HB Today - Ram Catalogue 2021

PART OF THE NZ HERALD NETWORK

APPLY NOW for fully-funded Wool Harvesting Industry Training For a career in the wool shed: Upskill or Learner Pressing, Wool Handling, Shearing

https://alifeinwool.nz | hello@womolife.co.nz

ENABLING FARMING COMM UNITIES TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

2

Welcome

to this bumper issue of the 2021 Ram Catalogue and with it an opportunity to learn about the all-important ram sales and discover what some of our North Island breeders are up to.

We’ve an interesting range of articles we hope will inform, entertain and provide food for thought. This year there’s considerable discussion about methane testing and “Tinder style dating” for sheep.

On the training front there’s information about WOMOlife which offers a new model of training for shearers and wool handlers.

We hope you find time to relax and read this issue and feel free to contact us if you wish to advertise or have story ideas for neext year.

CONTENTS 3 4 5 6/7 8 10 12 14/15 16 18 19 20 22/23 24/25 26/27 28 29 30

Scanning is a bigg day on the farm olbox MCI adds Red Meat Specialist to its too Future proofing our sheep industry A sheep for all environments Focus Genetics maternal and terminal sires More than meets the eye Solutions to make farming ezy Kirikau Coopworths Pioneering training for the woolshed Ram sales are coming up A powerful and profitable package Embracing change at Grassendaale Seasonal climate outlook Robust Coopworth genetics Wiltshires offer a ray of hope Innovations to make life ezy Constitution, structure and perfo ormance Be property prepared with OneeRoof rural

FEATURES MANAGER Shirley Raandell 06 873 0834

FEATURES WRITER

Chrys Ayley 06 872 8430 Photo this page courtesy of Romani Coopw worths.

See page 24 fo or the article.

Cover image courtesy of Focus Geneetics sho owing Terminal sheep: Texel in the foreeground d, and FocusPrime. See page 8 fo or the article.

LIVESTOCK ULTRASOUND SCANNING Available for all your scanning needs including 3 way draft, aging & tandem crate scanning.

856 Mangiti Road, Te Akau John Harrington M. 021 276 9557 Sarah Adams M. 021 728 060 Email: johnnyoharrington@gmail.com Rolling Rock Angus Poll Dorset

25+ years experience with BCF Certification.

Operarting in Wairarapa - Tararua Hawkes Bay - Marlborough

3

SCANNING

IS A BIG DAY ON THE FARM

By Chrys Ayley

O

riginally a “farm boy” from a Dannevirke shearing family Earl Paewai has the best of both worlds which sees him travel to both the North and South Island to scan ewes and cows.

Earl is one of the most experienced scanners in the country and has 25 years skill and knowledge behind him having worked in Northern Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, Marlborough and, more recently, Central Otago.

Home was Dannevirke for decades but ten years ago Earl relocated to Marlborough where he and wife Lisa live on a small block between Seddon and Ward. They run a few belted Galloways, and breed horses. Their shared hobby is horse trekking and Lisa runs Trek Marlborough which raises funds for charities such as SPCA and the Child Cancer Foundation.

May to August is the busy season for Earl and he bases himself back in Dannevirke while scanning in the North Island. He also scans cattle between February and May and the rest of the year he works as a farrier.

In terms of equipment he’s got a good set up and carts his gear over on the ferry and next season he’ll be in a brand new trailer. His set up is very portable and doesn’t need power as he has a battery

pack. Scanning technology has changed a little over the years and Earl finds it more user friendly these days, although it still demands the same skill.

Earl loves his job and catching up with his clients to have a bit of a yarn. Although, he admits it can be somewhat repetitive what with a sheep in and out every 6-8

seconds. His daughter Tesni spent part of this winter learning to scan with her dad as a start of her three year training program that will continue next season.

Just being part of the scanning process is very cool and he says “it’s a wonderful job”. Scanning gives the breeders vital information to help them make management decisions. “Scanning day is a big day on the farm. It’s like an exam result,” he says.

The scans will identify which animal is dry, single, or carrying multiple foetuses.

Cycles are identified so they know which ones will lamb first, second and so on.

This information is used for breeding work, decisions about preferential feed and placement in paddocks.

Earl maintains a database which gives clients an idea of how they are performing from year to year. This information is available on his Facebook page: Livestock Ultrasound Scanning. There are also plenty of videos on the page showing Earl at work.

This is Earl’s office for several months of the year.

Earl Paewi thoroughly enjoys his job.

Breeding Profitable Sheep • Facial eczema testing for over 36 years, so all you

need to focus on are the traits that make you money

• 2021 Sires average 2688 for New Zealand Maternal Worth NZMW, top 20%

• All hoggets mated. No Waimai Romney ewes

ELITE RAM SALE

drenched. Focus on low input sheep

• Low methane rams available

Waimai CharaBlack — Terminals Available

On-site 841 Waimai Valley Road Thursday 4 November, 1pm and also by private treaty

ALASTAIR REEVES

+64 (0) 7 825 4925 waimairomney@gmail.com waimairomney.co.nz

4

MCI ADDS RED MEAT SPECIALIST

TO ITS TOOLBOX

T

he MCI & Associates Agribusiness team are highly skilled in Agribusiness Accounting and Advisory. With decades of hands-on experience working both on and in-farm, as well as positions that support the industry, MCI are passionate about the farming industry and want to ensure its future.

The team offer a focus on family and corporate governance, business strategy, intergenerational transition/business succession, Red Meat Farm systems, deal structuring, raising capital and formation of equity partnerships, advisory and compliance.

MCI believes that privately owned New Zealand Agribusinesses are currently facing a tidal wave of forced regulation. As such, there is a need for greater independent advisory skills to support these businesses to make good strategic decisions.

They believe the mix of advisory, and accountancy work perfectly together, which is why last month MCI were thrilled to announce a new addition to their Agribusiness team with the appointment of Ross Harrington.

Ross joins the team as Farm Systems Consultant.

As an advisory expert, he will be focusing on the Red Meat Farm Systems and will work with farmers to assist with performance both on-farm and on their business. Ross comes from an extensive farming background and currently, he and his wife own a sheep and beef farm near Pahiatua in the Tararua District.

The following specialties are just some of what Ross will be able to offer you:

• Developing policies to optimise the pasture and forage grown in your farm business o Looking at the property’s objectives. Identifying what the property needs in terms of crops and areas of intensification - current performance vs how it looks remodelled.

• Developing livestock policies to optimise the performance of your farm o How do policies compare currently, and do they line up with the farms contour, location, rainfall, topography? As well as data analysis to see the farms’ potential.

• Farm systems modelling using Farmax, Cash Manager, Farm Focus, Figured and Xero o Using software to investigate how a property’s current policy stacks up against what the data tells us, as well as working through a range of different scenarios to analyse the real scientific data to back it up. With our Accounting software tools, we can look into the data and reporting to see trend data for yearon-year expenses and profits. o Supporting Red Meat Farmers to improve the physical and financial performance of the business through benchmarking business performance as well as supporting any capital requirements to bring a venture up to speed.

• Farm Supervision o Assisting businesses with advice on budgeting and policies on an ongoing basis.

MCI knows that Ross will be an asset to your business, so they encourage you to get in touch by contacting him on email at ross@mcia.co.nz or phoning him on either 06 374 7059 or 06 376 7476.

Ross Harrington has joined the team as Farm Systems Consultant.

Predictable Profitable Performance Genetics

Phone us to discuss your Romney and Border Leicester ram requirements

• Constitution • Growth • Meat • Fertility • Longevity • Top Quality Wool Alistair & Eileen McWilliam 06 372 7861 0274 550 099 studstock@tetaumata.co.nz www.tetaumata.co.nz

Nikau Coopworth has confidence in a vibrant sheep industry Efficient productive ewes with high disease tolerance and low drench input has been the successful policy of Nikaus breeding programme for over 40 years Tackle FE head on and reduce ewe wastage, increase weaning % Maximize refugia and protect the effective life of your drenches - top FEC genetics and no drench ewe flock.

Sale day Friday Nov 5

Increase lamb Survival and Weaning Weight great mothering ability and milk production

venue to be announced pending Alert Level changes.

www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz

Successfully mate hoggets

09 2333 230

5

FUTURE PROOFING OUR SHEEP INDUSTRY

By George Tatham, B+L Farmer Director – Eastern North Island

A

new farming season is upon us and it is pleasing to see some strong prices for beef and lamb.

It has been an interesting year with climatic challenges, Covid-19 disruptions and the raft of Government regulations that continue to come at our sector.

Change is a constant in our industry.

Every day we are dealing with so many variables, from weather to market returns, changing consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.

One requirement we all need to be thinking about is He Waka Eke Noa, the primary sector’s commitment to managing and reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while staying out of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

As part of this commitment, every farmer will need to know their farm’s GHG number by the end of 2022.

This will give farmers a starting point to understand where their emissions are coming from and put plans in place to reduce them.

Our sector already has a great story to tell in the way improved production efficiencies over the past 30 years has reduced our absolute GHG emissions significantly. But there is more to do and we all need to continue to play our part to address climate change.

To help farmers calculate their number, Beef + Lamb New Zealand has recently released an easy-to-use Greenhouse Gas Calculator which calculates both emissions and sequestrations.

The He Waka Eke Noa partners are now working on options for how agricultural emissions may be priced and how farmers can get better recognition for their sequestration.

B+LNZ, DairyNZ and Federated Farmers will be coming out to farmers to discuss these options before any recommendations are put to the Government.

One of the tools New Zealand sheep farmers have available now to help reduce their methane emissions is genetics.

A research breeding value for methane emissions was launched in November 2019 and was the outcome of a 10year breeding programme funded by B+LNZ levy payers through the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGGRC) and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

AgResearch scientists, who ran the programme, identified an 11% per unit of feed eaten difference in methane emissions between two low and high

emitting flocks, but most importantly, it appears there is a no difference in the health, productivity or profitability between low or high emitting sheep.

B+LNZ is now using this research to identify low methane emitting sheep as part of its Low Input Sheep Trial. This trial is identifying the genetics that will futureproof this country’s sheep industry at a time when consumers are increasingly demanding meat produced with minimal inputs and intervention.

This trial, which is run on Orari Gorge Station, a 4,500ha hill country farm in South Canterbury, is seeking to identify environmentally-efficient sheep that perform in challenging conditions without docking, drenching or dagging.

The Low Input Progeny Trial involves 17 rams (put forward by future-focused stud breeders) representing 10 breeds, which predominately through Artificial Insemination, are mating 1000 ewes.

The first cohort of lambs was born in 2019 and the third crops of lambs is now on the ground.

The trial is coming up with some really interesting results and I would encourage with an interest in the future direction of the NZ sheep flock to read about the trial on the B+LNZ website.

WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS Tenderness & Taste Exceptional Constitution Xtra Muscling (Myomax™ Gene Naturally) Excellent Feed Conversion Efficiency Lambs That Thrive & Survive Superior Carcass Yield We offer you the opportunity to harness the power of some of the most proven Texel genetics, from one of New Zealand’s largest oldest fully SIL recorded Texel Stud flocks.

For efficient, cost effective lamb production.

Tried, tested, proven and matched perfectly to New Zealand conditions.

WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS THE TERMINATOR - PACKING MEAT

“Meating the market” Limited numbers of fully SIL recorded Suftex 2th Rams will be offered for sale in 2021 in conjunction with Texel 2th Rams.

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 2020

Plus 100-110 Ram Hoggets available for 2021 Ewe Hogget mating

Inspection and enquiry are always welcome, or visit our Facebook page wairarapa texel development Andy 027 238 4961 halfy490@gmail.com Stew 063722770 texels4u@gmail.com

FOR ALL ENVIRONMENTS A SHEEP

28th Annual NI Perendale Ram Sale 12 noon Monday 15th November 2021 Te Kuiti Saleyards )

76 Top Rams for sale by 10 North Island Breeders

)

Rams all selected from top 20% of Vendors Flock

Contact: Cam Heggie PGG Wrightson Ph: 027 501 8182

Sale Secretary: Philip Brandon Ph: 07 8736313 E: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz Catalogue available online 9th Nov: www.perendalenz.com

By Chrys Ayley

T

he annual North Island Perendale Ram Sale is a good opportunity for breeders to select from some of the top genetics currently available.

This year is the 28th sale and the third being held in Te Kuiti. Prior to that it was held in Taihape, Sale Secretary Philip Brandon says. There will be 10 breeders this year and it’s Philip’s job to organise and manage the sale. In the past the auction limit was set at 100 rams but this year the limit is 76 but they represent the top 20% of each breeders flock.

There will be breeders from Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Manawatu, the King Country and Taranaki. Not only is it a good chance to buy at auction but it’s a great opportunity for the breeders to get together and have a bit of “a pow wow.”

The sales origins go back to 1993 when breeders exhibited at the National Field Days. A “commercial man” asked if he could buy top rams at auction. Four of the breeders at the stand, David Walsh, the late Jeff Proffit, Gilbert Timms and Graeme Maxwell thought it a good idea and so the first annual Perendale sale was born.

Taihape was chosen as the venue as it was a central location, Philip says.

Philip has been farming all his life and has been located at Awaroa Stud, on Waitomo Valley Road, 10km from Otorohanga for a decade. Here he, and his wife Audrey, run 500 ewes and 60 trade heifers.

Previously Philip and his brother Murray worked together at the family farm on Hauturu Road in the King Country.

Romney’s were their breed of choice for many years. Philip started breeding Perendales in 1990 and was encouraged by a local Perendale breeder John Spellman to register his flock, which he did in 1997.

The property is 130ha of half flat and half steep, virtually uncultivable, land and it’s a “very hot” eczema area. Spore count is very high and Philip has been breeding for eczema tolerance for 18 years. His level of dosing is 0.52 mg/kg of live weight dose and he’s just waiting for the results although this is the second highest score for Perendales in New Zealand.

Breeding objectives include breeding for eczema tolerance, conformation, fertility and a good fleece of wool. They also

handypiece Make dirty jobs easy this season • Ideal for trimming cows tails, shearing sheep, alpacas and goats • Variable speed from 2400-3500 rpm • Latest brushless motor technology means minimal heat build up • 1400gms means 100-200gms lighter than standard handpiece • At 2700 rpm the 12-volt lithium battery will trim up to 400-500 cows tails or crutch 300-400 sheep • Auto reset fuse for overload or lock up

ANIMAL HEALTH

FARM EFFICIENCY

HELP US TO HELP YOU FOR THE NEW SEASON View in action go to www.handypiece.co.nz P: 0800 474 327 • E: dave@handypiece.co.nz

7 undertake eye muscle scanning for meat quality and 5K DNA testing.

And so what are the benefits of Perendales? Philip says they’re good foragers with the cheviot for vigour and they’re good to muster. “They might be a bit flighty but they’re good mothers.”

The Perendale Sheep Society Perendales were bred by Sir Geoffrey Peren at Massey University in 1956 by crossing a Cheviot over a Romney.

The Perendale Sheep Society was formed in 1959 with the object of the

advancement of this new and exciting sheep breed. The Perendale breed is enjoying increasing popularity and the Society’s work now includes research, information sharing and marketing of the breed.

The Perendale is a sheep for all environments and is as successful on the hard hill country of the Wairarapa and Canterbury as on the fertile plains of Manawatu and Southland. The Perendale is rapidly replacing traditional breeds in the high country with great success.

PERENDALES

Flock 489 SIL Recorded

r G fo A N I T TES ECZEM AL .48 FACI ance at r Tole

8

MATERNAL AND TERMINAL SIRES FOCUS GENETICS

L

andcorp have been breeding rams for over 50 years selecting sires from the largest genetic breeding programme in New Zealand. This foundation was set in 1967 and led in 1982 by animal breeding scientist Dr Geoff Nicoll screening 1 million ewes to start an internationally unique recorded animal breeding programme to improve the overall performance of the national flock.

Focus Genetics is owned by Landcorp (now P mu) and is responsible for breeding and selecting sires for all of the commercial farms of NZ’s largest farmer as well as supplying the same genetics to the wider industry.

In 2021, Focus Genetics’ as custodians of these genetics are proud to continue this tradition of pushing the boundaries, of being forward thinking and willing collaborators with research organisations.

Focus Genetics is backed by scale, and this provides the ability to investigate new traits and questions offered up by clients. Our strength comes from being able to disseminate learnings and genetic advantages by industry, scientists, and ourselves swiftly across a large number of stud animals.

We believe there are benefits to NZ having these genetics available to the wider industry.

Seven thousand stud ewes produce Romney and Highlander Maternal rams, plus a further 4,000 produce FocusPrime and Texel terminal rams for sale. All stud ewes are run within a commercial flock under true commercial pressure on a range of land classes and environments across NZ. Additional to that 3,000 ewes are involved in research programmes.

Focus Genetics’ maternal programme focuses on traits that are important for commercial production and ewe replacement. The Goudies Romney was an early pioneer in breeding for facial eczema tolerance with over 31 years of testing and involved in a number of research programmes tackling this important disease trait.

The terminal programme focuses on traits that are important for meat production and quality. Since Landcorp co-established the CT scanner for animal breeding purposes with AgResearch the terminal programmes have been the largest users, annually measuring 230 rams. Focus Genetics has also been involved in the research and the ongoing industry programme for meat eating quality, we have now been genotyping terminal progeny for eating quality for 6 years.

As well Focus Genetics continues to place emphasis on traits such as structural soundness, WormFECTM, low-input

(breech bareness, dags, tail length) and methane.

In future, a rams potential will be gauged not by traditional measures such as fertility, but by his climate adaptability including, disease resistance, low-input, performance under harsher environments as well as methane emissions.

Focus Genetics Goudies Romney.

Focus Genetics’ two tooth selection days start in November, with hoggets being selected in March.

“Regardless of your preference for proven rams in two tooths, or the latest genetics in hoggets, we invite all buyers to come to the selection days to view and select their own rams and meet the breeders and breeding team”.

FEED SYSTEMS SINCE 1962

GRAIN STORAGE SYSTEMS

INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT

• Grain Holding Silos 17 tonnes & larger options • Skiold Disc Mills • Augers • Silo fittings

• 17t kit set silos $5,754 plus GST

Innovative Agriculture Equipment

Sheep dipping... ping... made easier! er!

Serving NZ Farmers since 1962

Price includes • Jetter Unit • Hose Kit • Pump & Motor • Delivery to Nearest Main Centre

$7,680 + GST www.pppindustries.co.nz sales@pppindustries.co.nz

0800 901 902

10

MORE THAN

MEETS THE EYE

By Sarah Powdrell, B+LNZ Genetics Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics launched nProve.nz last season – a new tool to make it easier for farmers to find the best rams for their farming operation.

A

s a division of B+LNZ, we are funded by sheep and beef levy payers. In a nutshell, our mandate is to help farmers make the best breeding choices for their particular farm system.

In order to help farmers make those decisions, one of our tasks is developing easy-to-use selection tools that can help you make more profit by harnessing the power of genetics.

When discussing ram selection, we often liken the choices involved to buying a car. Most cars have fairly similar features, but people still prefer certain colours, one maker over another, or features like family functionality, heated seats and even multiple cup holders.

All cars in New Zealand have safety test ratings based on the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). You can compare most models on the same scale and rank them from poorest to best. While it doesn’t tell you everything about the car, it does a good job of something that is very hard to assess without a degree in engineering and a lot of fancy equipment.

Indexes can be used in the same way – they can even be thought of as a bit off a “saffetty ratting””. nP Prove proviides this information in an easy-to-use format for farmers to objectively compare genetics.

How cars look or the features under the hood vary in their importance to different people. It’s the same with rams.

Eye appraisal alone doesn’t cut the mustard compared to ratings based on comprehensive data on an animal and its family members. There’s a balance.

This is where nProve comes in. It presents comparable data to help farmers find rams that best meet their breeding objectives, using a series of buttons and sliders to describe what they need from a breeder.

As you move the sliders, nProve identifies your options nation-wide, ranked by likeness to your selection criteria.

Options can then be narrowed down furth her by regiion, breed d and d birth h year.

As you play with the tool, flag breeders of interest to create your own shortlist.

When you’re ready to contact a breeder, their details are easily found by clicking the “More Info” button.

Top breeders put a lot of effort into breeding the right rams for their clients and welcome the opportunity to talk through their breeding philosophy and the data that backs up the merit of their rams.

For more information go to beeflambnz. com and type “sheep genetics” into the search box.

14TH ANNUAL ON FARM RAM SALE Approx. 35 Poll Dorsets and approx. 115 South Suffolks

RAM SALE

• Eye muscle scanned • SIL Recorded • All Sires are DNA foot scored Friday 3rd December 2021 Time: 1pm. Viewing from 10.30am onwards 1529 Ngapaeruru Road, RD3 Dannevirke Simon Prouting 027 805 8501 prouting@inspire.net.nz Tom Suttor Neville Clark Callum Dunnet

027 616 4504 027 595 6537 027 587 0131

3rd December 2021 12 noon

Matawhero Sale Yards, Gisborne Hampshire and Southsuffolk Rams

Contact Mark & Rose Candy

068637255 I mjandrecandy@gmail.com Mangahauhau Hampshires I EMA scanned

12

SOLUTIONS TO MAKE FARMING EZY “With less labour available right across all levels of the industry, automation can help a great deal to improve productivity.”

I

t’s a real issue for many farmers, less labour to get the job done and a less skilled work force to draw from.

TechniPharm provides for solutions in yard design and build systems, robust well proven auto drafters, a sheep handler, and EID multi set up combination.

Automation can resolve a lot of the labour void, intelligent yard design, auto handling and drafting can have a massive impact on effective handling and productivity.

Where in the past an “eye draft” may have been OK today segregation between grades of lambs with small variables can throw lambs into another grade and profits may disappear with them. So here we save labour and get better productivity outcomes. Add EID systems and the total management package benefits are even greater.

You can handle sheep in one unit and draft it in the other… in line, or you choose to draft first and then handle. For instance

you may need to only do a specific task to a specific category of animal, so you draft the ones you need to work with and the rest goes straight back to the paddock.

Staff and farm owners can efficiently use their time and mobs are not unnecessarily held or moved.

One of our clients had this to say: “We had our first day with the yards today and we are absolutely delighted with how they worked for us. We put about 400 lambs through with the main tasks being weighing and drenching ewe replacement lambs (average LW 45 kg today), weighed

and drafted works lambs and drenched the balance.

In general we estimate that the tasks were taking about one third the time of our previous yards - however the huge advantage was much less stress on the sheep, and very much less frustration on the part of ourselves in doing the tasks.”

At Technipharm we have 30 years plus experience in making farming ezy and we have some great product solutions helping farmers to sort these problems. We like to share our knowhow and solutions where and when we can.

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

2021

Auctio

n

at Ma ta Sale Y whero ards

“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.

Friday 10th December at 1pm 120 Poll Dorset & 40 Poll/Tex Rams Now full flock SIL performance recorded and DNA tested for accurate pedigree information using Zoetis Shepherd Ultra technology

Worsnop KWOOL Lincolns

Associated with Lincolns for over 70 years Tikokino Central Hawke’s Bay Email: worsy@xtra.co.nz Pat 021 439 391 Bruce 021 856 585

SHEEP HANDLING SYSTEMS DRAFTERS, HANDLERS,YARDS.

3 WAY AUTO DRAFTER SD 3000

SHEEP PERMA YARDS

2 WAY MANUAL SHEEP DRAFTER

SCANNING CRATE

EID, WEIGH BARS, MONITORS

14

KIRIKAU COOPWORTHS “We strive to produce the most low input, high output animals that thrive in any environment”.

R

obert and Suzanne Carter purchased the Poplars Farm in Kirikau Valley, 30 mins South-west of Taumarunui in 1987.

It’s a sheltered west facing valley with land ranging from 150m to 500m above sea level and rainfall averages 1600mm annually.

It’s a small family run farm striving to use good genetics to solve everyday farm challenges. The farm is a family effort as their son Travis is stock manager, along with partner Julie when she isn’t nursing in Taumarunui. Robert is Mr Fixit and loves his machinery and Suzanne is fully entertained with farm administration.

Outside of the farm they all have their own interests/income streams.

Here the family breeds 1200 MA ewes (including 2tooths), which includes their recorded flock of 180 Coopworth ewes.

Lambs are generally sold forward store.

They have 55 MA Hereford cows. Heifers are mated as R2’s or are finished. R1 bulls are sold primarily store, with some kept to sell as dairy service bulls.

The land comprises of 330 ha, of which 305 ha is effective and 25ha of forestry.

The topography consists of 15ha Class 4 and under, remainder Class 6-7 steep to very steep. The soil type is predominantly bedded mudstone, overlaid with allophanic tephra on low slope areas and a pumice valley floor.

Robert and Suzanne began recording in 1982 after purchasing the Coopworth flock from Robert’s sister. The flock took a new direction when a significant FE challenge occurred in 1992. They lost 26% of the ewe hoggets, however, there seemed to be a natural tolerance with the older Coopworth ewes and from here Robert and Suzanne began their quest for FE tolerance.

They purchased genetics from Edward Dinger and John Reeves and began testing for FE tolerance in 1993 and have been FE Gold members since 2013.

“We also purchased 50 of the best mixed age ewes from John and Priscilla Mills of

Tautari before they sold up earlier this year.

Their flock has focused on FE Gold and hardiness/low input, along with all the other Coopworth requirements.

“We have improved our focus on meat yield with the use of eye muscle scanning and, used in conjunction with the growth rate data over significantly trying conditions, to aid in selection. The hoggets are given a drench at weaning and then left for up to several months to determine worm resilience by measuring growth over the period-coupled with a dag score too.

“We have stopped dipping on all sheep (recorded flock and commercial) for the

past four years, and lambs for the past year.

We have continuously culled on any fly strike for 10+ years and are confident now to not dip, and will continue to cull any that are fly struck.

“One huge benefit for us has been involvement in Coopworth Genetics.

On a whole we have benefited from the knowledge shared between breeders, new ideas, ram swapping, and forward thinking farmers. It’s great to have some top breeders to easily call and bounce around new ideas,” Travis says.

Last season’s rams.

35 COOPWORTH RAMS FOR SALE & SELECT BELTEX-COOPWORTH RAMS AVAILABLE

The Carters have been breeding Coopworths since 1974 on steep Taumarunui hill country. We produce easy care, low-input, high-output sheep to improve your flock’s performance without compromising physical structure.

• FE GOLD for 8 years; Ramguard testing for 15 years • Routinely scanning at 180% • No dipping for past 4 years • Conservative drenching regime • Worm FEC & Dag recording since 2017 • All stud hoggets muscle scanned • Recorded flock put to the test under commercial conditions • Strong emphasis on phenotype/composition

SALE DAY

Wednesday November 17th - Te Kuiti Sale Yards Viewing from 11am, Sale starting @ 1pm

PGG Wrightsons: Cam Heggie 027-501-8182 ENQ QUIIRIES & INSPECTION WELC COME E: Travis Cartter & Juliie Matthew ws 07-8 895-3348 Rob bertt & Suzan nne Carterr 07-8 896-7020 151 Kirikau u Vallley Road, RD3, Ta auma arunui, 3993 thep poplarsffarm@gm mail.co om www.kirikaucoo opw wortths.co om

@KirikauCoopworths

ANNUAL ON FARM SALE Up to 125 “Big Meaty Rams” on Offer

• Southdown • Suftex • Tigers (Southdown X Sth Suffolk) • Belsuftex (Beltex X Suftex) Sale Date December 9th, 11am at Woolshed, Kiwi Valley Road, Wairoa Inspection From 9.00am Andrew and Tracey Powdrell, Ph 06 838 8805 | 027 622 8088 arpowdrell@turiroa.co.nz Or Your Local Agent @turiroaangus

15

Breeding objectives “Our breeding objectives are being able to grow lambs in a less than perfect environment-steep, wet, and with a parasite burden.

We’re currently measuring: Pregnancy scanning (~180%) Parentage — DNA parentage & tagging at birth Number of lambs born & birth date Lamb weaning weights Autumn live weight Adult size and body condition score Wool — lamb fleece weight Ultrasound eye muscle scanning Faecal Egg Count (FEC) yearly Facial eczema (FE) - RamGuard dosing to determine FE tolerance Dag scores “Methane testing was conducted for the first time this past August. We had the PAC trailer here and tested all ewe/ram hoggets.

It’s excellent to have this information going forward and in future will be used to select sires with lower methane outputs.

“This year will be our first year measuring tail length in our stud lambs.

This is to start acquiring data on our animals to give ourselves a head start with anticipated tail docking measures in the future. We’ve been dag scoring our studs for a few years now. The ideal would be breeding sheep with shorter tails and no dags, removing the necessity for docking tails entirely.”

“One interesting point of difference was a chance opportunity Robert found a few years ago with some Beltex straws from Blair Gallagher at Mount Somer.

Photos of these little bulldog looking lambs caught our eyes and we saw a potential opportunity for increasing our Coopworths meat values,” Suzanne says.

“Since doing the initial AI we have been continuing to select for the low input traits. We’ve been pleased to see that in the same conditions as the commercial flocks the Beltex crosses have continued to keep higher BCS and lower dag scores.

The Beltex/Coopworth crosses have been an exceptional terminal sire over our B Coopworth flock.”

What’s for sale this year?

This year we have 35 Coopworth rams, and 5 Beltex/Coopworth crosses available.

Beltex Coopworth Cross at mating time.

A panorama of the farm.

FE Rams Available 2021 David Hildreth - 027 468 0281 Marcus Hildreth - 027 353 0405

www.hildrethromneys.co.nz

16

PIONEERING TRAINING

FOR THE WOOLSHED

By Chrys Ayley “Our biggest focus is to try and get as many new handlers into the wool industry and show them what an amazing career it can be for them.”

W

OMOlife is offering fully funded courses to new entrants to wool harvesting and to those already working in the woolshed. But this is no ordinary training as it offers online and practical experience, along with a holistic approach to a career in wool harvesting and potentially a job at the end of the training.

WOMO stands for Work Wise, Move Wise and at the core of the course is the philosophy work wise, move wise for a longer, more sustainable career.

Co-founded by Laura Hancock, and Alister Shennan WOMOlife offers the opportunity for those interested in a career in the woolshed to not only learn about physical woolshed skills, but also how to move, work efficiently, how to eat well and how to handle money. A GoodYarn workshop is also part of the learning on wellbeing. The aim is to have graduates understand how their mental and physical well-being plays a huge part in their daily performance and productivity and ultimately the sustainability of their career in the woolshed.

Laura is the course director and last year she and Alister Shennan worked together to bring together two visions combining

movement and performance enhancement and a new model for the delivery of vocational training in New Zealand.

Laura is a movement coach, former personal trainer and a remedial massage therapist who lives on a sheep and beef farm in Porangahau. Her focus is on helping people who work in rural industries and is passionate about working with shearers and wool handlers to advise them on improving their movement and managing injury risk.

Alister, who was the GM at the Primary ITO responsible for customers and field delivery, has a background in media and marketing with a passion for a very visual form of online vocational training. He’s based in Martinborough and has developed advanced online digital solutions for a range of industries with a focus on improving the experience for the customer.

Each course begins with a series of online videos and quizzes covering penning, pressing, wool handling and shearing that students watch at home and then they attend a practical session held over four days to solidify their learning by completing the practical elements. The videos are available to refer to for a whole

year so students can return to refresh their knowledge.

Monthly webinars are also available in a closed Facebook community group for the upskilled trainees to continue their training over the following year.

Since December 2020 courses have been fully funded through Kaiaka Wool Industry Training NZ. offering 120 spaces

for upskillers (shearers and woolhandlers) and 150 for new entrants to the industry.

To date five upskill courses have been completed, with a further two booked for November. Beginner courses were booked for early September, but these were delayed by Covid. Beginner courses will now run on 8-11 October in Hastings and mid-November in Hunterville. Courses for

Wairarapa Upskill course at Brancepeth Station.

Are you one tup ahead?

Annual sales commence 1 November: secure your pick today.

ROMNEY

ROMTEX

The mainstay and backbone of our breeding operation. Over 40 years’ of high selection pressure under commercial conditions has put these rams on the map. Sheep that ‘hold it together’ during tough times and deliver predictable and repeatable performance.

FE tolerant Romney sires now available

Zandy Wallace

P: 06 372 2551

SUFTEX

Bred out of our replacement stud Romney ewe hoggets (genetic gain) by robust and structurally sound high index Texel rams.

Robust and meaty rams run under the same conditions as the Romneys and subject to the same strict culling standards.

M: 0226 580 680

A nationally proven and predictable terminal ram.

We understand and appreciate the need for culling/selection pressure so have a strong focus on providing structurally sound rams with a focus on longevity.

E: farm@waiitirams.co.nz

www.waiitirams.co.nz

17 the South Island are scheduled for mid to end November. “We’re really passionate about creating an all-round employee who can actually jump into different roles if needs be. All shearers and woolhandlers learn penning and pressing as well on our courses,” Laura says.

Trainees receive their online content prior to the practical training.

Accommodation, food and training costs are covered and shearing trainees receive Lister combs and cutters on completion of the course. A big issue for many woolhandlers is not having good and appropriate footwear so they’re given a good pair of new sneakers.

All trainees will complete Move Wise, Eat Wise and Money Wise. Move Wise is Laura’s “absolute passion - all people in rural industry should be classified as rural athletes. An athlete uses body and mind to perform and get paid on a daily basis.

Shearers, wool handlers and pressers are no different. One of the big focuses is to train students to consider themselves as rural athletes and learn to look after their body and mind accordingly.” She teaches them to get into the habit of doing daily warm up and cool downs, complete an individual warrant of movement and they all receive personal exercises to help them improve their movement capabilities.

The Eat Wise education consists of videos by dietician Sarah Percy. The meals are prepared and served on the course based on recipes specifically designed for the courses and the trainees get involved in the preparation plus they get to take away 60 healthy, simple recipes.

Money Wise starts with the basics of financial literacy including understanding

payslips, KiwiSaver, budgeting, ACC and soon.

Recently a partnership with GoodYarn has introduced workshops on the residential courses looking at mental health literacy. Students build good bonds while they are together and can talk in a trusting environment. This is the first time

mental health literacy education has been integrated into wool harvesting training, Laura says.

The training is conducted by experts in their field, with the wool handling team being headed up by Carmen Smith and the shearing team is headed up by Justin Bell. “Carmen is very skilled and can teach the whole range - pressing, wool handling

and shearing. Justin is humble about his shearing achievements but he’s set three world records and currently still holds the two-stand 8-hour strong wool lamb record!”

For more information see: https://www. facebook.com/WOMOlifenz/ https://alifeinwool.nz/about-womolife/

Trainers Sarah Hewson and Craig Fagan.

JOHNNY & SARAH STEEPED IN TRADITION AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF SHEARING FOR TODAYS FARMERS • SHEARING • 2 STAND AND SINGLE CRUTCHING TRAILER • TPW PRESS • CAMP OUT TEAMS • RELIABILITY • COMPETETIVE RATES

JOHNNY KING 027 527 1714 | SARAH KING 021 706 866

SARAH KING 021 706 866

PROFESSIONAL COST-EFFECTIVE SPOT SPRAYING • Gorse/Blackberry spraying etc • Thistle grubbing • Spot spraying • Riparian planting • Mist blowers, Gun and Hose • Camp out teams available • Will travel anywhere • We have equipment and manpower to withstand any terrain

ARE COMING UP RAM SALES

By Dave Warburton Production Animal Veterinarian Vet Services Hawke’s Bay

Sheep Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Services Vet Services work closely with individual breeders across the East Coast and offer artificial insemination and embryo transfer programmes for the advancement of superior genetics to support your farming operations.

Sheep Reproduction Services offered d • • •

Ram Testing & Semen Collection Embryo Transfer Artificial Insemination

Contact the Vet Services production animal team to find out more.

Hastings: (06) 876 7001 Waipukurau: (06) 858 9060 www.vshb.co.nz

T

he genetic selections you choose on ram purchase day have an impact for many years, usually four years’ worth of daughters, and then their progeny (seven+years).

This means it is important to take a longterm view of where you want to be in the future in terms of genetics. There’s lots to consider and writing this down in a formal genetic plan gives you a clear and obvious direction of what that looks like.

At our wool workshop held recently, it was clear that many farmers have reached a cross roads in their wool policy and so if you are changing direction, you need to develop a clear plan about how to do this to make progress. (A lot of the consideration will be how to change direction without losing the “meat and fertility” of my existent flock.)

Think….

1. Where are you now and what level of performance do you want to achieve?

2. What does the purchaser of my product want?

3. What does the consumer of the end product want?

From an animal health view point I think it’s very important to have the traits of facial eczema and worm resistance/ resilience on your radar. Facial eczema and

COOPWORTH – ROMNEY – ROMWORTH

SIL Recorded Flocks – NZMW + Meat • DNA Parentage + Genomic Evaluation FE Gold status – Testing for FE tolerance for over 30 years Nil drenching of ewes

Proven performance genetics with leading facial eczema tolerance Ryan & Claire Teutenberg 021 610 664 ryanteutenberg@hotmail.com

Brett & Lucy Teutenberg 027 446 3684 brett@hinenuigenetics.co.nz

Phil & Deana Cook 027 952 6048 philandde@hotmail.com

Hinenui Genetics A: 218 Pakowhai Rd, Gisborne www.hinenuigenetics.co.nz

drench resistance are not going anywhere and have a big financial impact when they rear their ugly head. Even if you think you are only slightly at risk at the moment, will this still be the case in five years’ time?

There are also genetic breeding values for selecting for lower methane emissions starting to be utilised by breeders. This will be a tool in the box for lowering emissions on farm and worth discussing with your ram breeder. Again progress it is a slow burn so starting as soon as p is worthwhile.

Beef and Lamb NZ Genetics have launched a new website www.nProve. nz which is a new version of the SIL tools such as ramfinder, which has some added features and displays the information in a different form.

Searching for local breeders and rams that meet your criteria can be done using this tool and is a great starting point if you think you need to make some more informed genetic decisions.

As always it is important to buy rams from a flock accredited for brucellosis and most breeders do this and have an annual certificate to prove this. This disease still appears infrequently and when it does it is devastating. Not only low scanning results, often high dry rates but also you can lose entire ram teams.

AND PROFITABLE PACKAGE

A POWERFUL

M

inda Hills is a 320 ha hill country property West of Taihape. The farm is run by Mark and Lorraine Illston with the help of their daughter Kristina who has recently joined the team after completing an agriculture degree. She has worked for an agriculture data service company and travelled overseas.

The Illstons’ have 2300 fully recorded SIL Perendale cross ewes on their property.

These animals are a hardy and profitable hill country sheep.

Emphasis is put on maternal conformation, feet and good bone structure along with high survivability, growth and meat yield. Reproduction is a focus, with selection for twinning only ewes and rams in the breeding program. They also maintain a consistent wool type, averaging 32 micron in the ewes and 28 in the hoggets.

All sheep are assessed physically before the data and SIL records are consulted.

David Kitney has been an integral part of this selection process on Minda Hills for many years. His profound knowledge and experience in the sheep breeding industry has been a very valuable asset to the operation.

With the upsurge of facial eczema (FE) in many areas of New Zealand, the Illstons’ saw the need to input some FE tolerance

into the sheep. FE is a long term issue, so tolerance is best introduced through genetics from certified breeders. Minda Hills have been FE testing since 2012, along with using high FE tolerant rams and AI to increase the genetic gain. They are currently rated 4 Star for RamGuard and testing up to 0.6mg/kg.

Survivability and longevity is also taken into consideration as this makes this breed more profitable for their clients, many of whom farm on steep hill country.

Importance is likewise put on a ‘type’ of sheep which will make a uniform line: this is always an advantage for their clients when selling stock at the sale yards.

The Illstons are proud of being hands on farmers and are very happy with the addition of Kristina to the team. She is as passionate about Minda Hills as Mark and Lorraine, and brings a background of working in the agriculture technology industry. She is a real asset with inputting and recording data, which is a large part of operating the stud.

The Illstons encourage people to come and visit Minda Hills and view their sheep. They value being able to discuss the individual needs of their clients’ and supplying suitable genetics to sustain them for now and the future of their business operations.

✓ 2300 Certified SIL recorded ewes ✓ Annual FE testing (Ramguard 4 Star) ✓ Taihape Hill country sheep with FE tolerance

Lorraine, Kristina, David Kitney and Mark Illston.

Mark, Lorraine and Kristina Illston 06 388 7804 www.mindahills.co.nz The Illstons encourage people to come and visit Minda Hills and view their sheep.

20

EMBRACING CHANGE AT GRASSENDALE

By Chrys Ayley

G

rassendale Genetics, owned and operated by George and Luce Williams, is predominantly Wairarapa hill country of some 1580 hectares on the Castle Hill Road between Tinui and Alfredton in the Wairarapa.

It’s a summer dry environment in which George and his small team aim to grow their lambs as fast as possible.

It’s also a high wind area with the soil a combination of coarse sandstone, argillite and mudstone.

George describes the property as “a genuine store breeding property,” with a policy of early weaning, some 75-80 days as part of their drought mitigation policy.

Romneys are the main breed, along with Romworth (half Romney and half Coopworth.) and their terminal breed is a Suftex/Beltex cross.

“Our main focus is on breeding efficient, high quality producing lambs that are structurally sound,” George says. They concentrate on growth, meat, wool and survival of their 4,000 recorded ewes. All 1200 rams are eye muscle scanned, all the ewes are condition scored, they shear twice a year and mate their hoggets.

The couple have three children Max 14, Sofia 12, and Harvey 11. Luce works in the office at least three or four days a week and they have help on the farm from stock manager Josh Scott, Samantha Peffer and Nico Bresaz. George deals with clients and the rams and is still heavily involved on the commercial side of the business. “I still love the farm, but spend more time with clients and focus on improving genetics.”

The interaction with his clients is the fun part of George’s job. “You always learn so much when you visit their farms.”

To accelerate the rate of genetic gain in their stock Grassendale partnered with Zoetis and are well on the way to have their stud stock fully DNA verified.

Lambs are tagged and DNA sampled at docking to accurately identify parents which ensures higher accuracy of breeding values. “The accuracy added by genomics provides more confidence that figures and performance are matching to assure maximum return for our clients,” George says.

This year 140 rams were put though a new test to aid in methane breeding values. The portable accumulation trailers are onboard an AgResearch operated trailer which travels to farms. Gas emissions are measured three times in a 50 minute interval. The information is then used to calculate a methane breeding value. “A healthy ruminant emits less methane and is more efficient at converting pasture into protein. Lower emitting sheep are more efficient and their lambs grow faster as their milk is richer. It’s painted a much clearer picture of where we’re headingit’s about sustainability and quantifying and measuring is part of that, it’s better practice. As genetics providers we’ve really got to be on the front foot with that so the clients benefit. Change is not daunting it’s exciting, we embrace it.”

Grassendale also work with AbacusBio who compile pre-selected mate lists or “Tinder for sheep” as George calls it.

Back on the farm they are drafted into their mating group, all with the aim of maximising genetic gain.

“The future of hill country farming is under a bit of pressure for alternative land use change. So as genetics providers we have just got to be better and work with clients to meet all their needs. It’s about identifying a product that fits the market in 10 years-time: efficiency, methane… I think wool will come back into the frame.

If you look at the carbon benefits, it’s a good product.

“One of the most rewarding parts of the ram business is your client’s success. That’s the real motivation for progress, it can be hard work but it’s reassuring when you see your clients succeed.”

Sofia, left, cousin Oscar Petro, Harvey and Max.

Facts and figures 4,000 recorded ewes: 2500 Romneys 700 Blackface 800 Romworths 260 breeding cows 50 R2 trading cattle 100 R1 trading cattle Rainfall-1000ml (usually)

George at docking time.

SEASONAL

CLIMATE

Outlook summary

• FE testing for 38 years, and above FE Gold Standard for 9 years • Romney sires tested at 0.72mg of Sporidesmin/kg of live weight and Maternal Composites 0.65mg • Suffolk sires tested at 0.25mg • Ewes run in commercial conditions under no drench policy • Modern and prolific ewes lambing between 140 - 150% on hard hill country • All rams guaranteed for soundness and structure for 2 years • Romney and Maternal Composites have a lifetime guarantee against FE

• Romney • Maternal Composite • Suffolk Will Jackson phone: 07 825 4480 or email: william@piquethillfarms.co.nz

www.piquethillstud.co.nz

ANUI STUD LIVESTOCK ROMNEY | DORSET DOWN | TEFROM

• The lack of a strong climate driver will likely be associated with more variability in Aotearoa New Zealand’s weather patterns during the coming months.

• La Niña Watch remains active, but the event is less advanced compared to this time last year. The short-term influence on New Zealand’s climate likely won’t be as substantial, but is expected to grow over the next three months.

• Over the next three months, high pressure is expected to become more common near and east of the South Island, which may increase the chance for dry spells for some regions. This is expected to be associated with mixed north-easterly and westerly wind flow anomalies.

• October-December rainfall is most likely to be near normal in the north of both islands and about equally likely to be near normal or below normal in all other regions. The first half of October, however, is expected to be unsettled, with periods of rain and possible thunderstorms. The chance for dry spells may increase over time.

• Temperatures are very likely to be above average across New Zealand.

More north-easterly winds are expected to cause periods of warmth and humidity, such as in early October.

• NZ’s coastal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were 0.4˚C to 1.0˚C above average during September and are predicted to become more unusually warm by November-December.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be below normal in the west of the South Island and about equally likely to be near normal or below normal in all other regions.

• River flows are most likely to be below normal in the west and east of the South Island and about equally likely to be near normal or below normal in all other regions.

Central North Island, Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wellington Probabilities are assigned in three categories: above average, near average, and below average.

• Temperatures are very likely to be above average (60% chance).

• Rainfall totals are about equally likely to be near normal (40% chance) or below normal (35% chance).

• Soil moisture and river flow levels are about equally likely to be below normal (45% chance) or near normal (40% chance).

ECZEMA TOLERANT ROMNEYS RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985 • • • • • •

5 star rating Structurally sound Robust functional sheep that survive Minimum input Selecting for parasite tolerance and less dags No ewes worm drenched, dipped or vaccinated

KEITH ABBOTT, RAGLAN 027 463 9859 | www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz

- Fully SIL & Studfax performance recorded

@waiteikaromneys

- Stud ewes farmed on hard hill country at Mangatuna, east of Dannevirke - We use eczema tested sires up to .6 - Sires DNA tested for sheep 50K - Worm resistance programme in place

GIVE US A CALL TO ARRANGE AN INSPECTION.

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

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

OPEN THE GATE TO PROFIT WITH

TYANEE SUFFOLKS est 1961

OUTSTANDING RAMS FOR GROWTH AND QUALITY GUARANTEED SIL RECORDED PHONE SCOTT KYLE: 027 488 6073 scott.sarah@xtra.co.nz

23

OUTLOOK OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2021 The full probability breakdown is: Temperature

Rainfall

Soil moisture

Above average

60

25

15

Near average

35

40

40

Below average

05

35

45

Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa Probabilities are assigned in three categories: above average, near average, and below average.

• Temperatures are very likely to be above average (60% chance).

• Rainfall totals are about equally likely to be near normal (40% chance) or below normal (35% chance).

• Soil moisture levels increased during September following normal or above normal rainfall, but the tendency for more high pressure systems can contribute to dry spells in the months to come.

• Soil moisture and river flows are equally likely to be near normal (45% chance) or below normal (45% chance).

The full probability breakdown is: Temperature

Rainfall

Soil moisture

Above average

60

25

10

Near average

35

40

45

Below average

05

35

45

https://niwa.co.nz/

PERENDALES  

  

   

How much has eczema cost you?

Start your genetic progress here.

       















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROMDALES  

  

   

     

       



   

Raupuha Romdales Stud Average













All Flocks Dual Purpose Average

















 

 

 

 





 





 





 

Russell and Mavis Proffit: 2033 State Highway 3, RD, Mahoenui 3978 Cellphone: 027 355 2927 Email: raupuhastud@gmail.com • www.raupuhastud.co.nz

 

NZ Maternal Worth + Facial Eczema (MW+X)

 

November 2021 at 12 Noon

 





 







Tuesday 16





Please enquire for more info

OPEN DAY Tuesday 2nd November, 1pm-3pm at SH3, Mahoenui th





 

Raupuha Shorthorn bulls

– ON FARM SALE –





 

terminal 2ths are available

MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR:





 

ROMDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6



All Flocks Dual Purpose Average

 

are available for sale





 

PERENDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

Perendales & Romdales are

Raupuha Perendales Stud Average



 

RAUPUHA #1

Suffolk and Suftex



   



Follow the leader

     

 

Where every day is an open day

 

Raupuha Studs



NZ Maternal Worth + Facial Eczema (MW+X)

24

ROBUST

COOPWORTH GENETICS

By Chrys Ayley “High producing stock can be very disease tolerant and low-input.”

N

gapuke road near Taumarunui, close to the Hauhungaroa Ranges is home to Ross and Ruth Richards and their family, along with their recorded Coopworth stud, a small Wiltshire stud, plus a commercial sheep and beef operation. Three of their four children have flown the nest but their youngest daughter Isla Mae is still at home.

Operating as Romani Farms Ltd the couple have been farming in this spot since 1993. They were originally in an equity partnership with Ruth’s family but now the couple own 100% of the business. Ruth attends to the administration and they employ Dan Stevens as their shepherd.

Romani Coopworth is founded on the proven genetics of well-known and

Ross, Ruth and Isla Mae with Mount Ruapehu in the distance.

respected Coopworth breeder Edward Dinger of Ceres Farm, the Mid-North Coopworth Company. “We are proud to continue a tradition of offering sheep farmers FE tolerant, robust, high growth, meaty, quality genetics suited for a variety of farm types,” Ross says. The Wiltshire’s are a fairly recent introduction and are still under evaluation. “They have their challenges when it comes to temperament.”

Breeding objectives for the Coopworths include high production with low input under high stocking rates, with a minimum 150% weaned regardless of season, minimal drench, no dipping. ‘They’re fast growing, meaty and great mothers. I don’t think you’d find any sheep that were better mothers than ours. I describe them as calm sheep, they can be very lively, but they’ve got a calm temperament generally.”

“We want sheep that will have lots of fast growing lambs and produce good wool that don’t need drenching every five minutes and high feed levels to achieve that. Our sheep fertility is strong enough that in a drought most will conceive twins even if losing weight,” Ross says.

“We started as commercial farmers that wanted to breed rams for ourselves and that’s grown to where we now sell 200-300 a year. We want performance sheep not pretty sheep.

“Challenges include sourcing outside genetics that can produce without high inputs. Because there are relatively few flocks selecting for lower inputs it’s quite difficult to source outside rams or genetics that can produce well under our farming system. Although there is one Coopworth flock in particular which we work with that has similar breeding objectives.”

Ross has a vision for the future that includes reducing methane production and shortening tails to eliminate docking. The industry as a whole has made great strides in reducing methane, he says. The New Zealand sheep industry has been reducing amount of methane per kilo of product by 1% a year for the last 30-40 years. Testing can reveal which rams produce less total methane, irrespective of the amount they eat and the trait is heritable.

“For the last three years we have been measuring tail length at docking, and gathered enough data so we can aim to use rams with the shortest tails. It’s tricky as you want the ones with all the other traits we’ve mentioned- eczema tolerance, low methane, worm tolerance etc. Lincoln University research suggests tails can be shortened in 10 years.”

“Our Coopworths have Texel, East Friesian and Finn genetics from decades back, breeds that have shorter or balder tails. Those genes are still in our flock so

TARANAKI ENGINEERING SOLVING A NATIONWIDE FRUSTRATION WITH LEAKING BALLCOCKS

Made from 316 marine grade stainless steel. A farm in our area has 300 troughs, this property has 20% of the ball cocks fail every year, that is 60 a year, of those at least 10% will be less than a year old

5years into producing the SIS Ballcock - not one has gone in the cemetery

These 8 plastic ballcocks failed – a few of them within 60days of installation. In 5-years of manufacturing our SIS Valve – not a single unit has been dumped.

An independent trial showed at 52psi with 50mm pipework to the ballcock, the ballcock gave a flow rate of 13cubic metres per hour

SO SIMPLE IT COULD BE SERVICED

BY YOUR BANK MANAGER! Only available direct from the manufacturer!

Manufactured by

Specialist Stainless Steel Products Limited

30 Regent Street, Hawera 0800 175 720 www.sisballcock.co.nz Also manufacturer of: www.scarysharp.co.nz Orders of 10 receive x2 free + x2 full service kits Which you will lose before you need them

Note: a 70year old cast in place trough.

These ballcocks did not fail in this trough. However, the farmer did comment (with some degree of embarrassment) that the number of broken arms and bodies in the trough was well into double figures.

25

we just need to identify the ones with those traits.”

Another tool in their toolbox is AbacusBio’s Ani-Mate which calculates the relationship between each recorded sheep. From there, breeding experts calculate the best mating groups to maximise breeding goals while minimising inbreeding.

Wiltshire or hair shedding sheep need huge production and structural improvement and not many flocks are performance recording. All aspects, not

just less wool, need to be looked at Ross says. They are importing Exlana semen, more a hairy sheep, which will be mated to a mix of Coopworth and Wiltshire. “We’ve generated half Coopworth, half Wiltshire this year so we would put them to the Exlana semen.”

What’s for sale this year? On farm by appointment in late November, 300 Coopworth rams, 20 Wiltshire rams, 20 Wilt-Worths. “We sell out of rams every year so if interested please contact us as soon as possible.”

Coopworth ram hoggets.

Facts

Land size, contour, soil type: 660 ha effective, medium hill country, mix of sedimentary and pumice over sedimentary.

Rainfall: Long-range average 1300mm, past 3 years between 9001000.

Lambing 750 Stud Coopworth ewes, 350 Hoggets, 100 stud Wiltshire ewes, 50 hoggets. Total breeding stock; 3000 ewes, 1300 ewe hoggets, 600 ram hoggets. 160 cows Friesian angus cross, 160 in calf heifers, 380 yearlings (150 bulls). 14 su/ha.

Coopworth ewe hoggets.

Romani Coopworths • Fully SIL recorded under true commercial conditions • Selected for top growth and muscling, less dags, parasite tolerance, minimal drench. Not dipped since 2013.

• Romani commercial hoggets winner of 2017 NZ Ewe Hogget Competition Large Flock Award. 2018 winner Coopworth section

• Romani flock finalist for 2017 NZ Sheep Industry Awards Maternal Trait Leader Parasite Resistance • Romani rams are top performers in B+LNZ Genetics Low Input Progeny Test.

Ross Richards, Taumarunui • Phone 07 895 7144 • romani@farmside.co.nz

26

WILTSHIRES

OFFER A RAY OF HOPE

By Chrys Ayley

A

ria, half an hour south of Te Kuiti in the King Country, is home to Peter and Caroline Foss, their family, a South Devon Stud and a Wiltshire Stud that bear the Ipurua prefix.

The couple farm 530ha of hill country and altitude ranges from 200-600ft above sea level. It can be wet, especially in the

winter as the West Coast can receive up to 70 inches of rain annually.

Ipurua has been home to Peter since he was a baby and he’s now been farming for almost 34 years. He left home to study agricultural science at Lincoln University and later returned to the farm as his parents health was declining.

Peter is not afraid to speak about his disappointments regarding the cross bred wool industry over the last 30 years. The exception was his first two or three years of farming when “wool was the only thing that put bread on the table. It has been bitterly disappointing ever since,” he says.

The market has been waiting for 30 years

for the Chinese to return and “I’m sick of putting up with the clowns that are running our cross bred wool industry. As far as I’m concerned my job is to grow the wool to the best of my ability and it’s not my job to market it,” he says.

His disillusionment led him to research alternatives although he wasn’t considering

Peter, centre, with a team bleeding ewe hoggets for autumn GGT levels (facial excema).

Peter & Caroline Foss

495 Potaka Road, Aria

•

(07) 8777 881

WILTSHIRE 2T RAM SALE

✓ No shearing

✓ No dipping

✓ No dagging

✓ SIL Recorded

SALE DAY THURSDAY 25TH NOVEMBER, 2PM ON FARM AT 495 POTAKA RD, ARIA

✓ FE dosing

•

pcfossy@xtra.co.nz

SELLING APPROX. 65 FULL SHED 2T RAMS

Live streamed on bidr®

OPEN DAY – ON FARM TUES 2ND NOVEMBER 11:00 - 3:00 PM 12 NOON PRESENTATION

BY ANNA MARTYN, BVSC, MACVSC

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

Waterfields Wiltshires Anna Martyn • 021 247 2278 • akmartyn@yahoo.com.au

27

crossbreeding to begin with. His decision was to breed Wiltshires, rather than Romneys, and he wished he’d started decades ago.

“We’ve got 2000 ewes total and my older Romney ewes have just made way for the Wiltshire. We’ve 400 Wiltshire ewes lambing and 1500 Romney ewes that have all gone to a Wiltshire ram this year.

So every lamb born will be a Wiltshire or Wiltshire cross,” Peter says.

“We’re very new to the Wiltshire game.

This is only our fifth lambing. We started with 100 ewes from Central Otago and we’ve quietly bought other ewes where available.

“I want to take advantage of the 50 years of breeding that have gone into the Romneys on this place. I don’t want to lose that so I have gone into a cross breeding programme with the aim of capturing as much of the soundness and as much of the facial eczema tolerance as I can from the Romney flock. I have used the Wiltshire over the Romneys for the last three years as a terminal. From what I’ve seen I believe that the benefits of non-shearing and no dipping will come into the cross bred sheep a lot quicker than first anticipated.”

He and Caroline decided there were two non-negotiable factors in their breeding programme.

1.

Flock must be SIL recorded 2.

They needed a robust facial eczema improvement plan.

These two factors go hand in hand.

“We want to breed good, sound high

performance sheep. We are not here to win shows, we are here to produce sound sheep that perform in hill country.

“There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that Wiltshires are reasonably eczema tolerant but there has been very little facial eczema work done. So we blood test 90% of our ewe and ram hoggets in autumn under natural challenge and from the nil reactors we will dose approx. 25-30 ram hoggets each spring.

“What I have seen to date is that the true benefit of these sheep is not in the removal of shearing costs it’s in the easy care,

reduced labour and reduced workload area… don’t have to be shorn, dipped, only require minimal drenching, and they don’t have to be docked.”

“We are docking, but that’s only because I done it for 34 years and also I like animals to be presentable for sale.”

They are quite easy care with their first drench 2-3 weeks after weaning. Peter brings them back home in October to dock and SIL record them and then they go back to their paddock until January.

The rams for sale this year have only been drenched twice in their life. “I have

treated the odd Wiltshire for fly but I have never dipped a mob of Wiltshires and I’ve never had the Wiltshires in the wool shed.”

Peter’s vision for the future is a 100% full shedding Wiltshire flock.

“I believe the greatest benefits will arise from the substantial decrease in workload and resulting increase in management flexibility.”

This year there will be 60-70 Wiltshires for sale. This is their second Wiltshire sale and it will be live on bidr again. Last year over ¼ were sold online with a good range of buyers from all over the North Island.

Breeding Wiltshires is a relatively new venture for Peter and Caroline.

Web: www.kmskennels.com Phone: 027 555 6937

28

INNOVATIONS

TO MAKE LIFE EZY

By Chrys Ayley

S

ean Blenkin’s extensive experience as a shearer and farmworker has led him to a new career developing and selling equipment for rural folk to make their lives less difficult or more EZY. With a huge dose of common sense, coupled with experience and a nononsense approach to work, Sean comes up with some simple, yet remarkably effective quality agricultural products. His designs stem from watching the behaviour of stock and farmers over several decades.

STOCK EZY is a family-owned and operated business in the heart of the Wairarapa, Masterton. Here Sean, who is

super friendly and very easy to work with, lives and works in his home workshop, along with manufacturing assistance from 2K Engineering in Masterton STOCK EZY’s most popular products are Ewe Cradles, Fadge Wool Pack Holders, with or without wheels, Flow Control Gates and Short and Long Wing Back Stops.

His first innovation was the ewe cradle, and whilst not an entirely new concept, it’s a solution that Sean perfected having watched farmers struggle to set sheep upright when they become cast in a paddock.

Sean with his products at the South Island Agricultural Field Days.

Farmers find the ewe cradle really effective in reducing issues at lambing time. It’s easy to set up, the fabric is breathable and the frame can be adjusted to support weights from 40kg up to 120kg.

With farmers aiming for multiple births pregnant ewes are bigger and heavier these days and the cradle can help with sleepy sickness, cast ewes, bearing ewes and mothering on lambs. Sean’s wife Maire, a skilled machinist, helps by sewing fabric for ewe cradles on her industrial machine.

Sean travels a fair bit and demonstrates his products at farmer’s markets, A&P Shows, Home and Garden Shows, at the Mystery Creek Field Days, and the East Coast Farming Expo, amongst others. His Flow Control Gate was the Agri-Innovation Award runner up the South Island

The fadge holder being put to good use at the Gisborne Showgrounds.

Agricultural Field Days earlier this year and generated plenty of attention at Mystery Creek this year. The Flow Control Gate’s ability to reduce manpower and improve stock-flow has made it a huge success.

Another product that’s gaining customers beyond the farm is The Stock Ezy Fadge Wool Pack Holder originally designed for wools sheds and used at Golden Shears last year. The holder is now being used by gardeners, builders and even for recycling in the Chatham Islands. The steel frame holder folds up, is easily transportable, has an easy locking system, no weld joints and a new option comes with wheels for EZY manoeuvrability.

See www.stockezynz.com/ and Facebook Stockezy where there are plenty of videos and more inventions to admire.

Back stops are popular.

WAIPIPI RAMS GET THE JOB DONE! Our solid no nonsense Terminal Priced Rams offer you fast lamb growth and hybrid vigour. Dark genetic marking offers ease of management and premium store prices.

SUFFOLK - SUF-TEX - WAIPIPI ROCK CONTACT SAM TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS 027 227 9025

Rural Publications

2022

If you are looking to promote to your potential customers within our specialist publications make contact early.

STUD BULL CATALOGUE Out from 5 May RAM CATALOGUE Out from 13 October PART OF THE NZ HERALD NETWORK

shirley.randell@nzme.co.nz

CONSTITUTION,

STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE O

ver the past 101 years of ram breeding Paki-iti has added Suffolks, Suftexs and Romtex to the original Romney genetics that were offered to the New Zealand sheep industry. Brothers Stewart and Andrew Morton are now running 2500 recorded ewes, selling and leasing 950 rams annually to over 160 clients nationwide.

Stewart and Andrew are fourth generation ram breeders who started breeding at an early age- 10 and eight.

Both went on to experience life and work beyond Paki-iti Farms but they returned to take over management of Paka-iti 20-yearsago, thereby continuing the tradition established by their father and grandfather of breeding rams suitable for the New Zealand sheep industry.

The aim of these breeding programs is very simple – to make each breeding option the best for their respective breeds in New Zealand. This means that none of the breeding options offered are ‘add on’ or ‘experiments,’ guaranteeing that they will do what they are supposed to do.

Paki-iti has defined ‘being the best’ as stock that has constitution, stock that has structure and then stock that has performance. The maternal breeding flocks are run commercially on an 850ha

steep hill country property in the northern Manawatu and the terminal flocks are based at Kimbolton, with these ram hoggets being wintered on the hills at Pakiiti. A moderate, deep, muscular type of sheep has evolved to suit this country.

Paki-iti recognises that after 170 years of sheep being bred in numbers in New Zealand, structure is still a nation-wide issue and is getting worse. That is why the structure of the foot and breeding sheep that are more resistant to foot diseases is a top priority for all the breeding programs.

The performance of the various breeds is measured with the combination of trait recording and use of DNA. In the maternal breeds Paki-iti is focused on growth, fertility, survival, longevity, meat yield, facial eczema, worm FEC, dags and this year has tested for methane emissions. In the terminal breeds, growth, meat yield, survivability and longevity have been the key traits with meat quality traits of tenderness and intramuscular fat being added in the last few years.

“As ram breeders we have a huge responsibility as we provide 80% of the genetic improvement to our clients. That improvement is not just for performance, but for constitution and structure as well,” Stewart says.

• • • • • • • •

PAKI-ITI ROMNEY & ROMTEX • 160 clients last year purchased or leased Paki-iti rams • Bred on a 870ha hard hill country property rising up to 637m asl (2090f asl) • Breeding for constitution, longevity, structural soundness and then performance • Constitution = moderate frame, deep bodied type of sheep • Performance = Growth, fertility, survival, meat yield, incorporating FE tolerance and parasite resistance • 11 years of breeding Romtex rams, utilizing a stabilised SIL recorded Romtex floc • Paki-iti maternal Romtex offer faster growth rates and higher meat yields • Romtex rams sold as 22th rams

• • • • • •

PAKI-ITI SUFFOLK & SUFTEX • Over 500 Suffolk, Suftex rams and ram hoggets sold

and leased last seasonto view our breeding programs paki-iti.co.nz

Suffolk and Suftex ram hoggets.

• Breeding for constitution, longevity, structural soundness and then Stewart Morton 06performance 328 5772 / 0274 453 110 • Constitution = moderate frame, deep bodied type of • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 sheep R D 54,•Kimbolton, • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz Performance Manawatu = Fast growth, high meat yield, high survival and incorporating meat quality traits (IMF, tenderness and PH) • 13 years of wintering ram hoggets on hard hill country = • constitution • • Suftex rams bred for darkness • • • •

Visit paki-iti.co.nz to view our breeding programs pa

Paki-iti - home of the Romney and Romtex breeding programs and wintering of the Suffolk and Suftex ram hoggets.

S Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 / 0274 453 110 R D 54, K • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 R D 54, Kimbolton, Manawatu • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz

30

PREPARED WITH ONEROOF RURAL BE PROPERTY

O

neRoof, the country’s fastest-growing real estate website is, like most successful businesses, built on a clear promise: they’ll show you What’s for Sale and What it’s worth. Simple. Which is all good, because who doesn’t love simple?

With thousands of property listings right across New Zealand, you can search for what you’re after and find it on Oneroof.co.nz. Listing categories range from Residential, Commercial, Business, and they’ve now strengthened their property offering with the launch of OneRoof Rural.

OneRoof Rural features the latest listings across twelve categories including farm, dairy and grazing to horticulture, viticulture and lifestyle properties. You can search rural listings right across the country, from Hawke’s Bay to Manawat , Northland to Bay of Plenty, Marlborough to Otago and beyond. OneRoof Rural provides an immersive experience, engaging Kiwis at every stage of their rural property journey.

Self-isolation and Covid-19 have made home owners re-evaluate their priorities, putting safety and freedom first. Many Kiwis are making a move to rural New Zealand for more outdoor space and sustainable living. Real estate agents specialising in lifestyle blocks are seeing

a major lift in sales as buyers crave space and switch to working from home more frequently.

Another key strength is OneRoof’s estimated property values - get the latest estimated rural values, sold prices, rateable values and more for free at OneRoof.co.nz.

They draw on up-to-the moment sales data along with market trends tracked by the clever people at Valocity, an awardwinning mortgage valuation platform that provides reliable and accurate valuations.

So, you can believe they’re within a

reasonable range of the actual value. How good is that?

OneRoof also have the latest rural property news and market insights to help make property decisions easier. As they’re part of the NZME (New Zealand Media & Entertainment) network, which includes the strength of the NZ Herald, The Country, Newstalk ZB and more award-winning brands, this enables OneRoof to gain upto-date insights into local property, local communities and celebrate grassroots New Zealand.

Recently voted as most trusted website for accurate estimated valuations and property news (Source: ConsumerLink Omnijet 11-18 August 2021) shows that more and more Kiwis are turning to OneRoof. If you’re a buyer, you should definitely head to OneRoof.co.nz. And if you’re a seller, looking to put your prized possession in front of as many prospective buyers as possible, you’ll want to be there too. Make sure you speak to your real estate agent about it.

Be property prepared. See what’s for sale and what it’s worth at OneRoof.co.nz.

tested at .65 since 2007 tested at .67 since 2019

industry leaders in FE, Worm Tolerance and MZMW

Craig & Tina Alexander

Buckland Road, RD2, Matamata Ph: (07) 888 1703 • Mob: 021 746 646 email: calexander@outlook.co.nz Maunga Awa Station

Farm Manager: Gavin Mutch Ph: (06) 212 7540 email: maunga.awa.station@gmail.com

Marchant Farms Trust

Dargaville

ARDG Breeder Locations

Kaukapakapa Maramarua Matamata

Dimmock Road, RD1, Pokeno, Maramarua John & Jan Marchant: Ph: (09) 232 5613 email: marchant.farms@farmside.co.nz Greg & Angela Marchant: Mob: 0272 815 386 email: gregm@farmside.co.nz

Glenbrook Ltd.

Adrian & Jenny Savannah Glenbrook, RD3 Kaukapakapa Ph: (09) 427 6393 Mob: 0274 816 599 email: info@glenbrookfarms.co.nz

Bob Steed/Rhys & Helen Dackers Kereru Station, 136 Paradise Road, RD1 Tangiteroria Ph: (09) 4332616 • Mob: 0272 415 564 email: helsnz1@xtra.co.nz or kereru_station@xtra.co.nz

Paul Crick & Daynne Almeida

1683 Longbush Road, RD4 Masterton 5884 Mob: 0274 504 085 • email: los.pastores@outloo ok.com

www.ardg.co.nz d

IP

TRY LEAD

Supplying Elite Romney Genetics to Ram Breeders & Commercial Farmers

Alexander Farming Genetics Ltd.

SH

IN

YEARS

US

R

C

53

G

OF

D

EBRATIN EL

Dannevirke

Masterton

E