HBT - Ram Catalogue 2020

First with the Bay’s news

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 program 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 on Monday 4 November, Friday 6th November,Tuakau Tuakau Saleyards Saleyards

Increase lamb Survival and Weaning Weight great mothering ability and milk production Successfully mate hoggets

www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz ! 09 2333 230

2

Welcome

W

2020

Auctio

n at Ma tawhe ro Sale Y ards

e at Hawke’s Bay Today are pleased to bring to you the Ram Catalogue for 2020.

This year it’s a bumper issue despite the trials and tribulations we have all been through what with Covid and a drought to contend with.

We’ve plenty of stud profiles, some related d business articles along with articles on fencing and shearing innovators. The Riverleee Stud editorial focuses on the Aussie Whitee breed which presents a less labour intensivee sheep and is food for thought what with thee price of wool at the moment.

It is an extremely busy time of the year forr sheep and beef farmers but we hope you may be able to take a few minutes break, have a cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy browsingg through this publication.

If you have feedback, comments, a story lead or wish to advertise next year we’d love to hear from you.

Cover: photography Getty Imagges Features Manager Shirley Randeell 06 873 083 34 Shirley.randell@nzme.co.n nz Chrys Ayleey Features Writter 027 291 922 29 Chrys.ayley@nzme.co.n nz

Friday 11th 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.

ANUI STUD LIVESTOCK ROMNEY | DORSET DOWN | TEFROM

ANNUAL ON FARM SALE Up to 115 “Big Meaty Rams” on Offer

- Fully SIL & Studfax performance recorded - Stud ewes farmed on hard hill country at Mangatuna, east of Dannevirke - We use eczema tested sires up to .6 as well as test progeny - Sires DNA tested for sheep 50K - Worm resistance programme in place

• Southdown • Suftex • Tigers (Southdown X Sth Suffolk) • Belsuftex (Beltex X Suftex) Sale Date December 10th, 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

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

3

A REVOLUTIONARY NEW TOOL FROM B+LNZ GENETICS NPROVE –

L

ast month Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics launched nProve – a new tool that makes it easier for New Zealand farmers to find the best rams for their farming operation.

Unlike the existing SIL tools, which are primarily for ram breeders, nProve is for both breeders and commercial farmers.

It is an on-line tool that helps farmers identify breeders making progress in traits important to them.

Using a series of buttons and slider scales farmers can refine exactly what they need from their ram team. The end result is a list of breeders whose rams tick those same boxes.

B+LNZ Genetics’ Sheep Genetics Operations Specialist Sarah Powdrell says the tool’s tag line says it all: “discover genetics fit for your purpose.”

“The beauty of nProve is that you can customise traits specific for you and your operation.

Once you get started, you’ll find yourself wanting to have more of a play – tinkering with the sliders to prioritise different traits and experimenting to see which breeders come up for you.”

The tool was developed in partnership with RMPP. In addition to seeking input from commercial farmers, B+LNZ Genetics worked closely with its community of

Sarah Powdrell, Sheep Genetics Operations Specialist at B+LNZ Genetics offers 5 tips for using nProve this season: 1. Think about your goals. Where are you now? Where do you want to be?

E.g: a) Improve pregnancy scanning percentage b) Keep ewe weights modest c) Increase parasite resistance 2. Go to nprove.nz. With your goals in mind, prioritise the traits that will help you achieve those goals.

3. Don’t be too greedy.

Try and limit the number of sliders you adjust to, say, three. And don’t zoom the sliders straight to the top – or you may exclude some very good animals/breeders.

B+LNZ Genetics Sheep Genetics Operations Specialist Sarah Powdrell

sheep breeders, particularly in the final testing phase to fine tune the tool prior to its release.

Users do not need to register. It is freely available at nprove.nz and includes helpful tips to get started.

4. Don’t stop there. Have a play.

You can narrow down your selection by exploring the range of other buttons which cover region, breed, sex, and birth year. This gives you a feel for the tool and how it can serve up exactly what you want.

5. Shortlist breeders.

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

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

Want to know more about ram selection? Visit beeflambnz.com and search “better sheep breeding”.

4

SPRING

AT GLENROSS STATION

By the Hildreth family

A

lot is happening on Glenross Station off the Napier – Taihape Road as the team electronically tags 5000 lambs over the next month. The need to finish is in preparation for Ram sales which begin in mid-November.

The tagging of thousands of lambs takes a competent and patient group of people

with a high level of stockmanship skills.

Ewes and their lambs are bought in from their lambing paddocks, 100 ewes at a time, and our highly maternal sheep are matched carefully to their lambs and recorded electronically. This allows the collection of data over a sheep’s lifetime, her progeny are either ewe lambs bought

OPEN THE GATE TO PROFIT WITH

TYANEE SUFFOLKS est 1961

OUTSTANDING RAMS FOR GROWTH AND QUALITY GUARANTEED SIL RECORDED PHONE SCOTT KYLE: 0274886073 OR JOHN KYLE: 0274886021 scott.sarah@xtra.co.nz

David Hildreth, left, Vanessa and son Marcus with Belle the head dog.

13TH ANNUAL

WAIPIPI RAMS GET THE JOB DONE!

ON FARM RAM SALE

110 South Suffolks, 35 Poll Dorsets and 25 Texel Cross Rams up for Auction

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

WOOLSHED MANURE REMOVAL It’s the dirtiest job on the farm!

• Eye muscle scanned • SIL Recorded • All Sires are DNA foot scored

• Fast and efficient

Friday 4th December 2020 Time: 1pm. Viewing from 10.30am onwards 1529 Ngapaeruru Road, RD3 Dannevirke Simon Prouting 06 374 3661 | prouting@inspire.net.nz

Tom Suttor Neville Clark Callum Dunnet

027 616 4504 027 595 6537 027 587 0131

• Cost effective • We get to the low, hard to reach places • We also do count out pens

NO OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE! Mark 027 682 1186 markturton@xtra.co.nz cleansweepwoolsheds.nz

5 into the breeding flock in future or sale ram lambs which are sold the following November.

David and Vanessa Hildreth took over operations of the stud from David senior thirty years ago. Today they farm along with son Marcus who, with his partner Sarah, welcomed a baby boy, Louie, on New Year’s Day 2020. Son Angus is a junior doctor in training based in Waikato Hospital. He is also a frequent and helpful visitor to Glenross.

A new part of the team is Sam Wright who trained at Waipaoa before working in rugged Wairoa hill country. Sam is absorbing all there is to learn regarding sheep breeding under commercial conditions and all the while injects his own energy, youth and enthusiasm into the business.

Steve a fencer general has helped for the last few decades along with three casuals from the district who are all good keen stock people.

Fifty five years of information is now available making a modern efficient Romney bloodline. Clients pick their ram sires by index using this information which is carefully collated through SIL (Sheep Improvement Limited) into genetic breeding values choosing the highest income generating traits desired e.g. growth rate, fertility, survival and fleece weight.

Each client buying rams has a way of selecting their sheep. It is our job to put in front of them the most accurate genetic information along with a good looking phenotype sheep with good constitution and freedom from faults.

Sound feet are a major focus and every ewe is given a foot score in February. All

Rams are turned over again just prior to selling. If they don’t score “A” feet they are culled.

The stud is comprised of 2800 MA ewes and 900 mated hoggets. Of those 2800 ewes 800 are run as a sub flock of FE tolerant breeding ewes. 2020 is year 12 with the sub flock ewes in a .5 to .55 range, 2019 Stud Sires purchased then mated were ARDG’s FE gold Rams at .67.

Facial eczema is gradually becoming more widespread and we are noticing it more up against the ranges of Hawke’s Bay. Our aim is to slowly and fastidiously blend ARDG’s FE gold genetics with Hildreth genetics and retain our ‘Type’ of sheep.

Annually nine hundred ewe hoggets are single sire mated to our best two tooth rams. This ensures staying a year ahead in terms of genetic gain. For the stud this practise remains a huge focus for continuing to breed in one of New Zealand’s largest Romney Ram operations, the ultimate goal: a high performance, efficient ewe flock.

Greg Price, Marcus Hildreth and Sam Wright.

Ewes and lambs coming in for tagging October 2020.

David Hildreth with some rams that will be up for sale.

A selection of rams up for sale this year.

Extra FE rams available David Hildreth - 027 468 0281 Marcus Hildreth - 027 353 0405

www.hildrethromneys.co.nz

6

AUSSIE WHITES-

A LESS LABOUR INTENSIVE BREED

By Chrys Ayley

A

If you want to settle down with good conditions and steady work, shearing or woolhandling, you could find a place in the Paewai Mullins team.

We work for some great people and we have some great people working for us.

There is always room for one more.

concern about controlling increasing costs associated with breeding sheep has led Murray and Fiona Curtis of Riverlee Hereford Stud on an interesting voyage of discovery that has resulted in them importing Aussie Whites embryos from Graham Gilmore of Tattykeel in Black Springs, New South Wales, Australia.

Riverlee is 505ha of predominantly hill country, plus another 324 ha nearby, located at Rangiwahia in northern Manawatu. The couple started out the hard way 30 years ago working their way up from shearing and rousing to dairy farming and bought Riverlee about 12 years ago.

At one stage they had 3,600 Texel Coopworth ewes and spent the majority of daylight hours dagging and crutching. They decided their time could be spent better elsewhere, Fiona says. They looked for an easier breed that offered more labour and cost savings. Shearing is expensive and “You get nothing for the wool”. Ninety five per cent of work on sheep is wool related, “so if there’s no wool it becomes almost like a cattle beast really”.

The couple made inquiries regarding suitable, less labour intensive stock. They attended an open day in Atiamuri, run

by Graham Gilmore, to learn more about Aussie Whites. They also considered other self-shedding sheep- Wiltshires and Dorpers but felt the Aussie White was hardier and meatier. “Wiltshires have a bit of a reputation for being a bit wild to handle, whereas the Aussie Whites are calmer when you do need to handle them.”

They imported their first embryos late last year and the first crop of lambs was born on 6 December 2019. “They were very, very, late lambs. It wasn’t a very good strike rate but that was probably because it was so late in the season.” They ended up with 20 lambs out of 52 embryos. They were put into some Texel Coopworth ewes that had deliberately not been joined with a ram. Of course the end results were pure Aussie White as they used embryos not sperm. The ewes were merely surrogates.

Phone: 06 374 4062 Aria: 022 374 4062 PO Box 129, Dannevirke 4942 Five month old ram lambs

An Aussie White pure bred

More lambs were born this year and the current tally is 33 more purebreds and some cross breeds. They put out the new ram lambs, (born in December 2019) with the ewes in mid-April just to try them and now they have a lot of Aussie White cross bred lambs! “The young rams were very active!”

“These first cross lambs look good and many will have that shedding ability. Most will have bare bellies, and no crutches so you don’t need to dag or crutch. They’re very fast growing and there’s a high survival rate with half breeds.”

“They say the ewes have two or three lambings in two years. The lambs are born small and would be an ideal hogget mating lamb. They’re very hardy and get to their feet quickly after being born and are rapid growing.”

“I have noticed with ewes giving birth to twins the first born is up and feeding before the second is born,” Fiona says.

The ewe lambs will go into the flock and they’ll keep enough ram lambs to go over the ewes. They plan to sell the remainder, and possibly some cross breeds, next January/February.

Another benefit of the Aussie White is that the meat has low melting point fat (3335 degrees). The quality has been likened to Wagyu beef. In the future they’ll send

7 some to the works and will have them tested for yielding.

Facial eczema is not a problem at Riverlee due to the height. They conducted trials before Covid which showed no spores but they don’t know how the Aussie Whites might handle eczema, they don’t have facial eczema in Australia.

“There are plenty of things to test to see how the Aussie Whites will perform.

Some have had a tendency to get scald in their feet and those displaying signs have already been culled out. It’s a process of trial and error but we certainly are impressed with the way they are going. Yes, we’re quite excited about them.”

Stock figures Ewes 3365, Ewe hoggets 350, Ewe hoggets grazed off farm 850, AW Ewe hoggets 9, AW Ram hoggets 8, AW lambs 33, Sire rams 35.

Pedigree Hereford cows 200, R1 heifers 75, R1 bulls 100, R2 bulls 95, Breeding bulls 8

About the Australian White sheep breed The Australian White was developed to be a self-replacing, haired, meat sheep that required minimal maintenance.

The four breeds of sheep that were selected to develop the breed were chosen for specific traits they could bring to the breed.

These breeds were the Poll Dorset, Texel, White Dorper and Van Rooy and the breed was launched in 2011.

Graham Gilmore along with other family members controlled the development of the breed through rigorous selection and breeding programs on the Tattykeel properties in Black Springs, NSW. Australian White sheep are suitable for a variety of environments and are adaptable to cold and hot climates.

Their growth rate is repaid and they finish well on grass. They do not require shearing and negate the need to treat them for parasites.

This is an easy care animal that is very profitable. (https://www.tattykeel.com.au/)

✓ 2000 Certified SIL recorded ewes ✓ Annual FE testing (Ramguard 4 Star) ✓ Taihape Hill country sheep with FE tolerance

Ewe hoggets born December 2019

Mark, Lorraine and Kristina Illston 06 388 7804 www.mindahills.co.nz Ewe hoggets born December 2019

8

FRESHWATER REGULATIONS CREATE CONFUSION

By George Tatham, Director, Beef + Lamb New Zealand

R

ecently released treasury figures have shown that the recent drought had far more of an impact on our sector than Covid-19.

The Hawke’s Bay region was hit particularly hard by the crippling dry conditions but out of adversity we saw some great examples of farmers supporting farmers both locally and nationally.

Along with the Ministry for Primary Industries and other industry organisations, Beef + Lamb New Zealand set up a feed planning service to help farmers make the most efficient and effective use of limited feed resources. This service is on-going.

It offers farmers different levels of support depending on their needs, but essentially it helps farmers clarify their thinking and make decisions.

I would encourage farmers to make use of this service even now as they move into recovery mode. Many of you are trying to replenish supplementary feed supplies while maintaining livestock production.

Soil moisture levels are still well below normal in many areas and we could well be moving back into a dry summer.

Since the government’s announcement detailing the essential freshwater regulations, there has been much confusion about what these mean for farmers and what farmers need to do.

Particular areas of concern for farmers in the Hawke’s Bay are regulations around winter grazing, stock exclusion and certified farm plans.

Industry bodies are working collectively with the government and regional councils to rectify many of the issues that, from a farming point of view, are impractical and difficult – if not impossible – to implement while doing little to protect the environment.

These regulations were announced just as farmers are finishing their winter forage crops and making decisions about what and where to plant next season’s crops.

The good news is that farmers do not need a consent for winter grazing until 1 October 2021.

While technically the new regulations come into effect on 31 May next year, the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has advised all regional councils that farmers do not have to apply for a consent until 1 October.

The exception is farmers who are planning on making significant changes to their traditional winter grazing systems.

They will need to talk to their regional council about what they need to do.

This delay in needing a consent gives us all some breathing space to work with the government to try and streamline the consent process for the following year. The

areas we will be focusing on are pugging rules, re-sowing dates and the 10-degree slope rule for hill country cropping.

I really want to make it clear we are not trying to excuse bad management practices.

All of us want to protect our water and soil resources and thanks to science, we now have a lot more tools and management information at our fingertips which allows us to manage our stock and forages in a way that minimizes our environment footprint.

We just need to find regulatory solutions that meet the expectations of our government, public and overseas markets while providing farmers with the support they need to help them protect their natural resources and their livestock.

27th Annual NI Perendale Ram Sale 12 noon Monday 16th November 2020

Te Kuiti Saleyards • 70 Top Rams for sale by a North Island Breeder • Rams all selected from top 20% of Vendors Flock Contact: Cam Heggie PGG Wrightson Ph: 027 501 8182

Sale Secretary: Philip Brandon Ph: 07 873 6313 E: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz

9

RAM SALES ARE

COMING UP

By Dave Warburton, BVSc Vet Services Hawke’s Bay

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 (7+years).

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

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?

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.

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 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.

Beef and Lamb NZ Genetics have recently launched a new website www. nProve.nz which is a new version of the

The Mangahauhau Hampshires Ram sale is on Friday 4th December 2020.

5th annual sale at the Matawhero Sale Yards at 12 noon. 60 strong hill country breed rams. EMA scanned.

BONUS iKe iKegger Flagon with purchase Elanco provides a range of trusted solutions to help New Zealand sheep farmers improve the health, productivity and profitability of their flocks.

Visit your local Vet Services Clinic to get flystrike, flystrike llice, ice, & roundworm oundworm protection for your flock.

Contact Mark and Rose Candy 06 8637255

Coopworth - Romney - RomWorth

The Carter family has been breeding Coopworth sheep since 1974. Breeding on steep hill country we produce an easy care, high output flock to improve your genetic gain without compromising physical structure. Our focus started and continues to be breeding for FE tolerance and we are proud to be FE GOLD for the past 7 years.

Key areas of selection: - Growth & Meat Yield - FE tolerance - Reproduction - Worm FEC - Physical Soundness

Proven performance genetics with leading facial eczema tolerance

o o o o

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

SALE DAY

WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER - TE KUITI SALEYARDS Viewing from 11am, Sale starting @ 1pm

SELLING AGENTS - PGG WRIGHTSON CAM HEGGIE 027-501-8182 & CALLUM MCCROSTIE 027-472-8441

ENQUIRIES & INSPECTION WELCOME: Travis Carter & Julie Matthews Robert & Suzanne Carter Lucy & Brett Teutenberg brett@hinenuigenetics.co.nz 0274463684

Ryan & Claire Teutenberg ryanteutenberg@hotmail.com Phil & Deana Cook philandde@hotmail.com

www.hinenuigenetics.co.nz

07-895-3348 07-896-7020

151 Kirikau Valley Road, RD3 TAUMARUNUI, 3993 www.kirikaucoopworths.com thepoplarsfarm@gmail.com Facebook @ KirikauCoopworths

PERENDALES

Flock 489 SIL Recorded

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

11

GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR PEOPLE T

hese may be uncertain times but there will certainly never be a better time to invest in people on the farm.

At Primary ITO we are challenging everyone working in our industries – or thinking about shifting careers – to think about training. Due to Covid-19, there is a significant financial contribution available in new government support.

The new “Free Trades Training” package will pay the fees of all Primary ITO apprenticeships, and training across most of our other programmes. That means as a farmer you won’t have to pay training or assessment fees to learn.

Additionally, the Government has announced an “Apprenticeship Boost”, which promises to pay employers up to $16,000 to either employ or retain apprentices across the first two years of an apprenticeship.

The Free Trades Training package is open from now until the end of 2022. All in all, you can see why we are saying there will never be a better time to train.

At Primary ITO we recognise that the most valuable thing people can invest is their time. That time alone is very valuable but having the fees paid for is a welcome incentive.

For a long time, our industries have been crying out for skilled people. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring in those people and train them with the most up to the minute skills, without having to pay fees.

Covid-19 has thrown many people’s lives and livelihoods into disarray. Many primary sector industries are better-placed than those in other sectors to keep growing despite this disruption.

At Primary ITO the value we add is in working with employers to understand their business goals and then find the

• FE testing for 37 years, and above FE Gold Standard for 8 years • Romney sires tested at 0.7mg of Sporidesmin/kg of live weight and Maternal Composites 0.65mg • Ewes run in commercial conditions under no drench policy

training that will best enable them to meet those goals. Up and down the country we’ve got training advisers ready to help people make the most of the silver lining of training support brought by the dark cloud of Covid-19.

We are determined to make the best of this opportunity for our industries and

are challenging everybody in the primary sector – or thinking about a career in the primary sector – to make the most of this opportunity.

Visit www.primaryito.ac.nz or call Primary ITO on 0800 20 80 20 for more information.

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

www.piquethillstud.co.nz

12

NZ SHEEP & BEEF FARMS CLOSE

TO CARBON NEUTRAL I

SARAH KING 021 706 866 DION KING 021 797 268

ndependent research has found New Zealand’s sheep and beef farms are already close to being carbon neutral and strengthens calls for the formal recognition of on-farm sequestration.

The study led by Dr Bradley Case at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) estimates the woody vegetation on New Zealand sheep and beef farms is offsetting between 63 percent and 118 percent of their on-farm agricultural emissions.

If the mid-point in the report’s range is used, on average the woody vegetation on sheep and beef farms is absorbing about 90 percent of these emissions.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand CEO Sam McIvor says absolute greenhouse gas emissions from New Zealand sheep and beef production have reduced by 30 percent since 1990.

“This research shows that of the remaining emissions, the vast majority are being offset by the trees on our farms and New Zealand sheep and beef farmers are well on the way to being carbon neutral by 2050.

The study reinforces the importance of farmers getting formal recognition for the sequestration happening on their farms, says Mr McIvor.

“Currently, most vegetation on sheep and beef farms does not qualify for inclusion in the ETS because it does not meet the definition of a forest. If farmers are to face

a price for agricultural emissions, it’s only fair they get credit for their sequestration.

“The focus to date on livestock’s climate change contribution has been on emissions, rather than on sequestration.

But with any product it makes sense to consider the whole business – in this case, taking a whole of farm approach.

“The study should also reassure consumers that New Zealand beef and lamb is among the most sustainable in the world, and our farmers are making a significant contribution to addressing onfarm agricultural emissions.

Dr Bradley Case, Senior Lecturer in GIS and Remote Sensing in the Applied Ecology Department, School of Science at AUT, said there is a strong case for farmers to get credit for the sequestration happening on their farms.

“This research not only builds understanding of the overall greenhouse gas contribution of the sheep and beef sector, but will help inform the development of policy, and further reinforce the outstanding biodiversity on sheep and beef farms.”

“The report identifies where sheep and beef farmers can focus on to continue to build the native vegetation and biodiversity on their farms,” says Dr Case.

More information: read the summary report and the full report on B+LNZ’s website.

B+LNZ, 7 October 2020

HAIN ROMNEYS FE Gold Rams

SIL Recorded and DNA tested for Private Sale on farm

w w w. h a i n . c o . n z

Sam & Gemma Hain

Waikura Station, Private Bag 7123, Gisborne 4040 P: +64 6 867 8097 E:sam.gemma.hain@gmail.com

13

PREPARING FOR CHANGE AND

CHALLENGES

NEW

By Kate Broadbent, owner and manager of Nikau Coopworth

A

s an export nation New Zealand farmers are watching the world with interest as Covid 19 begins to impact our markets.

There is plenty of speculation on how things will settle out in the next few years but the only certain thing is that the world has changed and we must be ready to react to market signals. This is something New Zealand farmers are well accustomed to.

This is not the first disruptive event New Zealand agriculture has seen. There have been huge changes in the past few decades. The cut of all subsidises in the 80s resulted in a shift towards efficiency and more profitable flocks. 70 million sheep down to 20 million-but still producing the same amount of lamb! The gains have been huge; lambing percentage, survival, growth rate and carcass weight all increased dramatically.

How? It’s simple-performance recording and selection.

Recognizing the need for more profitable flocks the Coopworth breed led the way, initiating recording to assess the animals performance. Sound ewes weaning twins, maintaining condition, getting back in lamb-were identified and daughters

retained. Rams with daughters performing above average were sought after. Recording performance resulted in a dramatic swing away from traditional sheep farming to more profitable results. The rest of the breeding community soon began to follow suit. Long gone are the days when the biggest ram at the show is the most sought after. The perfect top knot or the curve of the horn are not important if you want live lambs on the ground, picked and on the truck at weaning at good weights.

Today New Zealand stud breeders routinely measure a variety of traits and BVs are created to give the commercial famer great information when shopping for rams.

If it can be measured it is!

Scanning percentage, number of lambs born, survival, weaning weight, eight month weight, adult weight, body condition score, hogget mating success – these traits identify superior maternal genetics.

Eye muscle area, full CT scan info, growth rate contribute to Meat BVs. Faecal egg count and dag score- parasite resistance.

Today New Zealand boasts top sheep production on grass systems and a world leading performance recording service to continue genetic gain.

The current breeding objectives for commercial famers include-worm and disease resistance, ewe efficiency and longevity, reduced workload-LOW INPUT. So what next? Forward thinking breeders are already recording and evaluating other traits with an eye on our changing world.

Wool prices are at an all-time low and shearing costs continue to rise.

Shearing is now an animal health COST for strong wool flocks- there is interest in

breeding sheep with less requirement for shearing.

Animal welfare policy is looking at docking – tail length is highly heritable at .7 ….breeding sheep with short tails is possible if docking is no longer permitted.

Agriculture is being targeted as a major source of methane. Selecting for lower methane emission is achievable.

As providers of genetics, breeders shape the future of the industry, both in terms of farm profitability and social and environmental impact.

These are the traits of the future and New Zealand sheep breeders are ready to meet this challenge.

HAPPY WITH YOUR SHEEP PERFORMANCE? If not - ask yourself this … how does evolution work?

50 years of intensive selection under extremely challenging feed and parasite conditions has developed tough and fertile sheep.

OUR AIM

is to ruthlessly breed, for high production with low maintenance.

IF THAT APPEALS TO YOU, GIVE US A CALL Bay de Lautour (06) 858 8486 tukipo@xtra.co.nz

Hamish de Lautour 027 447 2815 del@wnation.net.nz

14

DAVE SHORT INVENTOR AND FARMER N

ecessity is the mother of invention, or so they say, and one invention, the Handypiece developed by Dave Short, is a classic example of bringing together engineering knowledge with basic needs on the farm.

Dave was a sports car enthusiast. After his OE in England in 1985 he imported a Lamborghini Countach mould from the UK and went on to produce 80 replicas from his Feilding based property.

An arm injury and having a young family of three to support sent Dave into his workshop to build something that could help he, and his dad, over the problem of “pulling animals over the boards.”

And so the first Hanydypiece was born in 2005- his first portable electric sheep shearer and crutcher which quickly found favour with many other farmers.

Handypiece offers crutching and electric shearing equipment that’s specifically designed to benefit the farmer ‘out the back’ - away from the sheds and away from the power.

In 2006, the revolutionary portable sheep shearing handpiece won the coveted Supreme Innovation Award for prototypes at the National Agriculture Field Days, Mystery Creek, and in 2009 the winning award for innovation at the Sheepvention, Australia.

Over the years there have been improvements in technology and Dave has applied several modifications to his invention.

The Handypiece is lightweight and slim so users will soon notice the relief it brings to hands and farming. The gear can even easily deal to fly-strike! It’s portable and designed to cope with harsh farming conditions.

The further you are from the sheds or the power, the more handy this piece of Kiwi ingenuity becomes. World leading in technology the new Pro can boast 1.3Nm of torque, 1.4kg of weight and

speed adjustable for 2400rpm through to 3500rpm. Handypiece has a multitude of uses, from trimming cows’ tails to vets testing deer for TB, and now with the variable speed it is perfect to shear Alpaca.

The extreme quiet of the Handypiece when in use is less stressful for animals than other clippers - of benefit all-round both to animal and operator.

Over the years the team has expanded and Team Handypiece 2020 is a

David Short, Andrew Mercer, Jake Short, Chris Watson and Jacky Short at Handypiece HQ in Feilding.

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

combination of farming and engineering expertise with all young members of the group having worked with Dave and Jacky Short since their last few years at Feilding High School.

Plenty of hours have been spent brainstorming and making trial pieces.

Dave says that the younger team members help him take a different perspective on problems although he’s always going to be a bit mad and messy!

David Short dagging merino lambs in Western Australia.

handypiece

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

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

15

HILL COUNTRY ASHGROVE COOPWORTH’S

THRIVE IN NORTHLAND

A

shgrove is a 600-ha steep hill country farm located in the picturesque Tangowahine Valley North of Dargaville.

The 535 effective ha property is owned by the Parsons family: Chris and Hayley Parsons and James and Janine Parsons.

Brothers Chris and James grew up in the North Hokianga on a family farm.

Upon leaving school Chris led a successful army career, including commanding the SAS and rising to Brigadier General. Recently Chris and Hayley returned from London and Chris is now CEO of the NZ Rural Leadership Trust.

After studying at Lincoln James became a shearer, purchased the farm off his father at 24, then married Janine a registered nurse. As well as farming James took a governance pathway and became a director and later Chairman of Beef + Lamb NZ. In 2013 James and Janine sold their 370 ha North Hokianga farm and with Chris and Hayley purchased their current farm.

At the same time, they purchased the Ashgrove Coopworth stud from their ram breeder David Hartles of Maungatoroto.

The family were delighted to acquire the stud and locate the flock on their new farm. More recently they acquired a Suftex stud and also started crossing a Romney ram across a subsection of their Coopworth stud ewes for clients looking for Romworth rams. The day to day operation is now run

by Farm Manager Travis Pymm and James oversees the business.

Ashgrove is on some of the steepest hill country farmed in Northland with a rainfall usually in the vicinity of 1800mm pa. The farm performs very well for its farm class due to the exceptionally highperformance 1200 Coopworth ewe flock.

Ashgrove Coopworth is an FE Gold flock fully recorded on SIL and benchmarks exceptionally well on across flock evaluations for NZ Maternal Worth.

Ashgrove’s 55 per cent sheep to cattle ratio is very high for Northland – and a worm challenge exists all year. Through winter the stud and commercial ewes are combined on clean up duty and typically lose close to 1 condition score between tupping and 6 weeks pre lamb.

Sheep performance is a big driver of the farms production, frequently weaning up to 160 per cent (ewes to ram). No mean feat when you see the hills the ewes lamb on. The 2020 drought saw the ewes tupped at a very light 56kgLW, but their fertility is phenomenal scanning at 196 per cent.

Lambs frequently wean 28kg to 29kg average at 95 days of age.

The stud selects for FE tolerance, worm resistance, sound structure, longevity and all the standard production traits on SIL. Commercial ewes are culled at 6 years of age, studs often up to nine and 10 years of age.

“Clients report great hogget lambing results with scanning results as high as 166 per cent and weaning rates of 130 per cent.”

Chris and Hayley’s son Reuben facing Chris during his March Out Parade following his BASIC training. Chris was the Reviewing Officer for the BASIC March Out as part of his role as Deputy Chief of Army.

ashgrovegenetics.co.nz Hill Country Coopworth - Suftex - Romworth

ON FARM RAM AUCTION 13TH NOVEMBER Guarantee on rams - Conditions apply Contact us TODAY and get access to our superior maternal and terminal genetics

Ashgrove - located in the Kaipara District north of Dargaville on some of Northlands steepest hill country.

• FE Gold Coopworths - dosing at 0.6mg for 16 years • High Fertility 150% weaning off steepest Northland hill country • Hardy If they can thrive in Northland, they’ll thrive anywhere • Great Mothers Highly indexed on NZ Maternal Worth Nationally top 20% • Worm Resistant Selected for Worm resistance and Longevity • Meaty and Fast Growing

Our philosophy • We are deeply passionate about profitable hill country farming • We build strong and lasting relationships with our partners and clients “excellence through partnership” • We believe superior genetics multiplies the profitability of farming families Sheep performance is the main driver of our farm production with a high fertility rate weaning 150% - 160% of lambs from our Coopworth commercial and stud ewes. We breed thriving, easy care, hardy FE and worm tolerant ewes. If our sheep thrive on hard Northland hill country, they will thrive anywhere!

Our Suftex rams perform on the hills & are well ranked on SIL Terminal worth.

Ashgrove is a founding member of the FE Gold group and is selecting for WormFec and longevity.

James Parsons 021 206 3208 james@ashgrovegenetics.co.nz www.ashgrovegenetics.co.nz

2th rams Very meaty • Full shedding Ideal for hogget mating • Growth rates recorded Sired by high FE & high worm resistant rams.

Phone Taihape, Charles or Greg 063887555

ON FARM SALE 27th Jan 2021 Approx 650 ewe lambs • 40 2th ewes • 300 CFA ewes

g Breeding Profitable Sheep g for over 30 y years,, • Facial eczema testing so all you need to focus on are the traits that make you money

• 2019 Sires average 2654 for New Zealand

Maternal Worth NZMW, top 10%

• All hoggets mated. No Waimai

Romney ewes drenched.

WormFec Gold accredited

ELITE RAM SALE We will also be using an online auction platform this year

bidr.co.nz

On-site 841 Waimai Valley Rd Thursday 5 November, 1pm and also by private treaty ALASTAIR REEVES +64 (0) 7 825 4925 waimairomney@gmail.com waimairomney.co.nz

17

MANY FARMERS STILL STUCK ON

CONNECTIVITY SLOW LANE offering unlimited plans to these rural clients,” Andrew said.

Mobile coverage remains a concern, with around one in three farms surveyed indicating only up to 50% of their farm gets a connection. Not far short of a quarter get 25% of farm coverage or less.

“And yet 92% of these farmers had a smartphone, and around 75% told us they use smartphone apps to support the farm business,” Andrew said.

While in many of the connectivity measures there have been improvements since the Feds’ 2019 survey, it’s usually only by a percent or two.

“The task ahead is less one of pushing broadband into ever more isolated and remote locations and more one of addressing the gaps in coverage and constraints on capacity of earlier builds.

More targeted investment towards bespoke builds would go a long way towards addressing connection speed and reliability concerns,” Andrew said.

“Competition is a concern with many members finding they only have the one provider and have to take it or leave it as regards price and quality of service.

“We’ve got to achieve faster improvements in this space.”

Many of the new technologies employed on farms, whether cloud software or smartphone applications, require

“Connectivity is a vital means of connecting with loved ones and maintaining relationships beyond the farm gate. This is especially relevant for the families of those who work on the farm that would otherwise struggle with geographical isolation, and is a factor in securing and retaining farm staff and their families,” Andrew said.

Federated Farmers 22 September, 2020

connectivity to realise and maximise the benefits of their use to the farm business.

Farmers are also increasingly expected to engage electronically with business services and government agencies, such as banks, IRD and local councils. And, just like urban families, the farm owner’s home – and the on-farm houses of staff – have partners and children trying to get on-line to look up information, do homework and engage in social media.

Raupuha Studs Where every day is an open day

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he vast majority of urban New Zealanders can get on the information superhighway at speed but the latest connectivity survey by Federated Farmers shows too many rural families and businesses are still stuck in second gear on a potholed back-road.

“We had nearly 900 responses from our members from every farm type and geographical spread but a bitter irony was that several more couldn’t complete the on-line questions because they didn’t have internet access or connectivity was too patchy or slow,” Federated Farmers President and telecommunications spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said.

Around 68% of respondents have download speeds of 20Mbps or less, and nearly 24% are enduring download speeds of just 0-5Mbps.

“While around a third are on unlimited download monthly plans, many of those on capped plans complain they’d like to go unlimited but their ISP – often their only choice of ISP – doesn’t provide that option.

“It’s interesting that a number of respondents told us that during the level 4 COVID-19 lockdown some providers extended unlimited downloads to them.

This would seem to indicate it’s not technical issues getting in the way of

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ROMDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

Please enquire for more info

MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR:

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

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NZ Maternal Worth + Facial Eczema (MW+X)

18

AN UNDERESTIMATED

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 seen a substantial increase in ram sales since 2016 and have maintained their 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 550 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 of building up to 550 ewes plus replacements has been achieved. 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.

Since establishment they’ve had considerable interest in clients wanting

them to breed a Suftex ram. So this year they mated 140 mixed age Texel ewes to two Suffolk rams and the rams will be sold in 2021.

The stud grazes within a flock of 2,3002400 mixed age commercial ewes and will be lambing 550 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 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

FEED SYSTEMS SINCE 1962

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0800 901 902

20

SUSTAINING THE FUTURE OF THE FARMING

INDUSTRY

T

he Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust is located an hour’s drive inland from Gisborne and is home to 10 young cadets.

It was originally established in 2007 as a Registered Charitable Trust by members of a local discussion group who could see the dire need for high quality skills training of young people to operate in challenging hill country environments, while also developing skills in agriculture business management.

Waipaoa’s training is based around the core values of self-disciple, attitude and teamwork. Both practical and theoretical components are integrated into their programs, with trainees studying toward National Certificate Level 3 and 4 qualifications while experiencing the annual farm cycle on Waipaoa Station first hand. Cadets live-in full time, cared for and supported by two full time staff members, the General Manager, Robyn Toon and the long term Cook and Pastoral Carer, Tina Takarua.

The quality farm staff of Waipaoa Station are extremely passionate about teaching cadets and passing on their knowledge gained through experience. The newly appointed Waipaoa Station Manager Shaun Littleworth brings with him an adept ability to motivate and encourage young people.

Cadets participate in fencing, shearing and dog trial competitions locally, in

Central Hawke’s Bay and at the Golden Shears. The rural isolation can be a challenge for young people, especially given that there is no cell phone coverage but surprisingly the cadets adapt very quickly to enjoying life with more traditional values. Team sports are encouraged and many cadets play rugby, netball or hockey.

Interest in the training program is robust with 40 applicants for only five places each year. After two years they enter the industry as seriously capable and skilled young farm hands. Feedback from employers is very positive. Cadets that are trained at Waipaoa are well rounded, motivated individuals who have an excellent grounding in a wide range of skills. They are ‘Work Ready’ and will add value to their employers business from day one. Recent world events have indicated the agriculture Industry is a vital component of the nation’s economic sustainability. Conjoined with the identified gap in the industry of skilled young people it is imperative that we succeed in ensuring our training program continues.

We are very dependent upon the goodwill of our sponsors. It’s only with their support and their investment in the future of our young people that we can contribute to the future of sustaining the farming industry with a skilled, healthy and educated workforce.

WAIPAOA STATION FARM CADET TRAINING TRUST

Waikoau Wiltshires

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.

Ram hoggets pictured at 11 months, will be completely moulted by midsummer.

Commercially farmed on the hard dry hills of Tutira, a flock of about 200 ewes. 20 years of selection for complete shedding, teeth, toes, capacity, hams, fecundity and temperament.

The ewe hoggets get no help from weaning until tupping at 18 months. They are hardy. Not usually mated but in 2019 got 70% from 3 weeks tupping.

Our sheep are not micromanaged. They wean between 145 and 175% lambs per ewe to the ram.

Visit www.waipaoa.co.nz or email Robyn Toon trainingmanager@waipaoa.co.nz

Lambs are born small and active with a serious determination to live. Ideal for hogget mating.

They cost virtually nothing to keep. There is no work involved maintaining the health and wellbeing of the flock.

Ram hoggets, ewe hoggets & lambs usually available.

Contact Sheryle Harison, 06 8397494 or email waikoau@waspnet.co.nz

21

TAX PLANNING OPTIONS

By Neil Ivamy, MCI & Associa Associates

D

ue to the changingg economic climate during the last six months or so (the drought and Covid 19 being two of the major factors influencin ng this) it is likely that most sheep farmerss will experience a drop in income for th heir 2020 financial year. This may be an opportunity to nning options: consider some tax plan Income Equalisation Withdrawal – if you currently havve funds in the Income Equalisation Scheme you may wish to consider withdrawing some or all of th he deposit to take advantage of lower tax rates in 2020 if you have had a substantiial drop in income – this option is available up until the date that your 2020 taax return is filed with IR RD. 2020 financial year tax losses – iff you have unfortunately incurred a loss for tax purposes in the 2020 financial year, IRD has implemented a loss heme for the 2020 carry back sch and 2021 yearrs where this loss is able to be offset against income in the previous tax year. This may result in a refund of taax previously paid

& assist in cash flow management for your business.

National Average Market Values (Herd Values) for livestock – Your livestock will be valued either under the NSC (National Standard Cost) or Herd (National Average Market Value) schemes for tax purposes. These values are calculated by IRD and released each year.

After four years of increasing values, 2020 has seen a decline in herd scheme values with an 18% average drop for sheep. Beef herd scheme values have also decreased by approx. 20-25%.

A two-tooth ewe is now valued at $177 compared to $214 in 2019, hogget’s have dropped by a similar percentage to $108 for ewe hogget’s & $105 for ram/ wether hogget’s. Ewes have dropped by approximately $35 to $156 for MA ewes & $128 for 5/6yr ewes.

This presents an opportunity to consider your livestock election choices. You may wish to consider moving stock currently valued on the NSC scheme to the Herd scheme in the 2020 income year to take advantage of the herd scheme benefits. Any increase in future value of livestock valued on the herd scheme for tax purposes is non- taxable. This option may be worthwhile considering if you are looking

at exiting farming in the short to medium term, or are considering your succession options.

We recommend that you contact your accountant to discuss how these options may apply to you and benefit your business.

Neil is a partner of MCI & Associates.

He has over 25 years’ experience in management and accounting and has held management and senior positions in a number of practices around the region dealing with commercial and farming clients.

Neil has a rural background and has worked on farms and operated a family business for more than 10 years.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. The information and opinions published should not be a substitute for accounting advice.

No liability is assumed by the author, MCI & Associates or the publisher for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on this article.

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

22

PROGRESSIVE FENCING

THE FUTURE

W

hen Waikato farmer Jerome Wenzlick went fencing one day, he wasn’t expecting it would change his life forever.

“It’s a relatively new story but it’s got old pretty quickly, to me anyway” jokes Wenzlick, reflecting on events when asked for the umpteenth time. He was fencing around an old landfill site, wooden posts were breaking hitting buried plastic and he wondered if the robustness of waste plastic could be turned into something useful, like a fence post perhaps.

Fast forward several years later, a whole lot of kiwi ingenuity, trial and error,

THE WAY OF

sleepless nights and exciting progress to the company known as “Future Post” currently operating out of Waiuku.

Recycling problematic waste plastics that New Zealand doesn’t have any other major outlets for and turning it into a fence post harnesses the strength, flexibility and no rot longevity features of plastic and places it back into the ground but in a brilliantly useful way.

“There’s been a steady increase of interest from farmers looking for new ways to enhance their environmental impact and embrace new product technologies. It’s

something modern day farming encourages people to think about, “ says Wenzlick.

“Things like our Bio-Gro status and being listed as a preferred supplier to DOC give people confidence. The obvious usefulness of Future Post around waterways projects and organic farms because there’s no rotting or CCA leaching, combined with competitive pricing, it’s a no brainer.”

As a professional fencer himself, Jerome recognises there are some differences in technique and use of these plastic posts however progressive fencers and farmers around the country have been quick to catch on.

“You can post-ram them, you can staple them, you can hang a gate off them. They never need painting for smart feature fencing and are great around crib-biting stock. There have been a lot of other uses discovered we never even thought of,” he muses. Boat rests, car park stops and garden edging to name a few.

If you are interested in supporting NZ innovation and our environment at the same time, Future Post offer a very viable option both price and performance wise, plus it’s a truly great Kiwi yarn to tell in years to come. www.futurepost.co.nz

The Mount Albert Grammer School Farm and Experience Centre where they encourage environmental and sustainable practices. The school has been using Future Posts around their general farm fencing, stream restoration and native planting projects.

PREDICTABLE PROFITABLE PERFORMANCE GENETICS

ROMNEY 2TH RAMS

BORDER LEICESTER 2TH RAMS

ROMNEY Est. 1962 & BORDER LEICESTER Est. 1958

CONSTITUTION, GROWTH, MEAT, FERTILITY, LONGEVITY AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TOP QUALITY WOOL Alistair & Eileen McWilliam Ph 06 372 7861 www.tetaumata.co.nz Like us on Facebook

Te Taumata Genetics

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

industry leaders in FE, Worm Tolerance and MZMW

628 Pakaraka Road, RD2 Tirau Ross Alexander: Mob: 0272 220 247 email: rossco628@gmail.com Lloyd Alexander: Ph: (06) 762 5834 email: damperfarm2@gmail.com

Dargaville

Alexander Farming Genetics Ltd.

Matamata

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

ARDG Breeder Locations

Kaukapakapa Maramarua

Tirau

Mt Damper

Marchant Farms Trust

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

Glenbrook Ltd.

Adrian & Jenny Savannah Glenbrook, RD3 Kaukapakapa Ph: (09) 427 6393 • email: ajsavvy@xtra.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 / kereru_station@xtra.co.nz

www.ardg.co.nz d

IP

TRY LEAD

Supplying Elite Romney Genetics to Ram Breeders & Commercial Farmers

R J Alexander & Co Ltd.

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Paparata Meeting the FE Challenge “The liver damage associated with FE results in production losses that are much greater than may first appear. Even when no symptoms are visible FE can reduce lifetime productivity by up to 25 percent. Breeding for increased tolerance to FE should be your first line of defence.�

Sourced from Beef and Lamb resource book 'Facing Up to Facial Eczema' Building FE Tolerance Dose (mg/kg)

Paparata's Response:

FE testing for 21 years First test dose rate .13 Now testing at dose rate .5 Target dose rate .6

Other Breeding Focuses: Fertility: Normal year scanning 180% plus Hogget lambing since 2000 Lamb Growth: Achieving 300g/ day

www.paparata.co.nz 32nd Annual Ram Sale

All Rams

on farm, Tatu Ohura, Thursday 19th November, 2020

FE INDEX

Catalogues mailed to past buyers and available on website Top 150 rams available at sale so you get top pick.

Next cut available for paddock sale..

sold with a

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