000 Purebred Ewe base allows selection for: a. Commercial traits i.e. open face, high twinning (also will be exaggerated by hybrid vigour from crossing with your flock) b. Selection for worm tolerance for over 40 years. c. Easy care traits. Selected for commercial traits not show traits. d. High yielding wool clip, averaging 83%. When run in conjunction with Romney stud for ten years Lincolns wool yield was 1-4% greater than Romney’s: Scientific Fact.

5.

Wool sold at Auction in Napier has many times topped the crossbred market, aided by low Y-Z factor = Whiteness

6.

Heavy clipping Lincolns are high twinning ewes.

Worsnop KWOOL Lincolns

Associated with Lincolns for over 60 years Tikokino Central Hawke’s Bay Email: worsy@xtra.co.nz Pat 06 856 5819 021 439 391 Bruce 06 856 5857 021 856 585

ARE YOUR SIRE RAMS VET CHECKED? Right now, with new spring lambs on the ground, you are exactly half a year away from needing your sire rams to do their job again.

And now is a really good time to get them vet-checked for a clean bill of health.

CONTACT US THE CLINIC TO BOOK IN FOR A CONSULTATION AND MAKE SURE YOUR SIRE RAMS ARE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE If you have been part of our “Ram Runs” before, we will be in contact with you soon. If you have missed out previously and want your investment in rams to be guaranteed, please ring one of the clinics and we’ll make it happen.

801 Heretaunga Steet, Hastings 43 Takapau Road, Waipukurau 193-195 High Street, Dannevirke 210 Taradale Road, Onekawa, Napier

06 876 7001 06 858 9060 06 374 7021 06 843 5308

www.vshb.co.nz

8

IN PRAISE OF SELF-SHEDDING SHEEP

By Chrys Ayley

V

Greg and Jocelyn Bennett are enjoying the benefits of having a drone.

Wiltshire/Dorper x 2th Rams for Sale No shearing • Very meaty All rams born twins Limited numbers available

isit Waitui in Taihape at certain times of the year and you’d be forgiven for thinking the place looked a bit untidy with lumps of wool and fluff here, there and everywhere. The logical explanation is that Greg and Jocelyn Bennett breed Wiltshire sheep that shed their wool naturally.

Greg’s farming career started when he decided he didn’t need a fifth form education and the assignments that came with it. Instead he worked for his dad in the woolshed and received $10 a week less tax. Wallace farmed 2500 acres at Weber in southern Hawke’s Bay. When they weren’t too busy Greg supplemented his income in the winter by trapping possums and picking up fencing and hand piece work.

Eventually Greg bought out his father and he and Jocelyn buckled down to life in Weber working in difficult economic circumstances brought about by Rogernomics and associated issues at the time such as high interest rates.

“We, Jocelyn and I, battled on for 10 years then put the farm on the market. We found this place at Taihape 25-years-ago and then added the neighbouring 200 acres giving us 850 acres or 345 Ha.” The farm is home to 1000 ewes, 300 ewe hoggets and 130 Red Devon cows plus 120 calves wintered.

“The property is in a low valley at 1000 feet above sea level and has the biggest

area of flat in the district and a good mix of easy and steeper hills. Stock movement here is a lot easier than it was at Weber and the weather here is a lot kinder than Weber too.”

The last two years have been particularly wet and Greg is looking to change his farming practice to combat that.

“Some years ago I had a health issue that has left me prone to fatigue so we cut the sheep back and increased the cattle but we had a wet year and they pugged the place up real bad so we decided we had to try something different.

“To combat the pugging I bought some Wiltshire rams and crossed them over the Texel Finn ewes and I also bought ewe lambs to help hurry up the changeover.

They are basically the same as a mob of cows as far as work load is concerned, but they don’t make such a mess!” This year he will be reducing the number of cattle from 130 down to 50.

“The Wiltshires are very mobile and don’t take any prisoners-they’ll go straight through you if you stand in their way in the yards but they are easy to muster and travel in a mob, so when they get to a gateway as soon as one goes through the whole lot will go.”

“I did a run through of the stock that I wintered. Stock units wintered from sheep returned $169 a stock unit and the

WAIPAOA STATION FARM CADET TRAINING TRUST Experience Life as a Waipaoa Cadet

The Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust runs a two year Agricultural Training Programme on Waipaoa Station, a commercial sheep and beef farm 70km inland from Gisborne.

Training the best young farming professionals in a practical, hands-on learning environment.

Some me e ewe we lam lambs ambs also available am

Contact Greg Bennett Taihape 0 06 6 3887555

Visit www.waipaoa.co.nz or contact Cristalle Sligo, Training Manager at trainingmanager@waipaoa.co.nz

9 cattle $101 a stock unit so we are better off having sheep anyway.”

“We are currently running 1000 ewes and 300 ewe hoggets (I only keep lambs born from ewes scanned as having twins) to the ram and last year docked 1756 lambs.

“The down side of cross breeding is that you then have a woolly sheep that sheds and leaves big lumps of wool around the farm which takes a lot longer to disappear.

When they start to shed they can look untidy but so can a mob that has been badly shorn. At weaning time the yards get full of fluff because the lambs are just starting to shed and rubbing together pulls it off. The fluff also comes off in the wet when they shake the wet fluff flies off.

They are not as prone to fly strike - there being nothing for the fly to lie in.

“My Wiltshires have a bit of Dorper in them and we don’t have any issues with feet, if I have a limping sheep at weaning time it goes down the road. We are also keeping for our stud mob all black feet.

Until now we have been keeping rams from ewes that have had twins and got no wool, we draft off a mob at lambing time and have been keeping them as rams in the possibility someone might want to buy some.

“Now I have picked out a good mob of ewes, no wool, good meaty sheep, they scan multiples and have black feet.

“If they still look good at docking and weaning I’ll tag them and they’ll be the nucleus of my stud mob and I’ll buy a new ram and work from there. Then we’ll have sheep with proven blood lines that we can market.

“Not having to shear is a real bonus now with wool prices and shearing costs as they are. Not getting a wool cheque is offset

by not having shearing, crutching and woolshed costs. When you factor in those extra costs there is no loss of income at all.

Might we see a resurgence of interest in wool? “There should be what with mounting pressure to be sustainable. For sheep to be worthwhile you’d need to get 3 times what you do for meat.

“With the Wiltshires having shorn themselves in the springtime they’re flat out shearing at the moment and by winter time they’ve got their little fluff back on, their skins toughened up and they don’t need extra feed. The Wiltshires stack on a lot of fat in the autumn to carry them through the winter.”

Greg bought a drone two years ago to check on the heifers at calving time but then found that he could muster with it.

“Sheep move really well and I have shifted cattle as well.”

This year Greg has 15 ram hoggets to sell and will also sell any surplus ewe lambs.

Last year he sold a few rams and 500 ewe lambs for breeding.

Raupuha Studs Where every day is an open day

Is Facial eczema something that you worry about?

Come and check out Raupuha Perendale, Romdale 2th Rams, Suffolk and Suftex Rams. Plus talk about the Proffit Families 19 years of breeding for FE Tolerance.

COME AND HAVE A

BBQ AND A CHAT TO

Russell and Bevan Contact Russell 027 355 2927 or Bevan 06 347 7953

September 2018 57 2th rams tested @.55 the highest tested Perendales and Romdales in NZ! Raupuha Perendale is proud to use the FE Best of breed logo

110 Burrell Road, State Highway 4, Whanganui Thursday 1st November 11am-1pm

and Open day 1933 State Highway 3, RD 1, Mahoenui Tuesday 6th November 11am-1pm

– 3RD ON FARM SALE –

1933 State Highway 3, RD 1, Mahoenui

Tuesday 20th November 2018 at 12 Noon Private treaty sale commence - Thursday 22nd November 2018

Email: rnmwproffit@xtra.co.nz • www.raupuhastud.co.nz •

Raupuha Stud

10

COLLABORATION TO

IMPROVE LAMB EATING QUALITY F

ocus Genetics, Beef & Lamb Genetics, Pamu and AgResearch, along with a number of private breeders (Premier Suftex group and Southern Suffolk group) have embarked on a collaborative project to find, and then keep track of certain gene markers that determine lamb eating quality.

Based at Duncraigen Farm near Manapouri, the cutting-edge work focuses on breeding animals to produce higher quality lamb for the world’s most discerning consumers.

Alongside a large Angus stud cow herd and commercial sheep flock, Duncraigen is home to a unique flock of sheep - called the SIGC flock. SIGC stands for South Island Genomic Calibration. This project continues the work of the initial FarmIQ PGP genomics workstream, which was a partnership between Silver Fern Farms and Pamu Farms of New Zealand (Landcorp) established in 2010 and finished in 2017.

The SIGC sets out to find and track new gene markers which can be used to determine eating quality in sheep. The traits they are looking to identify include tenderness and intramuscular fat (IMF) with the aim of collecting large data sets which can then be used by breeders to identify sires carrying positive eating quality traits.

Within the SIGC flock 900 ewes are mated to 45 different sire rams, of which

Focus Genetics supplied 18 rams. The ewes lamb in September and the lambs are grown for processing at weaning in January. Each lamb is tissue sampled at docking with lambing date recorded, to determine exact growth rates and the genotype for each lamb.

When the lambs are processed, the team at AgResearch work with the processor to run a series of measurements to determine the tenderness and IMF (intramuscular fat) of each lamb, along with pH, meat and fat colour. The measures are matched to the genotypes of the lambs and sires to determine which genes are involved in eating quality.

Previously, the only way to test for eating quality was to eat the animal, but the ground breaking work being done by the SIGC flock resulted in the creation of the first DNA test for eating quality in a lamb. Focus Genetics adopted this technology when it became available and has been genotyping terminal stud lambs, at docking, for eating quality since 2014.

The outcome of this work will enable farmers to breed sheep with better eating quality lamb through buying sire rams that deliver higher eating quality in their offspring. In addition, due to the overall improved meat quality, it means that a

greater proportion of the carcass will shift into the higher value cuts.

The end result is the breeding of a consistently better and more enjoyable eating experience for the consumer.

The Focus Genetics 2th ram sale will commence mid-November. For more information visit the Focus Genetics website at www.focusgenetics.com or call toll free on 0508 159 159.

Focus Genetics Waikite 2th Focus Prime ram.

Simon Curran

Principal, Dip. AG, B.B.S, C.A.

( HELPING GROW YOUR CLOVER AND CASH )

at MCI & Associates,

we know farming at its grass roots

Talk to us today or visit us at:

w w w.mcia.co.nz

Dannevirke: (06) 374 7059 Pahiatua: (06) 376 7476

11

AUCTION AT

TURIROA FOR THE FIRST TIME A

ndrew and Tracey Powdrell will be holding their first on farm ram sale this year at the Turiroa woolshed in Wairoa. Up for auction will be 100-115 top rams including Southdown, Tigers (Southdown x Suffolk) and Suftex.

They have changed from selling privately for two reasons: firstly it means less time in and out of the yards for the rams and themselves.

Secondly their ram sales have steadily been growing since 2000 so an auction will mean that everyone can have a crack at the top sheep and have the opportunity to view all the rams at once rather than just a bracket of them.

They have invested heavily in genetics over the years and continue to do so.

Previously they paid $6500 for a halfshare in one of their Texel rams and have paid up to $8000 for Southdown rams over the years. In partnership with another stud they paid the world record price of $4400 for a Southdown 2th ewe and are currently using her sons in the stud.

Last year Andrew and Tracey attended the first Beltex ram sale in New Zealand at Mt Somers in the South Island.

Prices were extremely strong with a top price of $15000 for a Beltex x Suffolk ram hogget.

Turiroa Tigers (Southdown X South Suffolks) showing the deep, meaty attributes of the Southdown but with a brown face for easy identification.

They bought a Beltex x Suffolk ram hogget for $7200, a twin and mated him to 70 Suftex 2th ewes. Beltex are not big sheep but extremely high yielding.

The Belsuftex progeny will be up for sale at next year’s auction as 2th’s. As far as

2018

Auctio

n at Ma ta Sale Y whero ards Friday 14th December at 1pm 110 Poll Dorset & 30 Poll Texel X All rams are brucellosis accredited.

Please feel free to contact Craig to discuss your requirements and options.

Purebred Beltex lambs killed at Silver Fern Farms on 1 June 2018.

they know Turiroa is the only stud in the Hawke’s Bay, Wairoa, Gisborne area with these genetics.

They’re striving to breed a solid, deep bodied ram with good feet that will leave fast growing, early maturing progeny.

They don’t need them too tall, long or flat ribbed and the beauty about terminal sires is that what you see is what you get.

“The positive feedback received from clients is very pleasing and we stand by our rams 100%,” Andrew said.

FIRST ON FARM SALE Comprising up to 115 “Big Meaty Rams”

• Southdown

Ultimate early maturing lambs Ideal at 14-18 kgs carcass weight First on the truck

• Tigers

Fast growing with good survivability Southdown body but bigger with a brown face Very popular

• Suftex

Good survivability and toughness Texel body but bigger with a darker face Continually growing in popularity

(Southdown x South Suffolk)

On the property at the Turiroa Woolshed. 150m up the Kiwi Valley Road (northern end) December 13th 2018 at 11am.

Inspection from 9am Andrew and Tracey Powdrell, Ph 06 838 8805 027 622 8088 | arpowdrell@turiroa.co.nz Auctioneer: Mason Birrell PGG 027 496 7253 Ross Mitchell Fergus Rural 027 404 8965

12

BRED STRICTLY FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE,

STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS AND CONSTITUTION

By Chrys Ayley

A

nui Farm, on Laws Road, Dannevirke, is home to the Anui Romney and Dorset Down studs. Here Willy Philip, in conjunction with his brother John, run 1,000 performance recorded Romney ewes at Mangatuna east of Dannevirke and 250 Dorset Down recorded ewes at Laws road.

Willy purchased the flock from his uncle Don MacDonald in 1979/80 who ran a farm just up the road: it was a flock originally founded just after the war in 1945. “In the early years Don was involved with the Romney survey, and also the Studco Romney Group, which was founded to screen high performing ewes from Romney flocks within Hawke’s Bay,” Willy says.

Today Willy works with six other Romney breeders in the lower North Island to improve performance and SIL linkages.

All Willy’s Romney ewes are run at Mangatuna, John’s farm of 1011ha in the Mangatuna Valley. This is medium to steep hill country where the ewes are farmed.

In early January ram lambs are shifted to Anui ready for sale time.

Willy says he normally offers between 200-300 rams for sale annually-a mixture of Dorset Down and Romney. “The Romney is a dual purpose breed for meat and wool and the Dorset Down is a terminal sire breed with the black face for breed distinction. They’re mainly bred for fat prime lambs.”

“All rams are performance recorded and we’re now using eczema tested sires up to .6 and are also starting to test their progeny. All the stud sires are DNA tested using Sheep 50K a Zoetis product which, when linked to SIL, can help breeding decisions. In time we will be able to pick up sheep more resistant to worms and facial eczema etc. Breeding is getting more and more technical but if you don’t keep up with it you get left behind,” he says.

The work of selecting high performance Dorset Downs continues in the family and Willy, along with 11 other breeders in the lower North Island, are conducting ram lamb trials in Pahiatua. There are up to 40

ANUI STUD LIVESTOCK ROMNEY | DORSET DOWN | TEFROM

rams in the weight gain trial that runs from Christmas through to March. “We’ve had them with a growth weight gain of up to 500 grams a day- the very best have done that,” he says.

“We’re trying to pick the rams that are of good type and very good growth rate.

If you can get rams that grow that quickly they’re off to the works pretty quickly. The aim is to breed from the lambs with fastest growth rate and conformation. We’re also eye muscle scanning the Romneys and this

year, for the first time, we’re scanning rams for skin thickness.

“Climate change has brought about increased incidence of facial eczema which is why we’re starting to breed facial eczema resistant sheep. Worm resistance is a thing we’ve got to concentrate on more because they’re getting worse and worse.”

“Every generation has had breeding challenges and that’s just the way it is.

We’re breeding for the future.”

WAIPAOA STATION FARM CADET TRAINING TRUST Experience Life as a Waipaoa Cadet

- Fully SIL & Studfax performance recorded - Stud ewes farmed on high hill country Mangatuna, east of Dannevirke - We use eczema tested sires up to .6 as well as test progeny

The Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust runs a two year Agricultural Training Programme on Waipaoa Station, a commercial sheep and beef farm 70km inland from Gisborne.

Training the best young farming professionals in a practical, hands-on learning environment.

- Sires DNA tested for sheep 5K - Worm resistance programme in place

INSPECTIONS WELCOME Willy Philip 102 Laws Road, Dannevirke Ph: 06 374 8857 Email: anui@xtra.co.nz

John Philip 923 Mangatuna Road,Dannevirke Ph: 06 374 2861

Visit www.waipaoa.co.nz or contact Cristalle Sligo, Training Manager at trainingmanager@waipaoa.co.nz

13

USE THE RIGHT

FARM VEHICLE

D

ecisions you make in an instant on the farm can be the difference between life and death. When someone dies from a farm accident there’s almost always a farm vehicle involved.

But there are some simple things you can do to help you go home safely at the end of the day.

Safety is about eliminating the risk

To be safe when using farm vehicles you need to: • choose the right vehicle for the job • make sure the vehicle is up to the job • make sure the driver is up to the job • read the vehicle owner’s manual • wear a seatbelt, if one is fitted – on and off the farm • wear a helmet when required • watch where you are going.

Choose the right vehicle for the job

The right vehicle is the safest one, it may not be the one that’s most convenient.

To choose the safest vehicle you need to think about: • whether you plan to take people with you • whether you need to carry a load • what the terrain on the farm is like and what the weather is doing • whether you need to tow something • what other jobs might come up.

Make sure the vehicle is up to the job

Your vehicle supplier and the owner’s manual will tell you what needs to be maintained and when.

Before starting a task with a vehicle that you haven’t used in a while, or has been used by someone else, you should check it to make sure: • it has fuel, oil and coolant • The tyres are the correct pressure and have enough tread • wheel nuts are firmly secured • the brakes work

• any active safety system, such as traction control, is operational • there’s no rust that affects the safety of the vehicle • the engine is clean • The lights work and are clean • the steering isn’t loose.

Make sure the driver is up to the job

Don’t use a farm vehicle if you: • are not familiar with the vehicle or have not been trained to use it • don’t think the vehicle is the best for the task

• have been drinking, taking drugs or are on medication that makes you sleepy • are fatigued.

There are farm vehicle training courses run by providers in most parts of New Zealand. Formal training courses are the best option to learn techniques to safely operate a farm vehicle. Get training and have regular refresher training to avoid developing bad habits.

You also need to get to know how the vehicle performs, especially before using it in a challenging situation.

Courtesy worksafe.govt.nz

PREDICTABLE PROFITABLE PERFORMANCE GENETICS Modern, relevant genetics backed by over 50 years of uncompromised selection and common sense stockmanship under high stocking rates in the driest district in the Wairarapa.

ROMNEY Est. 1962 & BORDER LEICESTER Est. 1958

Alistair & Eileen McWilliam 06 372 7861 or Jim McWilliam 06 372 7718 Visit our website www.tetaumata.co.nz Like us on Facebook

Te Taumata Genetics

14

THE TAIHAPE I

n 1994 four North Island Perendale Society Councillors, Gilbert Timms, Graeme Maxwell, David Welch and the late Jeff Proffit, formed a committee to organise a commercial Perendale Sale.

All three of these men served as Presidents of the Perendale Society in latter years. There was an increased demand for Perendale rams and enquiries for the ability to buy rams at auction.

In consultation with stock agents, Ray Moss and Trevor Melville they decided that Taihape was the most central location for the sale.

The first sale was on 24 November 1994 and 16 Vendors entered 72 rams. This gave purchasers a great opportunity to select rams suitable for their area. Fifty nine out of the 72 rams were sold at auction, with the top price of $1300 achieved by Warren D`ath, Karere Stud, Pamerston North.

Some of the initial vendors like Warren

PERENDALE SALE

D`Ath are still represented at the sale today as are some of the original purchasers.

While our stud numbers have reduced there is still the enthusiasm from breeders and buyers for the sale. The participating studs are in The Taranaki, Wairarapa coast, Manawatu Hills, King Country and Northern Hawke’s Bay. The top price last year was $1800 for a John Spellman ram. The average for those sold was $808.00, a 75% sale clearance.

Some years we have had complete clearance.

It can be 95% to 75% plus.

Buyers traditionally buy in their own or harder farming area, checking wool type, feet and body confirmation. Some buyers are very interested in facial ecezma tolerant sheep, worm tolerance, wool weights and wool type and buy accordingly.

The sale is in its usual place at the Taihape Show grounds on Wednesday 21 November starting at 1pm. Buyers are welcome to look before the sale and enjoy some lunch.

PERENDALES

25th Annual NI Ram Sale 70 rams approx from 10 North Island Breeders.

Rams all selected from top 20% of vendors flock

TAIHAPE SHOWGROUNDS

fo r E S T I NG A T W O M N E C ZE FACIAL ce at .43 Toleran

1 pm - Wednesday 21st November 2018 Sale secretary : Sue Maxwell • Ph: 06 839 7412 Email:rangioratrust@xtra.co.nz Auctioneers: PGG Wrightson $!%#'& (

&"

15

FARMING UNDER

THE SPOTLIGHT

By George Tatham, Director, Beef + Lamb New Zealand

T

he storm in early September could not have come at a worse time for many sheep farmers in our region and lamb losses have been high.

This is a bitter pill to swallow after a good autumn and kind winter had many of us hoping for high lambing percentages to take advantage of the prices on offer this season.

Losses of this magnitude are not only a financial hit but they are also demoralising. We spend all year looking after our livestock yet no-one can protect them from a storm of that magnitude.

This is the price we occasionally pay for our grass-based, outdoor farming systems which have clear animal health and behavioural benefits.

Our sheep and cattle are able to express natural patterns of behaviour and as we don’t confine them in small areas – we don’t need to rely on antibiotic and other animal health treatments to keep our stock healthy.

Unfortunately, the storm and its associated lamb losses did attract media attention and some negative comments, which goes to highlight that our farming practices are under constant scrutiny.

New Zealand is unique as it is one of the most urbanised countries

in the world yet our economy is so dependent on our primary sector and for good reason. We are world leaders at producing some of the world’s best red meat off grass – which is a resourceefficient system.

Environmentally, our sheep and beef industry has good credentials with around 24 per cent of this country’s native vegetative cover being on sheep and beef farms, but we are all on a continuum of constant improvement.

One aspect of our management that has come under the spotlight is winter feed crops.

While feed crops are a valuable part of out farm systems, we do need to be aware of where and how we are feeding these crops.

Environmental and animal welfare concerns have been raised around practice of feeding a number of animals within a small area and as an industry, we need to get better at explaining why these crops are so important.

If we want to maintain a social licence to farm we need to ensure our wintering practices have minimal impact on the environment while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is engaging with the government and other

High production with FE tolerance

Mark & Lorraine Illston 06 8388 7804 www.mindahills.co.nz

stakeholders to explain the value of these wintering practices, but we certainly won’t be defending poor practice.

While we are enjoying warm spring weather just think about where you are growing next year’s crop, particularly the slope of the paddocks, proximity to waterbodies and the impact of grazing crops on soils and animal health.

Heading into summer NIWA is predicting a moderate El Nino weather pattern will dominate over spring and summer which may mean drier than normal conditions along the east coast of both islands.

We know how quickly the east coast can dry out and most of us are striving to get as many lambs away as quickly as possible to make the most of strong returns and to de-stock before the summer dry.

16

DAIRY SHEEP BREEDS IN NEW ZEALAND

By Sam Peterson, Massey University

T

he NZ sheep dairy industry is growing rapidly, with about 20 farms milking about 30,000 sheep.

Most operators have concentrated on increasing numbers of ewes with “dairy type” but some are selecting for performance, although as yet, few have reliable data on milk yield and composition of individual sheep.

The main dairy breed is East Friesian (EF) with small but growing numbers of Awassi, Lacaune, and Dairymeade NZ. Although several operators are making progress with their breeding systems within a breed, I can’t mention them all here, so I’ll mention just those who

have made recent changes to the breeds available.

East Friesian

EF are used in many countries and can produce 600 litres per year. Imported in 1992 (by scientist Jock Alison), they form the basis of most dairy sheep operations in NZ. Recently, Southern Cross Sheep Limited bought the remaining embryos from Jock and resulting rams were mated to Coopworths to increase numbers. In 2016, Southern Cross imported more embryos from the UK, combining German and Dutch bloodlines. (Program organised by ABS Europe, Breeder in the UK: Simon Stott)

Awassi ram, East Friesian ewes and Ruapehu, courtesy Peter Gatley of Southern Cross Sheep Limited.

Awassi

Awassi is a fat-tailed breed from the Middle East capable of producing more than 500 litres per year. Southern Cross leased five descendants of Jock Allison’s Awassi import from 1990 and mated them to ewe lambs that resulted from the EF embryos they purchased. The resulting 50%EF/50% Awassi rams are used as back up rams and provide hybrid vigour in AI programs at Southern Cross.

East Friesian from 2015 ET program at Waikino, courtesy Peter Gatley.

EF ewe with Awassi cross lambs courtesy of Pater Gatley.

TE WHANGAI Bay de Lautour PO Box 96 Waipukurau (06) 858 8486 tukipo@xtra.co.nz

Harry de Lautour ‘Te Whangai’ RD2, Waipukurau 0274 466 996 hgbdel@gmail.com

TRY HILL COUNYS ROMNE

Hamish de Lautour ‘Taitua’ RD3, Waipukurau 027 447 2815 del@wnation.net.nz

HAPPY WITH YOUR SHEEP PERFORMANCE??

IF NOT - ask yourself this ...HOW ...HOW DOES EVOLUTION WORK? At TE WHANGAI only the high achievers get to breed under our tough feed, parasite and culling regimes.

OUR AIM is to ruthlessly bred the most profitable sheep for our own

commercial flocks, using large numbers, heaps of recording but NO BULLSH-T.

IF THAT APPEALS TO YOU, GIVE US A CALL?

17

Dairymeade NZ

Bred by Miles and Janet King (Kingsmeade Artisan Cheese) at Masterton, DairyMeade NZ was established in 2016 but had its origins in 1996 from East Friesian semen

EF Awassi rams at Waikino 2018 courtesy of Pater Gatley

and Coopworth and Border Leicester ewes, all selected to be of appropriate size and conformation for machine milking. Milk data and pedigree information are now used to rank ewes.

Dairymeade, courtesy of Miles King.

Lacaune

Lacaune provide milk for the famous Roquefort cheese. Bred in France (by Upra Lacaune) using a scientiďŹ c breeding program they have markedly increased milk yield to over 600 litres.

A new arrival in NZ, Southern Cross imported 65 progeny-tested sires and in the last two years has done almost 5000 inseminations with Lacaune semen from Upra Lacaune.

Ewes have breeding values for yield and composition as well as udder traits.

Traits under development include oncea-day milking, lactation persistence, and functional longevity.

Lacaune grazing in France courtesy Jake Chardon.

Upra Laucane milking in France Courtesy Jake Chardon.

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18

PREPARING FOR A DRY SUMMER Courtesy Beef+Lamb New Zealand

N

IWA is predicting a moderate El Nino weather pattern will dominate over spring and summer which means drier than normal conditions along the east coast of both islands.

B+LNZ General Manager South Island John Ladley says by utilising spring soil moisture to drive pasture growth, lactation and lamb growth rates, sheep farmers will be able to maximise preweaning growth rates and sell lambs and cull ewes before the dry weather kicks in.

Achieving growth rates of 400gms/ day – which is possible on high quality pastures or specialist forages – means more lambs are sold prime off the ewe (the most profitable lamb).

He says faster growing lambs use feed more efficiently by partitioning feed into growth rather than maintenance and are less likely to be subject to a parasite challenge – so may never need drenching.

“Selling lambs early allows feed to be partitioned into either capital stock or trading stock.

“In other words, it gives farmers options.”

Careful pasture management can have a huge impact on quality of grass pastures.

Driving pasture quality

• Run the correct stocking rate so feed supply and demand are closely

matched. This minimises surpluses and prevents build-up of dead material.

• Pre-grazing covers of 2400-2500kg DM/ha and residual covers of 1500kg DM/ha yield the optimum balance of production and pasture growth.

• Sub-division (permanent or temporary) allows feed to be allocated to high priority stock such as ewes and lambs.

Creep grazing

Creep grazing uses a specially designed gate to allow lambs access to high quality feed while holding the ewes back. Creep grazing trials run throughout New Zealand showed improved weaning weights of up to 5kg in 16 out of 18 experiments.

Making a plan- and sticking to it Early decision making is critical in dryland situations where climate is uncertain.

Early weaning

Early weaning can be a powerful tool, especially when supply of high-quality feed is limited.

In trials run at Massey University, researchers found heavier lambs (over 20 kg) cope best with early weaning, but the quality of the forage on offer is the biggest determinant of how lambs grow post-weaning.

Stud Bull Catalogue 2019

Our 26th Stud Bull Catalogue focuses on breeders sales and will distribute May 2019 with 36,000 copies reaching rural readers through the Gisborne Herald, Waitomo News, The Guardian Manawatu, Wairarapa Times Age, Wanganui Chronicle, Stratford Press and Hawke’s Bay Today.

Early weaning (with a minimum weaning weight of 16kg) was found to be most effective in seasons when grass growth was limited (pasture covers of under 900 kgDM/ha), and lambs weaned early were offered a herb clover mix with a minimum pasture cover of seven centimetres.

Early weaning allows cull ewes to be sold early – typically on a higher schedulewhich frees up feed for other stock classes.

Selling store

John says farmers could consider selling lambs and cattle as store, rather

than struggling to finish stock at the expense of the condition of capital breeding stock.

Body Condition Scoring

This simple, low-cost management tool allows feed resources to be used efficiently and effectively. It is a powerful tool to ensure feed is partitioned into the animals that actually need it while stock with a higher body Condition Score can be maintained. Again, this protects the reproductive performance of ewes for the following year.

Ram Catalogue 2019

This publication provides important ram sales information with 23,000 copies distributing October 2019 to rural readers through the Gisborne Herald, Waitomo News, The Guardian Manawatu, Wairarapa Times Age and Hawke’s Bay Today.

BOTH special publications will feature editorial stories on interesting people and stories sourced from the relevant industry sectors as well as crucial bull and ram sales respectively.

Don’t miss your opportunity to advertise in these highly anticipated magazines.

First with the Bay’s news

Contact the Features Department on 06 873 0834

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Vet Crush

Paparata Te Moata Farm Station Manager Rach Law. Te Kuiti Meat Processors 2018 'supplier of the year'. year' 9,276 lambs killed at 17.73kgs. Average price $122.50.

Paparata Stud Romney's (Flock 1881) Facial Eczema Genetic Trend -------- 1881

Building FE Tolerance Dose (mg/kg)

Overall

Breeding Programme Focus

FE Tolerance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FE Testing for 19 years. Dose rate 2017 .46 Hogget Lambing for 18 years. Hogget scanning for 2018 was 107%.

All replacement ewes have lambed as a hogget.

Lamb Growth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 270gm/day growth rates to weaning with 80% of the ewes producing multiples.

www.paparata.co.nz All Rams

sold with a

FE INDEX

30th Annual Ram Sale

on farm, Tatu Ohura, Thursday 22nd November, 2018 Catalogues mailed to past buyers and available on website Top 200 rams available at sale so you get top pick.

Next cut available for paddock sale..

Contact Trevor Johnson on 0800 390 174 or Seymour Spence 07 893 8844