Merino Review 2023 by CountryWide Media

From the NZ Stud Merino Breeders Society

B BL LA A II R R II C CH HM ME ER R II N NO O & P O L L M E R I N O & POLL MERINOS S

BALANCED BALANCED GENETICS GENETICS POLL MERINOS •• 650 STUD EWES •• 18.5 MICRON POLL MERINOS 650 STUD EWES 18.5 MICRON 127% lambing (10 year average) 127% lambing (10 year average) Heavy cutting, superior, white waterproof wools Heavy cutting, superior, white waterproof wools Conformation, Constitution, Profitable Conformation, Constitution, Profitable

Merino Review 2023

Contents 6

Diversification at Balmoral Station paves the way

Shepherd Kate Campbell quenches her thirst for knowledge

14 20 22 24 28 34 36 38 40 43 45 46 49 50 50

Finewool growers follow the wool offshore Marlborough’s two-tooth challenge

How the Griggs took Tempello to the top Perfection at Awapiri Station

Breaking through, staying true at Matarae Station

Maryburn retains Mackenzie-Waitaki two-tooth title Crossing generations: The Merino industry creators Make the most of your clip in the market Data shines with Five Star assurance

Merino wool a gamechanger for newborns

Well-styled wool crucial to garment quality Hand-held tool to measure micron

Recognising Breeders Society life members Merino Awards dinner 2023 Merino breeder directory

Image: Devold New Zealand

Merino Review 2023

Entries from the annual Otago Merino Association photo competition: Top: By Captured Moments Photography, Elle Keys. Above: By Anna Munro.

Welcome to our 5th edition of Merino Review, SINCE LAST YEAR WE HAVE SEEN costs continue to escalate, and real pressure come on some commodity prices, with the shining light being the forward wool contracts many growers are lucky enough to have. These contracts have come about not only from the good work of our brokers, but because of the exceptional quality of the New Zealand Merino clip and the reputation it has built over many years of dedicated breeding. Some commentary is going around that there should be less emphasis on style, character, and that traits such as comfort factor aren’t important. This is short-sighted and potentially damaging to the industry. All the things we have traditionally bred for in terms of wool quality still have an impact on the quality of the product we produce. If we turn our back on that we risk ending up in the same situation as our

crossbred wool farming friends. Yes, we need to continue to make gains in other traits, particularly in terms of animal welfare and reproduction – and we need people to think outside the box – but front and centre should be the fact we produce the world’s best Merino fibre. We want to maintain that. This year we are able to acknowledge a couple of legends in the industry with Life Memberships to the New Zealand Merino Stud Breeders Association. It was a privilege to present these to Ian Stevenson and Robbie Gibson, two breeders I have a huge amount of respect for and who thoroughly deserve the recognition.

Simon Paterson

Chairman, The NZ Stud Merino Breeders Society.

PUBLISHER Merino Review is published by CountryWide Media Limited on behalf of the NZ Stud Merino Breeders Society.

New Zealand Stud Merino Breeders Society

CONTRIBUTORS Victoria Rutherford Joanna Grigg Rebecca Greaves Anna Munro ADVERTISING David Paterson david@countrywidemedia.co.nz ON THE COVER An all too familiar sight in the wool shed. Image: Devold New Zealand.

John Williams OAM

he NZ Stud Merino Breeders Society wishes to acknowledge the passing of John Williams, the most leading and successful Merino sheep classer from the mid 1970s until he retired in 2016. The Manderley flock commenced around 1925 and the Manderley Stud was in 1955 founded by John's grandfather and father. John worked alongside his father on the family farm, before becoming the owner and manager of Manderley Merino Stud from 1969 - 1979. ln 1969, he founded a new Merino family called Purple Manderley, developed through a breeding programme that crossed Tom Culley’s Wonga Stud ewes, well-known for their size and growing ability, with rams from Koonwarra’s Uniform family, whose special traits were waterproof, white wool, particularly appropriate to high rainfall areas. The Purple Manderley family have been by far the most successful and dominant strain of Merino sheep ever since, with most of the sheep from ultrafine to strong wool Merino studs being heavily influenced and improved by including this bloodline into their breeding programmes. In modern Merino Review 2023

times, they have developed into dual purpose sheep with a soft, well-nourished fibre that can handle high rainfall areas. John's influence within the industry heightened when he became a sheep classer. Ahead of his time, he was picking wool growing skins that were soft, rich and had the ability to cut a lot of wool. He had a great gift for selecting good breeding stock for profitability and a phenomenal memory for a sheep’s background, genetics and instant recall of past progeny and how those genetics could cross in a positive way with other bloodlines. He encouraged vision, teamwork and cooperation between studs. Between 1979 and 2016 he classed at major studs across Australia and New Zealand. These studs consistently dominated at every major sheep show. In 2021 he was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OMA) in recognition of his outstanding service to the Merino wool industry. His knowledge and practices will be shared and continued for decades to come. John was a mentor to many with his vast knowledge, experience and strong convictions. 5

Merino Review 2023

Onfarm

Diversification paves the way On Balmoral Station, the Simpson family have wholeheartedly embraced diversification. Victoria Rutherford talks to Farm Manager Sam Simpson about the many and varied roads they’ve taken to ensure the viability of their farming operation.

arming in the harsh climate of the Mackenzie Basin is not for the faint of heart, and it’s an exercise Sam Simpson likens to ‘farming in a fishbowl’. But diversifying for future generations and ensuring they’ve got a robust business is a big driver for the family. Balmoral lies on the western shore of Lake Tekapo and includes Mt John and tussock grasslands around Lakes Alexandrina and McGregor, extending up the Braemar Road where the homestead is located. It was purchased in 1975 and farmed by Sam’s parents Andrew and Karen, who are now semi-retired, while Andrew’s brother Rex retained the family property Mt Hay. Three years ago, they purchased a half-share of Mt Hay plus the stock and plant from family, and Sam and the team now run the two properties together. Sam and wife Sarah live at the homestead along with their two children, Will (6) and Tessa (3). Diversification is a big part of their wider off-farm story with Tekapo a hub for both national and international tourism. With rising costs and red tape making farm profitability increasingly difficult, it’s aided their ability to further develop the farm with irrigation, forestry and to invest in the environmental sustainability initiatives the family are passionate about. Diversification was also about bringing other family members into the business and securing it as an asset. Twenty years ago Andrew and Karen saw the opportunity to branch into residential property in the nearby Tekapo township. They now have an advisory board that oversees the entire operation and includes all family members.

Merino Review 2023

Above: The target is big, white, growthy wool on both stations. Opposite page: The tarns on Balmoral are areas of natural habitat regeneration. Below: Wool quality is paramount at Balmoral and Mt Hay.

In addition to the residential lots, which have all been sold, there is the Cairns Alpine Resort including accommodation in the historic Mt John homestead, six new high-spec, twobedroom musterer hut-style units, a golf course and an animal petting zoo. Mackenzie Alpine Horses is run by Sam’s wife Sarah, while Silver River Stargazing and Farm Tours are run by Sam’s sister Amanda and her partner Steve. Covid-19 was a real eye-opener, Sam said, but was a clear example of why they’ve diversified in the past. With the return of tourists, the ventures are gaining traction again. “We need to look at expanding on those [overarching family businesses] 8

Merino Review 2023

that drive the cash flow, that's our focus. Unfortunately, some of the farming stuff is just getting put to the side at the moment because it's in the too-hard basket with bureaucracy. We need to focus on the things that we can actually achieve.”

In pursuit of quality wool The farming side of Balmoral has undergone development of its own, notably the installation of pivot irrigation which allows them to finish stock onfarm and no longer be at the mercy of the store market. Merino wool is still an integral part of the business, with 3000 breeding ewes including 400 stud animals. Rams are bred on Balmoral for both properties and they also supply rams to Mount Arrowsmith. It’s a closed flock and they AI with semen from Australia every second year.

Merino Review 2023

Sam’s targeting big, white, growthy wool and robust animals. “We finish all our own stock under our pivot irrigator system, so they’ve got to have a good frame and stand up well on their feet.” He’s introduced poll rams into the stud with the aim of finishing progeny quicker, but what remains paramount is the wool quality. As suppliers to Norwegian garment manufacturer Devold, the wool specifications are specific to ensure quality manufacturing. They’ve been supplying Devold for five years, and Sam appreciates their drive to be the ‘wool experts’. “That's why we quite like Devold and their morals, they don't compromise, and it’s knowing they are producing quality products, because your name's attached at the end.” Quality means long, sound wool, and

this has led Sam to length and strength test all the stud ram and ewe hoggets. “The goal is over time to get better feeding and consistency of feeding, but also remove those animals with genetically low strengths and we should notice some differences going forward. “The more we can get into the Devold contract, the better, as it’s well ahead of the market this year.” Anything under 38 newtons in strength gets culled. Wool needs to be at least 85mm long, and there are bonuses for length over 95mm. Mt Hay hit a bonus contract this year, gaining a $2 premium per kg above the contract price for a line that was 106mm and 50 newtons, which is very sound. “Brian at Mt Hay is a very good stock manager, and he was able to hit that with one line of wool. That was awesome because it's pretty hard to do,” Sam said. They finish their beef and lambs on

Merino Review 2023

Sam Simpson with daughter Tessa (3) and son Will (6, right), and nephew Fletcher Berge (9). Left: Wintry views from Mt John across Balmoral country to Lake Alexandrina.

the 270-hectare irrigated block which is managed by Hayden Duffell. They run 200 Angus and Hereford cows with bulls from Stern Angus, keeping replacements and fattening the rest for Silver Fern Farms. Cattle work well in their system and Sam said they’re looking to build numbers. “The progeny seem to finish well, and Hayden is getting them up to decent weights. Some of the heavier ones are 600kg plus - so over 300kg on the hook, which is pretty good for the first line to go.” The wether lambs are also finished on the pivot and all the supplementary feed for Mt Hay. Drench resistance is something they’ve become more aware of under the pivot system, and they are looking to put new crops in with high tannins for hay, to help supplement worm issues naturally. “[Irrigation] has made a huge difference. It's a big cost, don't get me wrong - but it means we can finish all our animals, rather than send them store at the Tekapo sale. I remember the days of getting $35 for a lamb… and lamb prices aren't that flash this year, even at the works, but you're still higher over Merino Review 2023

the years as an average.” They try to trim costs where they can, but anything under irrigation doesn't get compromised because that's the ‘engine room’. “On the dryland side of it, we are pulling back on where we can. And especially if it's going to be a dry year, you want to be applying the [fertiliser] under the water.” Continuous improvement is not without resistance, especially given the ecologically and environmentally significant landscape they farm. More time than he’d like is taken navigating bureaucracy, which is a reality of high country farming. For the past three years they have been working on a 100ha solar farm on Balmoral which will potentially contribute 88 megawatts to the grid. “It’s some of the best solar radiance in New Zealand here, and while it would benefit us and our diversification onfarm, there’s a bigger benefit to New Zealand. We are going to have a shortage of power coming up and there's going to be major issues in this country unless we get a bit snappy around more power development.” 11

Top: Will and Tessa Simpson with cousin Fletcher. Above: The Cairns golf course has a ‘jewel in the crown’ view overlooking Lake Tekapo.

It’s taken a lot of time, consultation with stakeholders, engineers, local iwi and hearings. “We're really proud of the process we went through,” he said. Alongside renewable energy consultants Infratec, they worked closely with planners Boffa Miskell, ecologists, landscape architects and iwi, keeping them informed. Infratec has driven the technical planning of the solar development, along 12

with Balmoral’s general manager, Andy Perry, and the wider Simpson family. They are due to hear the outcome on the council decision in November. Pest control remains an ongoing cost, however Sam said the predator control Te Manahuna Aoraki conservation programme, a partnership between Te Manahuna, farmers, DOC and iwi, has made some solid inroads on the Predator Free 2050 work. On Mt Hay they are starting to get on top of rabbits after

three years’ work, but ‘you can't take your foot off the pedal’. Sam’s parents Andrew and Karen have maintained a keen interest in biodiversity and forestry on the property. Professor David Norton has developed a Whole Farm Property Management plan and Integrated Farm Management plan which has land management units within it. These include 10 by 10 plots that act as photo points to measure progress and change. They plant up to 30,000 low-spread hybrid pines a year, and forestry will play an important part in their carbon story. The consented forestry block is 900ha and extends between Tekapo and Pukaki. “We are proud to be carbon-positive. We plan to measure how positive in the future, but we think it could potentially be as much as four times.” The battle against wilding pines is ongoing. Despite all the hard work to date, Sam worries that with funding drying up, wildings will tighten their grip again. Like many landowners in the Mackenzie, the Simpson family are advocating to ensure the issue remains under the noses of officials. “I hope they can get some more funding. It just seems such a shame to have got so far… what they've done will just get swallowed into the big cosmos, and in 10 years' time, it'll be horrific.” The Simpsons remain focused on diversifying to ensure they can manage the land they love sustainably. Other avenues include more farm tourism. “I think the next few years will be a little bit of consolidation and then perhaps just maybe expanding on the tourism side of the business to try and grow some cash flow with the high costs associated with the farm. “We've just got to do the best with what we've got and try and tap into some of these other things that have potentially better momentum, i.e., nailing the solar down and making sure we're raising the bar on farm to maximise the return that’s there.” Merino Review 2023

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International

Devold grower group at the Devold mill in Lithuania. Photo supplied.

Finewool growers follow wool offshore

iving growers the opportunity to follow their wool from farm to fashion is an important part of Devold New Zealand’s ethos. From humble beginnings knitting wool jerseys for fishermen, the 170-yearold Norwegian company is unique in the way it’s vertically integrated. This means there are only two owners of the wool end-to-end – the growers and Devold. In June, Devold New Zealand manager Craig ‘Smithy’ Smith led a 17-strong grower group to Europe to follow their wool through the manufacturing process and gain insights into the consumer market. “It’s so important for grower families to see the wool they put their heart and soul into growing for 12 months going into quality garments,” Smithy said. “We can show them where their wool goes and why quality is important through the process.” Today Devold have evolved to supply a burgeoning European outdoor market. 14

They batch-process wool from specific growers through their mill in Lithuania, and garments are swing-tagged with the origin story of the wool and the family who supplies it. About 10 tonnes of wool equates to 30,000 garments. A stop at an outdoor trade show in Munich, Germany, gave growers a chance to view the new season Devold product, something supplier and Balmoral Station farmer Sam Simpson described as a real eye-opener. “What blew me away was just the amount of competition in the outdoor clothing space over there. You can see why Devold has to be the wool expert - you have to carve out a niche because the competition's massive.” Devold’s newly developed 100% wool cycling top picked up an award at the show, a magic moment for both growers and the Devold team. Devold also invited international reporters to speak directly to growers and gain insight into farming practices.

“Reporters hearing directly from farmers about what happens on farm was magic for them,” Smithy said. “There was no question we wouldn’t answer – mulesing came up, land use environmental issues, and the farmers were just open with them.” They headed to Lithuania to view the manufacturing process from yarn to boxed garments, then to Devold’s head office in Norway where they met with the CEO. Growers were also treated to a Norwegian Fjord experience courtesy of Devold’s owners. In September growers returned the favour, hosting Devold leadership team members on their properties in Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago. Sam said he finds the relationship with Devold and their commitment to quality and understanding the raw product refreshing. “They appreciate what we do, and we appreciate what they do. There's a mutual respect.” Merino Review 2023

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Merino Review 2023

Profile

Quenching the thirst for knowledge A young shepherd is soaking up experience with Merinos on Canterbury and Otago high country properties. By Victoria Rutherford. Photos by Anna Munro.

LOVE OF THE LAND AND learning are two things that drive 23-year-old Canterbury shepherd Kate Campbell. She’s blazed her way through the Merino junior judging scene, taking out the 2023 national title at the Central Otago A&P Show in March this year after winning the Central Otago regional competition in 2022 and 2023. This year was her first crack at the national title, as Covid-19 the previous year prevented the A&P show and national competition from going ahead. Contestants are asked to judge the phenotype of the sheep, inspect the feet and testicles, place them in order and then present verbal reasoning for the placement of the animals. They are also marked on their presentation and handling of the sheep. Merino Review 2023

Judging

‘I just love getting out in the country that we are so lucky to be able to work in, being with my wee team of dogs, meeting all these really cool people.’

Top: Kate Campbell competes in the 2023 National Merino Judging Competition at Central Otago A&P Show in Wānaka. Above: Kate with her partner and second placegetter Ben Harmer (right) and Simon Paterson of Armidale Merino Stud. Opposite page: Kate at work with her dogs on Mt Arrowsmith Station, Canterbury.

Merino Review 2023

“The sheep-handling side of it is quite nice, but when you are talking it is quite nerve-wracking,” Kate said. Close on her heels in the judging competition was Kate’s partner, Ben Harmer. Luckily the rivalry is friendly. “He still did really well and he was supportive and happy,” she said. “He got second so he was pretty stoked.” The couple were both heavily involved with the Maniototo Young Farmers Club, where Kate was treasurer and Ben vice-chair. They competed in both the district and regional Young Farmer of the Year competition for Otago/ Southland in 2022, and Kate was the only female competitor in the regional final. She grew up on a lifestyle block in West Eyreton, North Canterbury, where her family ran sheep and cattle. She took agriculture classes at Rangiora High School and started showing cattle, then it was on to Lincoln University to complete a Bachelor of Agriculture. Her interest in Merinos was piqued after working on high country stations, but it was the move to the Paterson family’s Armidale Merino Stud in the Maniototo, Central Otago, that really cemented Kate’s love for the fine wool industry. “Simon and Allan [Paterson] were great to learn from, and it was probably there where my passion for it grew.” Kate and Ben spent two years at Armidale, and Simon is quick to sing the couple’s praises, calling them ‘super shepherds’. 17

A move to Armidale Merino Stud in Central Otago cemented Kate’s love for the fine wool industry.

“I spent a lot of time with Kate on the stud stuff and she picked it up really quickly,” he says. “I had never let anyone use the computer or do the recording until Kate came along, but I fully trusted her with the recording and even the scoring.” He praised Kate’s natural eye for stock. “She generally knows what will work, what won’t and why, and she was able to form her own opinion.” Kate and Ben left Armidale early 2023 to return to Canterbury, and Kate has been doing casual work on several stations in the area including Ben’s family property Castleridge, Mt Arrowsmith and Erewhon. “I just love getting out in the country that we are so lucky to be able to work in, being with my wee team of dogs, meeting all these really cool people,” 18

Kate said. “I love learning, so being able to learn from them all is really exciting. “My favourite time of the year is getting out on autumn musters. It’s such a wicked experience!” Kate also maintains an interest in cattle and Merino genetics and is completing the Generation Next programme through Beef + Lamb New Zealand. She’s also completing her certificate in wool technology and classing through the Southland Institute of Technology. “I started classing this year, so I did a week at Castleridge and then went to Glenaan in the Rakaia Gorge where Ben is working. “Dave Carr was classing at Glenaan, so I went and worked next to him for a day which was really good,” she said. “Hopefully once I get my stencil

I can do a bit more.” A few younger classers were coming through, but she believes you can’t beat the opportunity to learn from experience by working with the stalwarts of the industry. “They are so good to learn from because they have so much knowledge, and then if you are lucky enough you might get one of their sheds when they retire.” Meanwhile, Kate will continue to work casually until she finds an opportunity that offers the responsibility she’s looking for. The couple are also interested in investigating the Australian Merino stud industry at some stage. “Until then I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing – getting out there in the hills with the stock and dogs, and great company.” Merino Review 2023

Merino Review 2023

Two-tooth competition

Marlborough Merino Ewe Flock Competition 2023 Seven stations entered two-tooths in the Marlborough Merino Association Ewe Flock Competition for 2023. All flocks were from the Awatere River catchment this year. The event also included the Marlborough Stud Tour. Simon Paterson, one of the judges, said he is very happy to be a judge for this type of competition and sees a place for a visual assessment of Merinos, in a mob situation. “Visual always comes first, then data should back it up.” “Having a collective mob view gives you a good idea of the characteristics of that particular line of sheep.” First place overall went to commercial growers David and Jo Grigg, Tempello, who also won the best confirmation and best wool quality sections. Second was Awapiri, Eric and Sally Smith, and third was Muller Station, owned by the Satterthwaite family. Muller won the wool quantity section. The higher rainfall winter had put pressure on wool quality. Judge Simon Paterson said the Tempello sheep were a uniform flock with excellent wool quality and structure, and body condition. Judge Mark Urquhart said the wool was white and bright, and the confirmation was great.

Merino Review 2023

Opposite page: Judges Simon Paterson (left) and Mark Urquhart. Opposite page, below: Tempello Merino wool is 17.5 to 17.7 microns and replacements are selected on wool colour and definition of staple. This page clockwise from right: Sam and Lou Westenra and family; Robin, Ainslie and Marcia Green; Most improved flock went to Glen Orkney, Simon (left) and Tom Harvey; Sam Westenra, Caroline Houghton, Harriet Partridge. Photos by Jessica Jones.

Merino Review 2023

Profile

Taking Tempello to the top Jo Grigg gives a run-down of Merinos at Tempello, Marlborough, farmed by David and herself. TEMPELLO IS A 4900-HECTARE (2300 effective) hill country property that runs over the range from the Wairau to Awatere catchments. It’s a real mix of hard hill country and improved legumebased pastures on the lower country. Our neighbour to the east runs Longdown composite sheep while our neighbour to the west runs Merinos. We decided to put our money both ways. On our best country, we run a Corriedale flock and B-mob Merino flock to a terminal sire. The A mob of 1200 Merino ewes are run on the drier extensive country (behind the Wither Hills) which has an average rainfall of 550mm. Blocks here range from 50 to 130ha. All progeny are wintered in vineyards, returning home at 45kg. Ten percent are culled at this point and another 10% as two-tooths. We select for bright white wool, definition of staple, nourishment to the tip and a closed but free-moving fleece. Wethers still have a place on the country above 700 metres. Our 1200 mixed-age wethers graze alongside a 1600ha indigenous forest block. They are rotationally grazed across tussock and scrub country. They are shifted about six times a year and clip five kg at 17.5 microns. We winter 800 trading hoggets each year in vineyards. If there is surplus feed, we buy in six-year Merino ewes which are shorn, lambed then sent to the works. After David spent time working for 22

David Grigg, with daughter and shepherd Penny Grigg, Tempello.

Jim and Anne Murray at Glenmore Station, Tekapo, he came back to Tempello with some Merinos and an interest in fine wool. Wool quality has always been the top selection priority at Tempello – especially as the mid-micron sheep gives us exposure into the early prime lamb market. The two-tooths in the Marlborough Merino Association competition were bred from Blairich sires. Sires are selected on visual assessment as well as breeding values (fibre diameter, wool quality, fleece weight - in that order). In 2022, the hoggets clipped 3.9kg/head of 17.4 micron wool, excluding pieces. The flock has a finer Saxon-influenced end, which can attract good premiums when classed out. Adult micron ranges from 17.5 to 17.7. In 2022 the Merino-toMerino mob lambed 97% (ewes joined to lambs weaned) and we have been gradually lifting lambing percentage. Merino ewes are drenched twice a year

and we monitor drench effectiveness with follow-up Faecal Egg Counts. Corriedale ewes are drenched once/year. Having a 60:40 cattle/sheep ratio helps with parasite management. All sheep are plunge-dipped annually, as we have 17 neighbouring blocks/farms on the boundary that can hold stock. Fungal toxins on pasture are a thing in Marlborough now and facial eczema spore counts are done in summer. There are limited genetic solutions to facial eczema in the fine wool world at the moment. Tempello was first RWS accredited in 2022 and supplies wool to a range of buyers (some contracted). Staff and family really like to wear Merino clothing. We put our Tempello brand on garments from The Wool Company store, that were created from wool grown here. Our wool is shorn by Billy O’Leary Shearing and David has an Owner Classer F stencil. Merino Review 2023

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Merino Review 2023

Onfarm

Awapiri perfection The perfect sheep for Marlborough’s Awapiri Station is medium-framed, not too rangy, and with really robust feet in the presence of footrot. Joanna Grigg reports.

OOL SALES ARE THE bulk of Awapiri Station’s income and get the lion’s share of Eric and Sally Smith’s attention. Their Merino stud produces rams for their own flock and offers fine wool genetics to clients. In 2022, the commercial hoggets clipped 3.7 kilograms (kg) of 17 micron wool. The stud, started in 1975 by Sally’s parents Graham and Bev Black, has most recently been influenced by Glenmore genetics. Awapiri’s ram breeding programme aims to create the best ram for use over Awapiri ewes. Eric describes this perfect sheep as medium-framed, not too rangy as they have to walk a long way, and with really robust feet in the presence of footrot. As a helpful bonus, the Smiths have a committed group of farmers who also seek this type of sheep. “Ram sales help pay for the EID and foot scoring costs,” Eric said. Eric and Sally have farmed Awapiri since 2012. In winter they were joined by son Alex, and fiancé Bridget. This

is a step in the farm succession plan. Alex has a fencing contract business and spends half the week working at Awapiri and the rest as casual. Bridget is stock manager at The Jordan station, nearby. At Awapiri, half of the flock are wethers (1750 mixed age) and they are extremely cost effective in terms of labour. In 2019 they clipped 6.4kg of wool and grossed $84.80 per head, on average. Eric calculates they only get four weeks of labour input a year. They graze 5000ha, enclosed within the natural boundary of the Medway River and the Swale (Chalk Range). Half of it is covered with native shrubs, trees or bluffs and there are no fences. Eric and Sally ran some figures on converting the whole flock to wethers. This would have been slightly less profitable and riskier, due to the buy-in price for Merino wether lambs. “Plus, buying in wethers means we lose our own breeding for footrot resistance, which we’ve worked so hard on,” said Eric. The 1800 ewes clipped 6.6kg in 2019 and returned $82.50/head ($12.50/kg

greasy, sold on contract). This includes oddments and crutchings. The 2022 wool weight was down a bit to 5.5kg – due to the effects of ewes battling with lice. The Smiths have since moved to full-plunge dip annually. “There’s hardly any lice this year, but we’ll plunge again and knock it on the head as best we can,” Sally said. Surplus lambs are sold as light stores at weaning, or taken through winter to be heavy stores. The stud flock weaned 104% from a 120% scanning in 2022. Labour is kept in-house where possible. The Smiths do the crutching, sheep handling and mustering themselves. In 2019 they spent only $4000 on extra labour. This low-cost model is a necessity when income is largely from one source, Eric said. “It’s lower risk.” Pregnancy scanning of commercial ewes is done purely for management purposes. When wethers are mustered for shearing in late October, they have to come through some lambing blocks to get home. The Smiths scan out the firstcycle lambers and lamb them in these

FA R M FAC T S Awapiri Station, Marlborough.

Merino Review 2023

7000 hectares, from Awatere River to Chalk Range.

Almost all pastoral lease (350ha freehold).

4700 Merinos with 50% wethers, cutting 6.5kg wool.

56% income from wool, on 10-year contract.

Merino stud – 270 ewes and 150 hoggets, selling 26 ram hoggets. 25

Eric and Sally Smith on the best bit of land at Awapiri Station, which at this point was in rape and moata for Merino hoggets. These 30ha have seen the biggest investment in seed and fences and now produces balage. Below: The Smiths have had eleven years shaping this latest crop of rams. An introduction of Glenmore genetics three years ago is adding frame and style.

blocks, so they know when they have finished lambing. “This allows us to safely clear them out of the way; one of the joys of owning a long, narrow property with access issues.” The Smiths say they can see the difference in their flock after years of using the Lincoln University foot scoring test, coupled with an annual inspection of foot structure. All stud sheep retained have better than 3:3 scores. Any flock ewe with scald or footrot has a black tag and goes to a terminal sire ram. “We wouldn’t change from the Lincoln Foot score as it’s working,” Eric said. “With genetics and management, we’ve brought footrot to manageable levels. It doesn’t mean we won’t get

footrot, but it’s all so much easier.” Awapiri has supplied the NZ Merino Company (mainly the Icebreaker contracts) since 2012 and are signed to a 10-year contract. The bulk of the fleece makes the contract price, including the backs, giving a higher overall per fleece price. Sally is a qualified wool classer and oversees the clip preparation.

Chris Bowman, of Australia, has been classing Awapiri sheep for 11 years. The Smiths credit him for introducing greater length (with a shot of Wangenalla genetics) via AI in 2014. This has been followed up with Glenmore rams, Tekapo, introduced five years ago adding medium-frame genetics with attractive wool style. The Smiths have diversified into tourism with a mountain biking track. A recreation permit from DOC and consents to extend tracks through the station, will allow growth of the venture. Beau McRae, Glens of Tekoa, has purchased rams from Awapiri Stud for 40 years and says their sheep are only getting better and better. “I look for well-nourished wool and I like their density along the top, which keeps out rain and scrub.” The North Canterbury property can have high rainfall and challenging conditions for footrot. Beau said Awapiri genetics helped reduce foot issues to the point where the McRaes don’t have to trough or trim anymore. Beau also likes them for their generous frame and longer legs – to get through the rivers. Merino Review 2023

We combine EBVs with visual assessment to breed the best sheep we can. POLL MERINO The 12,000 commercial Merino ewes are weaning over 133% and clipping over 6kg of 18 micron wool.

QUARTERBRED Mating ewes as hoggets. Two-tooth ewes scanned 175% & clipped 6kg of 20.5 micron wool.

HALFBREDS The 5,000 commercial Halfbred ewes are joined to terminal rams, wean 165% & clip 6kg of 25 micron wool.

Top percentile Foot Resistance, EBVS available on Sale Rams ST RON G MOTHERIN G ABILIT Y Merino, Poll Merino, Quarterbred and Halfbred rams sold by private selection January 2024. Bill Sutherland: 027 451 0342 billsutherland.benmore@farmside.co.nz Andrew Sutherland: 027 243 8577 deidre.andrew@farmside.co.nz

www.benmorestation.co.nz BALA

Merino Review 2023

NCED TRAITS

Merino Review 2023

Onfarm

Breaking through, staying true On Matarae Station in Central Otago, Willie and Emily Jones are taking their Merino flock production to the next level while staying true to their renowned wool type. Victoria Rutherford caught up with Willie to discuss the changes, and the results.

I Matarae’s wool clip is supplied into the Italian spinners market for high-end garments.

Merino Review 2023

n the shadow of the Rock and Pillar range, the Jones family have farmed Matarae for 60 years. Willie and Emily retuned to the property in 2008 and have progressively taken over from Willie’s parents Ron and Juliet. The couple’s three sons Archie (10), Digby (8) and Hudson (6) are the third generation on Matarae. The 5500-hectare property near Middlemarch is a tale of two halves. Merinos are at home on the drier, northfacing tussock terrain characterised by its moonscape rock monoliths, while the developed, wetter country is home to a Romney flock. The Jones family have spent many years refining their Merino clip, for which they have received international recognition. Ron and Juliet established a Merino stud in 1984 with ewes from Bill Gibson’s Malvern Downs stud near Tarras. They supply wool into the Italian spinners’ market for high-end suiting and women's fashion – predominantly to textile company Reda, but also Loro Piana and on Icebreaker contract. Merino fleece yield is 4.5kg (additional 1kg oddments) at an average of 16.5 micron. 29

Matarae’s north-facing undeveloped country is drier and rocky with deep gullies, perfect for Merino.

FA R M FAC T S Matarae Station, Sutton, Otago Farm size 6000ha Property characteristics Merino country is drier, rocky and northfacing, running towards the Taieri river; Romneys on higher, wetter developed country running towards the Rock and Pillar Range Rainfall 400-500mm per annum Irrigation K-Line out of Sutton Creek (75ha) and Dead Bullock Creek (75ha) Stock wintered Stud merino, 6200 Merino ewes, 4500 Merino hoggets; 6500 x-bred Romney ewes, 1300 x-bred hoggets, 2500 quarterbred hoggets (three-quarter Merino, onequarter Romney); 200 hinds; 300 cows. 30

Running both Merino and Romney sheep capitalises on the strengths of both breeds and the features of the property, while the side-by-side comparison helps drive their continuous improvement. Willie said that there’s an age-old narrative about the fortitude of Merinos that they choose not to buy into – and they are challenging themselves to prove it onfarm. “It’s that old adage people have always had about Merinos… they always want to die, they always get footrot… we got sick of all that chat,” he said. “We don’t believe that’s the case – we run a Romney on one side of the fence and a Merino on the other. We look at the mothering ability of the Romney, and question why a Merino can’t do that. And that’s the pressure we are putting

on our stud ewes, because especially with the DNA testing, the stud ewe can’t hide… if they have scanned in twin, they are expected to rear twins.” The stud is the key to improving their Merino type and the tool for progressing their commercial Merino flock. It’s based on common Australian genetics including Maryvale and Tasmanian breeders Rokeby and Glen Stuart. They had been using New Zealand stock attributed to those bloodlines in their breeding programme, but when they started to push the flock to perform about five years ago, they realised they had hit a production stalemate. “On the Merino side of things, we were happy with the money we were receiving for the wool per kg, but frustrated with treading water on our Merino Review 2023

'On the Merino side of things, we were happy with the money we were receiving for the wool per kg but frustrated with treading water on our lambing and scanning percentages.'

Top: Willie and Emily Jones with their three sons, Archie (10), Digby (8) and Hudson (6). Above: Merino ewes (twin mob) on country running north towards Middlemarch.

Merino Review 2023

lambing and scanning percentages,” Willie said. “We tried to improve the way we feed and a few other things, but production wasn’t really increasing. Emily and I also felt we were treading water a bit, so we employed Pup (Shayne) and Racheal Houston, who’d had experience managing around the place with Merinos, to work with us and bring fresh ideas.” New blood was introduced into the flock to unlock potential. This included a Benmore ram that had some Merinotech bloodlines from Western Australia, an Earnscleugh ram with a high negative footrot tolerance, and they artificially inseminated with a Merinotech ram. “This started to give us traction, and the last couple of years we’ve been able to use our progeny as stud sires.” Working with neXtgen Agri’s genetic specialist team of Dr Mark Ferguson and Will Gibson, they’ve introduced DNA testing of stud Merinos and they’ve been correlating raw data collected onfarm into breeding values through Merino Select in Australia. Over the past five years, they’ve worked on incorporating growth, muscle and fat traits along with worm and footrot resistance. Footrot reduction in the flock has been impactful – the introduction of tolerant genetics and EBVs along with involvement in the Central Progeny Test footrot trials has led to ‘massive reductions’. Willie says the DNA testing has had tangible benefits too. “There’s a cost to it, but it takes away confusion and dramatically increases the accuracy. There’s no lying – it's catching out those wet dries and things like that in your stud.” Slowly but surely, they have started to break the production stalemate with more twin lambs in the commercial 31

Willie and Archie in the Matarae woolshed.

flock, increasing the scanning percentage from 116% to 132% over three years. The stud ewes increased incrementally over the same period from 140% to 150%, rounding out at 162% this year. “This has meant we've been able to decrease the number of stud ewes from 400 to about 320, but we're having more lambs so we can be harder on the female selection and use a smaller, better selection of stud sires.” Retaining a quality fleece remains paramount and they have been careful not to sacrifice wool weight and crimp in the pursuit of other genetic gains. “We’ve used the breeding values to stay true to our fleece type, which is a very fine crimping-type animal,” he said. “We're staying true to ourselves – we are not specifically breeding rams or chasing clients. We’re breeding the type of Merino we want to have here, and if that suits people, it suits people.” The focus is getting live lambs on the ground and ensuring survival, but Willie said they will actively monitor whether increased lamb production stagnates wool weight. Quality feed is needed to ensure they hit production targets, so they’ve been developing extensive browntop country into cocksfoot, lucerne and sub clovers. The stud ewes proving their worth as mothers remains important, especially with the Romney mothers setting the benchmark. It’s a ‘turn them out and leave them to it’ approach. “Rather than blaming [external factors] for a loss or lack of production, we’re putting the responsibility back on the sheep to produce,” he said. “Mothering ability is straight back on the ewe, so if she's scanned twins, we expect her to raise twins and scanned a single, we expect her to raise a single at a good weight.” 32

Merino Review 2023

NINE MILE P O L L

M E R I N O S

ANNUAL RAM SALE • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31ST 2024 • Superfine & Medium Genetics available CLIENT TESTIMONIALS “Mt Pisa Station runs 11000 stock units and switching to Nine Mile Genetics was a game changer for us. We went from a traditional Merino flock to a genuine dual purpose one with increased performance in all aspects. Nine Mile Polls were the first to use ASBVs and introduce carcass traits and this technology helped transform our flock.” Shane MacMillan, Mt Pisa Station “The phenotype, structure and EBVs of Nine Miles Poll ram genetics have helped us reach our on farm targets. We are now killing up to 80% of our Merino wether lambs before winter and have achieved 128 – 132% lambing over the past three years, ewes to ram weaned. Cumulatively this lift in performance has contributed significantly to our bottom line.” Gundy Anderson, Bog Roy Station

Fully Performance recorded using ASBVs since 2004 Nine Mile has two out of the top five NZ Merino Sires in the Dual Purpose Plus index.

Gordon Lucas 03 445 2885 • Justin Wilson 021 022 97527 Jayne Rive 027 566 8068

“Nine Mile Poll Merino X Cordyline Southdown lambs drafted in February averaged 19.5kg carcass as part of a terminal sire progeny testing program here at Cordyline Southdown Stud. The Nine Mile ewes were fantastic progeny testing ewes. They scanned 177% for first cycle, they had strong maternal traits, good lambing ease, milked well and the wool cheque was pretty handy as well.” Dave Robertson, Cordyline Southdowns

OFFERING RICH, BOLD WOOLS ON PRODUCTIVE BODIES WITH REAL CONSTITUTION We will be selling a selection of polled and horned rams at our sale on Wednesday 10th January, 2024 in the Haka Valley. Feel free to call Steve or Russell anytime.

RUSSELL • 03 436 0287 • 027 358 8892 STEVE • 03 685 6100 • 027 673 3248

Merino Review 2023

Martin (left) and Henry Murray (right) of Maryburn Station with their Supreme Champion Merino at Central Otago A&P Show in March this year, pictured with Devold NZ general manager Craig ‘Smithy’ Smith.

Maryburn retains MackenzieWaitaki two-tooth title BY VICTORIA RUTHERFORD

HE MURRAY FAMILY of Maryburn Station in the Mackenzie Basin have come up trumps for the third consecutive time in the 2023 Mackenzie-Waitaki Merino Two-Tooth Competition. Held in March on a four-yearly cycle, the competition has been run since the late 1980s. Mackenzie and Waitaki districts combined eight years ago, and competition secretary Will Murray from Glenmore Station, Lake Tekapo, said this had been a great success. 34

“The Mackenzie and Waitaki areas are renowned for Merino, and by combining it and having two big days visiting properties it’s got plenty of impact. It’s been really well supported, and I think it’s now the biggest two-tooth competition in the world.” Judges Ross McGauchie from Terrick West Poll Merino Stud in Victoria, Australia, and Bevin McKnight from Merino Ridges, Otago, were on a tight schedule to assess animals on 16 properties over two days.

Judges discuss management, bloodlines and breeding objectives with the owner or manager and then inspect each mob. Once scored, the judges present their opinions, and the floor is then opened for questions with the owner/manager and the judges. “The whole idea is to get some good discussion going. It is a competition but it’s also about being out there, picking up new ideas and throwing ideas around,” Will said. “The commercial sheep are the bread Merino Review 2023

Two-tooth competition

“The commercial sheep are the bread and butter of a property, they’re the ones that fill up the bales of wool and pay the bills, so it’s really good to see that side of people’s properties.”

and butter of a property, they’re the ones that fill up the bales of wool and pay the bills, so it’s really good to see that side of people’s properties.” The range of animals on show – some are run on extensive marginal country, while others are on irrigated paddocks – adds an element of real challenge for the judges. Feeding and how it expresses genetics is a notable element of the competition, something that sets winner Martin Murray and family apart. “Martin is a terrific feeder of sheep basically, and he’s got some good

genetics there,” Will said. “He’s just passionate about his sheep.” Maryburn runs roughly 6300 Merino, 1700 half-bred Merino x Border Leicester ewes, 1000 weathers and 6000 hoggets, producing 72 tonnes of wool per annum. Of the 5000 hectares of mainly flat country, 680ha is under pivot irrigation growing grass and winter feed. Average ewe fleece production is 6kg at 18.3 micron, with hoggets cutting just under 4kg at 17 micron. All wool is sold on contract with Devold. Maryburn’s polled stud was started

in 1995, based on Malvern Downs and Grays Hills bloodlines, and latterly One Oak genetics from Australia. There are 700 stud ewes, all run under irrigation. Martin said his aim is to produce good crimpy long wool and a free-growing animal – ‘the bigger the better.’ They feed as much as they can - including grain to ewes pre-tupping and hoggets during the winter. Martin’s maintained a focus on wool but recognises the importance of a dualpurpose sheep. Something that’s struck him is how even the lines are becoming in both the Mackenzie and the Waitaki. “Everyone seems to be improving at a similar rate, and I find it hard to see how the judges can separate flocks now.” Martin is handing over the competitive mantle to his sons, George and Henry. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they manage the Maryburn two-tooths into the future,” he said.

ON PROPERT Y AUC TION 25 January 2024 Inspections start from 11am Auction starts 2pm

M We take our product from farm to table, priding ourselves on both consumer reviews and the success of our ram clients. 2022 DROP SALE R AMS EBV AV ER AGES YWT

YEMD

YFAT

YCFW

YSL

DP+

9.0

1.8

1.0

23.1

20.9

0.15

182.1

Willie and Susan Macdonald middlehurstltd@outlook.com Willie 027 233 5724 Susan 027 233 5546 Henry Macdonald 027 675 7042

www.middlehurst.co.nz @middlehurststation

Merino Review 2023

Two-tooth competition results: 1 Maryburn; 2 Mt Hay; 3 Sawdon; 4 Ahuriri Downs; 5 Bog Roy. Best carcase - Sawdon Best wool - Mt Hay Most improved - Ohau

Creators

C R O S S I N G G E N E R AT I O N S Rebecca Greaves shares a snapshot into the history and origins of several of our long standing creators.

ALEX SANDERS A QUIET ACHIEVER with an exceptional eye for sheep, the late Alex Sanders had a passion for the Merino breed from a young age. Alex’s son John, who now runs Matangi Stud, says it was his grandfather John Charles (Jack) who started the stud. Along with friend Bob Jopp, Jack used to travel to Australia to buy rams. The original stud was bought by Watson Shannon and run alongside his daughter, who dispersed the stud in 1940. The Jopp family at Moutere bought half the ewes, while Jack bought the other half, and so Matangi Stud was born. “He (Alex) was keen all the way. From what I can gather, right from school days, he was there – much like me.” John says Merinos have a way of getting under your skin. His father was a true breeder, never one to push himself

forward, who preferred to let his sheep speak for themselves. Alex had a topnotch eye for a good animal. Although he showed fleeces, he wasn’t into showing the animals themselves. “He never really showed, he was probably what you would call a breeder rather than a shower. But he could look at a sheep walking across a paddock and say ‘she’s got bloody good wool on her, that ewe’ without even opening it up. He could pick out something special or a show fleece.” Alex’s core values were focused on conformation, dreamy wool, and lots of it. “The sheep had to have really good wool on it, and cut a lot, on a good conformation animal.” Along with other recognised breeders of his generation, Alex was made a life member of the Central Otago Stud Merino Association. “Dad could come out with an exceptional animal; he just had a talent for it.”

Left to right, Alex Sanders with his sons Lindon, Neil and John.

BRUCE PATERSON THE LEGACY OF the late of Armidale Merino Stud in the Maniototo, Central Otago, is being continued by grandson Simon. Bruce’s contribution to the Merino breed was immense, serving on the New Zealand Merino Stud Breeders Breed Committee from 1971-1995, including a stint as chairman. He was made a life member of the organisation in 1992. Registration for Armidale, established by Bruce’s father George, lapsed during World War II. Bruce re-registered the stud in 1954, purchasing stud ewes and rams from The Grampians in the Mackenzie Country. The main income source at Armidale came from merino wool and the sale of half-bred Romney Merino rams. The improvement of the Merino stud was Bruce’s aim and, in 1961, he took two ram and two ewe hoggets to the Canterbury A&P Show (now The New Zealand Agricultural Show), the start of a long and successful association with A&P shows. He continued to compete in the Merino section of the show until 1995, with considerable success. Armidale won the prestigious Woodchester Trophy for a group of three rams and two ewes 14 times out of 15 years entered. Merino Review 2023

Fittingly, Bruce was also made a life member and served as co-patron of the Maniototo A&P Society, and was made a life member of the New Zealand Merino Shearing Society. But sheep breeding wasn’t Bruce’s only passion. He was a capable rugby player, known for his expertise in goal kicking. He was an enthusiastic member of the Gimmerburn Rugby Club and his senior rugby career spanned 20 years. Over a lifetime of service and support for the breed he loved, Bruce’s most cherished memory was the companionship among breeders. Grandson Simon says it is special to be part of the foundations his father, Allan, and grandfather set, and build on them. “Grandad was a fantastic educator, talking about the qualities of the sheep and breeding, what to look for. He always kept a keen interest in genetics and breeding, long after he retired.”

ANDREW JOPP THE LATE ANDREW Jopp was the third generation of his family to take the helm of Moutere Merino Stud and make his mark on the breed. Founded in 1904, the stud is carried on today by Andrew’s grandson, Hamish, under the brand M in a Diamond Merinos, named after the original wool brand. “My brother is running a commercial operation on the original Moutere Station. My wife Lucie and I run the stud and a commercial operation on the south side, Leaning Rock Downs. We renamed the stud in 2022 and chose M in a Diamond because we wanted a link to the history,” Hamish says. His grandfather died in 1989 when Hamish was young, but he remembers Andrew as a hard-working, quietly spoken man. Andrew ran two bloodlines, the Saxon Merino founded in 1904 and later a more medium-wool South Australia-based bloodline. His focus was the wool, but he was keenly aware of the need for a Merino Review 2023

Andrew Jopp and grandson Hamish, age 5, after Andrew won the wether trial.

well-rounded sheep. He used Merryville genetics to increase the productivity of the Saxon bloodline. He kept extensive records, weighing fleeces in the 1950s, recording yields in the 1960s and micron in the 1970s. While Andrew showed sheep earlier his career, Hamish remembers a saying his grandfather was known for: it’s easy to get one or two sheep looking right, but it’s the 5000 at home that matter. “He was a stud breeder, but he was very focused on the whole flock. In 1988 he won a commercial wether trial under the Leaning Rock name.”

“They set the platform and it’s a huge honour to take on. We are proud of the history... Andrew served on the New Zealand Merino Stud Breeders Breed committee from 1959-1988 and was chairman from 1987-1988. He sold a lot of rams through the 70s and 80s, selling one for $30,000. Another was sold for $42,000 in 1990, the year after he died. “They set the platform and it’s a huge honour to take on. We are proud of the history, but conscious that we need to create our own as well. I think he would be pretty impressed with the sheep we are breeding today.”

BILL GIBSON A STALWART OF the merino industry, Bill Gibson has made an immense contribution to the breed. Son Robbie says Bill is a bit like a father figure to the industry and, at 95 years old, the last of his generation left. The Gibson family will clock up 100 years at Malvern Downs, Tarras, next year and Robbie continues to carry on the family legacy of breeding Merino, building on the foundations laid by Bill. Bill first imported Poll Merinos in 1950, and Malvern Downs Poll is the oldest Poll stud in New Zealand. Malvern Downs was once part of a large run called Morvern Hills. Before rabbits, the run was some 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares) and was taken over by Bill’s father and his sister. As the family grew, the partnership was eventually split. Bill’s family continued on Malvern Downs, which had originally been used to breed the rams for the high-country run. Bill served on the NZ Merino Stud Breeders Breed Committee from 1962-1997, including as chairman from 1979-1980. He was made a life member in 1998. In recognition of his significant contribution, Bill was awarded an MBE for services to the Merino industry.

NZM pioneered the world’s first ethical wool certification and has built an unprecedented global network of over 130 leading brands.

Make the most of your clip in the market

ew Zealand has long held a reputation for quality, ethical fibre, but with other countries catching up and consumer awareness growing, this may not be all you need to guarantee premium pricing for your wool. Today’s consumers are informed and opinionated. They’re also willing to pay more for high-quality products that align with their values. Globally, alongside fielding questions from their customers, brands are contending with rapidly evolving regulations, where protocols and standards are written and rewritten at pace. This is a prime opportunity for NZ growers to affirm their wool’s reputation

by rising to the challenge and delivering what brands need to satisfy customers. Brands are ready and willing to reward suppliers who can offer world-class fibre with the environmental, social and ethical backing required to communicate with consumers. So how can you improve the positioning of your clip?

Programmes, standards and certifications Several ethical and environmental wool standards are available to Kiwi growers. The most recognised globally are the ZQ and ZQRX wool sourcing programmes through The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) and the Responsible Merino Review 2023

Consumers

Wool Standard (RWS), NZM growers also receive RWS certification. Standards give brands the assurance they need to honestly communicate with their customers about the sustainable and ethical fibres they use, helping make your wool the most-desired in the world.

Data Brands are under pressure to accurately report their environmental and social impacts, everything from carbon emissions, biodiversity and water use to

animal welfare and workers' wellbeing. Tracking what you can, sharing data and proactively celebrating your achievements increases the value of your wool. Whether you’ve improved the health of your soil, planted native trees to increase carbon sequestration or made other improvements, keeping records and sharing them adds value and pushes your wool into a more premium market category.

Sharing their story You have unique stories to tell and what may seem day-to-day to you takes on new life for consumers around the world. A consumer in China who has never seen a sheep in real life will cherish a garment if they know that buying it helps a farmer support native biodiversity in NZ.

Optionality Don’t rely on the commodity market. NZM offers the widest range of sales channels in the country to position your wool with the greatest suite of opportunities, in today’s tough market and lifting to new heights as markets recover.

WORLD-LEADING BRANDS FLOCK BACK TO NEW ZEALAND Brands buying New Zealand Merino wool aren’t only buying exceptional quality fibre with ethical credentials, they’re buying the story. Now more than ever, consumers worldwide want to connect with the origins of what they buy and Merino growers are uniquely positioned to spin a great yarn. With borders back open, industry-leading fashion and textile heavyweights have embraced the opportunity to visit and reconnect with growers. They’re also now bringing the wider value chain with them, including garment manufacturers, agents, wholesalers, and media. NZM’s General Manager Global Supply, Matt Hand, says the company hosted 21 brand trips over the 2023 fiscal year including visits to 54 different grower properties. “We worked hard to keep connections to the market alive while borders were closed and it seems this time away has reminded many of our brand partners how valuable these relationships are. “Our growers really benefit from face-to-face discussions with the brands that take their wool to the world and it’s been great to see brands embracing the ability to travel and investing in bringing the wider value chain along to understand grower stories, challenges, and successes,” Matt says. Merino Review 2023

HIGH-PROFILE SHOE LAUNCH THE START OF A SHIFT FOR FARM EMISSIONS New Zealand-grown, ZQRX Merino wool was the talk of this year’s Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen as Allbirds announced the world’s first net zero carbon shoe. The fashion world is acknowledging what growers have known for years, that wool is part of the solution – not the cause – of climate change, Chief Partnerships and Sustainability Officer at NZM Dave Maslen says. “Allbirds has publicly shared and championed a new method of product footprint accounting which includes the carbon sequestered onfarm. This is a crucial milestone towards changing how agricultural emissions are perceived globally and ensuring a future where growers’ efforts in this space are widely recognised, and incentivised, by the market,” he says.

Technology

Five-star assurance Before buyers even consider a stud, investigating their data quality score is the place to start. Some studs on the Australian system, Merino Select, shine with a Five Star data quality score. By Joanna Grigg.

tuds with Five Stars for their genetic data are described by Australian Sheep Genetics as having on average, higher index accuracies and greater rates of genetic gain. It doesn’t mean other studs don’t have worthy rams, though – it’s more an indication the sheep in question will perform as its breeding values says it should. The Data Quality Score rating started in 2022, was born out of a research project funded by Meat and Livestock

Table A: Registered New Zealand studs in Merino Select that were awarded Five Star Ratings for data, 2022/23. NZ studs performed higher overall than Australian counterparts in the new Data Quality Score system. NZ Merino 740167

Armidale

740258

Earnscleugh

740293

Blairich

NZ Poll Merino 850007

Gray's Hills

858002

Nine Mile

859109

Middlehurst

Source: Australian Breeders Bulletin, 2023.

Australia. That year, 297 flocks in Merino Select received a Data Quality Score – including 25 from New Zealand. Peta Bradley, Manager Sheep Genetics, Meat and Livestock Australia, said the process gives an overall data quality score out of 100, which is converted into a star rating system out of five. In order to generate a data quality score, a flock must have at least three years’ worth of data. The score is an average of the data submitted over a fiveyear period. Ram buyers will need to ask for the score, however – they are not published. Currently, they are reported back privately to individual flocks, Bradley said, but commercial ram buyers can ask their stud for them. NZ flocks are top at data quality. The average Data Quality Score for all flocks is 54/100, while NZ flocks had an average score of 74/100. The scores are updated every two weeks, so flocks may be promoted or demoted throughout the year, depending on the data they submit. Bradley sees the initiative as a success, as it’s led to many conversations about data quality. What goes into the final score are four key aspects. First is the sheer amount of data – including the proportion of recorded animals that go on to have traits such as growth rate, carcase, fleece weight, fibre diameter, and weaning rate recorded throughout their life. Second is the completeness and accuracy of the records. The third element is data structure - in essence, its

usefulness and how it is used. This looks at how well a flock is linked across years at that site, as well as to other flocks. This is important for comparisons across environments and locations. The fourth component is the timeliness of data submission. Prompt filing of data to Merino Select means breeding values can be generated and used to inform decisions. Sheep Genetics acknowledged the top flocks at the 2023 Sheep Genetics Leading Breeder Forum. Several registered studs in NZ were awarded with a Five Star Data Quality rating: Armidale, Earnscleugh, Blairich and Gray’s Hills, Ninemile and Middlehurst (NZ Poll Merino). This was awarded based on the 2022 lamb drop data.

Earnscleugh earns five stars When Merino Select brought in a system to rate data collection within a stud, they wanted studs to try it out. At a Merino Select education day in Cromwell, Alistair Campbell was asked if Earnscleugh Station could be a guinea pig. With some trepidation, he said yes. “I was worried we’d be last in the group, but we ended up being second across Merino Select for the quality of data records.” Allocating Data Quality Scores started in 2022. For Alistair, scoring a Five Star Rating for data collection is just a product of many years of focusing on data collection. “The scoring is not about longevity or Merino Review 2023

The Earnscleugh computer and scanner used for recording wool data, for Merino Select.

being in the game for long, rather it’s the completeness of the data and the accuracy of pedigrees. “And most importantly – recording both the sire and the dam – something that Australian studs don’t often have.” Alistair said he’s worn out several laptops and been through three sheep programmes and taken on different technology, before evolving the station’s sheep recording to what it is now.

The stud adopted breeding values in 1988 – first using Animal Breeding Trust, SIL then joining the Australian Merino Select in 1999. Until three years ago, all 2600 stud ewes were individually mothered up with their lambs to find the dam. This took a lot of time. The Campbells then moved to using electronic collars to make the match between dam and lamb. Last year, one third of the ewes

were DNA sequenced and Alistair was impressed with this blood test system. This year, all lambs will have a genetic test, with the results published late January. It’s been a game-changer for management at Earnscleugh, as well as improving accuracy. “It has allowed us to mob-stock ewes, rather than lambing small mobs across 40 small paddocks.” Syndicate mating is possible – where several rams are in with a mob of ewes. Each lamb born in the stud has an EID tag and, in this, they have their annual micron and fleece weight recorded, liveweight at weaning, post weaning and yearling weight (for rams). At shearing, visual scores for colour, crimp, style and staple strength are added. Each ram hogget also has a machine-measured staple strength record. Muscle scan data is added at 11 months. Individual faecal egg scores are added for either ram or ewe hoggets, depending which mob looks wormy first. Footrot score of each foot is done for the ram hoggets. Together they add up to having an above-average collection of accurate genetic data. “And I do try and get the data into the Merino Select as soon as collected – not leave it too long.” The Earnscleugh example mirrors the

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Merino Review 2023

shift many studs are making towards more data linkages and more accurate data. He would like more commercial Merino farmers to hear about the Five Star Rating system. “I guess more will become aware, and ask about it, just like farmers did with breeding values. “Commercial guys had heard about breeding values from the cattle industry.” He also credits NZ Merino Company funding and Mark Ferguson’s work in touring studs, for introducing growers to breeding values. Having good data on breeding values has not only earned Earnscleugh a Five Star Rating, it has progressed production rapidly for us, Alistair said. The Station initially scored very low when the stud joined Merino Select. ‘We changed our sires straight away to ones with breeding values.” Within three years of using better genetics, they had wool half a micron finer but a third of a kilogram heavier. The stud has four types of Merinos ranging from ultrafine to quarter-bred. The commercial two-tooth wether mob averaged 12.5 microns this year.

Blairich goes the extra mile Tom Small has seen first-hand the results of using an imported ram with low breeding value accuracy. It went on to perform unlike the way it was expected to. This is just one reason why he’s committed to recording the highest level of data on the Blairich flock. The stud received a Five Star rating for their data quality score in 2023 and is currently scoring 85 out of 100. When showing a client a ram’s profile, Tom will put the accuracy of the breeding value (as a percentage) alongside the breeding value itself, on the database screen. 42

Tom Small believes fleece weight should not just be measured at 12 months, but go on to be tested annually, as a true reflection of adult fleece weight.

“Accuracy will vary with the age and stage of the animal, and the trait heritability, but you can talk farmers through that and explain it.” From a breeder’s perspective, having high-quality data makes sense to get where we want to go, he said. The cost per sheep of data collection adds about $200 for Blairich. “Why have information for 10 brothers, but not measure the actual sheep in question.” Every lamb in the Blairich annual drop is measured for all traits and all lambs are run together in one group. Ewe-to-lamb match is done by mothering-up and all progeny have a full pedigree, which Tom thinks is vital. “This is where Australia is sometimes behind New Zealand studs.” Three weight traits, all fleece traits and all carcase traits are measured. Traits are measured at five age stages. “We even measure everything before culling, as this makes the data more accurate.” Tom believes fleece weight should not just be measured at 12 months, but go on

to be tested annually, as a true reflection of adult fleece weight. “Most studs only measure at 12 months and some sheep take a few years to build to a high fleece weight, while some drop off.” We have found huge variation in blood lines with fleece weight, with early maturing carcase sheep tending to drop off in wool weights over their lifetime, he said. Sheep are challenged for footrot and both ram and ewe hoggets are scored. “We don’t do faecal eggcount score yet, but may start next year, although we do visual dag scores.” Kool Collect and Perform software is used to record data, and Tom submits it before Merino Select processes the data on the seventh and twentieth of each month. This means breeding values are updated. “We get a better idea earlier.” He would like to see commercial growers more aware of breeding value accuracies. For this reason, Tom posted their Five Star status on Blairich’s Facebook page. Merino Review 2023

Merino a gamechanger for newborns

rapping your precious newborn in a soft cloud of Merino wool is not only cosy, but has proven health benefits. The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) says the links between wool and human health are particularly evident when woollen products are used in childcare. The IWTO says wool and wool products are ideal for dressing, comforting and warming children, particularly newborn babies. There are a number of reasons why wool is so wonderful for babies, the key benefits being temperature regulation, the fact wool is hypoallergenic and that it helps promote peaceful sleep. It’s no secret wool keeps us warm. Its warming and temperature-regulating abilities make it the perfect choice for newborns. Babies use a lot of energy to stay warm, and wool helps insulate their bodies against the environment, and conserve energy. Wool’s energy-conserving properties can even aid babies’ growth, the IWTO says. Researchers found the weight gain in underweight newborn babies was an incredible 61% higher when they slept

Zealand, donated 500 Merino wool blankets to the The Little Miracles Trust, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting families with critically ill newborns. The Trust’s work revolves around providing vital resources and support to families during their challenging journey in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Little Miracles Trust CEO, Rachel Friend says the properties of wool are magical for premature babies. Devold’s donation had the potential to be a gamechanger for babies and their families, both to give the little ones access to the best materials early on in life, as well as to promote Merino over fabrics like polar fleece, which can be harmful. “For these tiny babies, part of their journey in hospital is putting on fat and gaining the ability to regulate their body temperatures,” Friend explains. “Merino is a natural fibre, so it lets their skin breathe unlike polar fleece, and they won’t overheat and risk a chill. That’s why it works year-round, as well.” She also says the purer the Merino the better, so Devold’s blankets, which are 100%, are perfect.

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in woollen bedclothes, as opposed to cotton. “But wool does not simply keep a child’s body warm; it helps to regulate temperature and keep it at healthy levels. When clothed in, or sleeping in, wool, babies’ bodies do not overheat. The wool keeps the warmth in but also allows for the release of excess heat to keep the baby comfortable and healthy. The fabric allows the skin to breathe naturally, prevents sweating and helps the body find its equilibrium.” Merino wool in particular is hypoallergenic and gentle on the very sensitive skin of children. Additionally, Merino wool bedclothes may help children sleep better – music to the ears of any sleep-deprived parent. Babies who sleep in Merino wool show lower rates of activity and have deeper, more restful sleep, the IWTO says. Studies have shown these babies settle more quickly, cry less and sleep longer. Children who slept on bedding made from synthetic fibres, on the other hand, were found to have more problems settling and staying asleep. Recently, the outdoor clothing brand Devold, through its arm Devold New

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Merino Review 2023

Well-styled wool crucial to garment quality

evold NZ is calling on Merino wool growers to consider style when making breeding decisions. Craig Smith, general manager, Devold NZ, said style and crimp formation is extremely important to the company and to the manufacturing of quality garments. “In the past, we purchased wool tops from the commodity market and, although it met micron and length criteria, it lacked the repeatability that comes with quality wool. “When we ran one line through the manufacturing process, we had to reject 15 of every 100 garments.” This 15% rejection rate is too high, he said. Devold now buys wool through direct supply contracts with individual growers. This means the Norwegian company can trace and identify poorer lines. If some lines don’t meet the quality, wool will be excluded, Smith said. “This has allowed Devold to develop a system that rewards growers that produce well-crimped, long-length and sound fibre.” By finding the right quality wool, Devold is now able to keep the rejection rate to 0.5%. Smith said the breeding advice that suggests Merino growers are not rewarded for wool quality factors (unless it’s for Italian spinning markets) is incorrect. The Devold contract requires wool to meet a visual assessment parameter and will not make the contract if it doesn’t. On the flipside, Merino Review 2023

Stylish wool: The ideal wool crimp definition and fibre alignment.

top-quality wool, in combination with other parameters, can also be rewarded by a bonus payment. “This year the Devold pricing system adds up to a significantly higher rate than the spot market.”

both at shearing and once wool is on display at the wool store. It is the only company globally that employs a qualified ‘wool guy’ providing that specialist knowledge to inspect quality, he said.

What exactly is style?

Why is style important in manufacturing?

Crimp definition and fibre alignment are the main contributors. “Fibres need to come out of Merino skin in the same direction. This allows for more fibres per square centimetre so that’s a winner for wool quantity too,” Smith said. If fibres come out of the skin in different directions, even to just a few degrees, then this can reduce wool weight but also the ability to produce a good end product, he said. Mushy is sometimes used to describe cross-fibred wool. Style assessment is somewhat subjective, with curvature as one physical measurement, Smith said. Devold assesses style through visual assessment

Crimp definition means fibres will be stronger. It allows a longer staple to be successfully spun into yarn, without breaks. Smith compares it to twisting off number eight wire when fencing. “Wrapping number 8 wire around itself twice is not enough – it won’t last long and the wire will break. If you wrap the wire up to nine times around itself, each time – the link is stronger.” When producing yarn, a longer, well-crimped staple can be wrapped around itself more times. This means it is stronger and the fibres don’t move or break. Fibre migration is the main cause of pilling. Fabric made from poorer quality 45

wool will tend to have holes develop quickly. Consumers lose faith in the brand and replacements have to be provided.

How do you find rams with stylish wool? There isn’t an EBV for stylish wool as such. Smith’s advice is to select rams with a visual approach, as well as using EBVs.

What is it worth to the grower? In the auction system, the buyer will visually assess the wool and downgrade their buying limits if there is poor crimp definition. Devold will exclude wool that doesn’t meet specifications, which includes a visual assessment of crimp definition. Even wool that has a strength test result that meets specifications may not meet visual standards. Devold offers a bonus for the top performing wools in regards to strength, length and style. This is worth $2/kg, on top of the contract price. Does style mean less wool weight, less fertility and less money? Smithy 100% disagrees. Wool style and quality produce more kilograms, he said. “If Merinos produce five kilos of wool and over 100% lambing, what else do you want them to do?”

Classing out poorer-styled fleeces during shearing – is it worth it? The wool classer and handlers have the biggest influence over what goes into the contract line, Smith said. “They can reduce the chance of the bale or a whole line, missing the contract.” Care should be taken to remove any short wool, tender wool, mushy or yellow wool. Classing is putting like wool with like wool, so if this is done properly, the lines will come in okay. 46

The Zondii wool tool has potential to be used in saleyards or shearing sheds.

Hand-held tool to measure micron BY JOANNA GRIGG

he Australian Wool Institute has teamed up with Australian start-up company Zondii, to develop a hand-held tool for measuring wool micron. Zondii reports nearly two million sheep are on the waitlist for the technology when it becomes available. The device – called Zondii wool, has potential to be used in saleyards or shearing sheds, to detect the micron size (fibre thickness) of wool. It gives fast and accurate results, to help with sheep and wool classing. As farmers have indicated they would prefer to use their smartphone for the job, Zondii is looking to do it this way. It would make it the world’s first smartphone verification tool for food and fibre using multispectral technology. Work is underway to do this.

Another aspect of the Wool Institute’s work is finding a way to get an in-thefield measurement of follicle density, which would help identify sheep with high wool quantity (weight) in a much faster way than is currently possible. Wool follicle density can be measured using histology (imagery) but results are not immediate at the time of testing, so is seldom used by growers. The new technology being developed involves applying a scanner directly on the skin of the sheep. To date, it has been tested on Merinos at Glenwood Station, New South Wales.

Growers can join the Zondii wool waitlist, by registering on zondii.com/ agritech-wool Merino Review 2023

GLENMORE STATION • MERINO

STUD

•

Breeding heavy cutting, well-nourished, balanced rams. • Incredibly proud of the quality sheep we are producing. • Horned and Polled sale rams. • 800 stud ewes mated 2023. • 7000 Glenmore commercial ewes averaging 6kg of 18.7 micron wool. • Utilising Merino Select ASBV’s & visual classing.

Please call us to chat about how our quality rams can add value to your farming business. Will: 021 1869 087 | Emily: 021 680 505

glenmore@farmside.co.nz

Fleece from our Glenmore 2023 vintage.

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MULLER MERINO STUD

• Breeding true dual purpose 18-20 micron Merinos, focusing predominantly on polled genetics.

• ASBV’s and full recording information including muscle and fat scan available.

• Incrementally increasing muscle and fat whilst staying focused on wool quantity and quality.

• Using industry-leading genomics to improve foot-rot resilience.

• High fertility stud scanning 190% M/A ewes and 150% 2ths.

• Ideal for adding value to your sheeps’ performance. • View Muller Station on Facebook.

Phone: 03 575 7044 Cell: Stephen 027 474 8865 Mary 027 474 8869 E: info@mullerstation.co.nz www.mullerstation.co.nz

Merino Review 2023

Life members

A L I F E T I M E AC H I E V E M E N T Rebecca Greaves explores what it means to those recently recognised as Life Members of the NZ Stud Merino Breeders Society.

ROBBIE GIBSON Robbie Gibson was born into a family of passionate Merino breeders. Much like the Merino sheep the family love so much, it was in his genes to carry on the legacy. The Gibson family will clock up 100 years at Malvern Downs, Tarras, Central Otago, next year and Robbie continues to carry on the groundwork laid by his father, Bill, before him. Malvern Downs Poll is the oldest Poll stud in New Zealand, after Bill first imported Poll Merinos in 1950. Malvern Downs was once part of a large run called Morvern Hills. Before rabbits, the run was some 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares) and was taken over by Robbie’s grandfather and his sister. As the family grew, the partnership was eventually split. Robbie’s family continued on Malvern Downs, which had originally been used to breed rams for the high country run. Robbie says it was a privilege to receive not one, but two life memberships on the same day, one from the Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders Association and the other from NZ Merino Stud Breeders’ Society. His association with both dates back more than 40 years, and he has served as president of both.

Merino Review 2023

“Dad was always passionate about Merinos and I’ve just carried on. For years, when dad got the Polls, no one would look at them… for the last 10-15 years people would say they’ve been predominant. There’s a big push towards Polls, certainly now.” He loves the Merino for its hardiness, and says the breed has improved out of sight with objective measurements. He is mindful to keep sight of the core purpose of the Merino – its wool – and valuing conformation and structure before traits are considered. “The Merino is all about wool. I’m not against other traits, but we can’t sacrifice wool.” Robbie says he simply inherited the stud and continued in his father’s place. Of his service to the breed, he says, it’s just what you do. “We’ve had lots of highlights through the years showing sheep, and breeding some pretty good sheep you are proud of. We still do a bit of showing, it’s the shop front of your breeding programme, lining them up beside other breeders.”

IAN STEVENSON Life membership is the icing on the cake of a lifetime of involvement with Merino for Ian Stevenson, who has passed the mantle at The Gums Merino Stud to his son Mark. Now semi-retired, Ian spent decades at the helm of The Gums, (formerly known as Flaxton Stud), at Leamington in Cheviot, North Canterbury. The stud is one of the oldest registered Merino studs in New Zealand, dating back to 1903. Ian and his brother Graeme took over the family properties from their father in 1984. “It’s always been in the family, an enjoyment and want to breed pedigree stock,” he explains. Sheep genetics have formed a huge

part of Ian’s life and, at one stage, he had five different breeds of registered stud sheep, selling 600-700 rams annually at his peak. “There’s something special about the Merino, and the people involved, there’s a lot of passion and enthusiasm. “Before we had performance recording, the ability to breed the best sheep relied solely on the breeder to use the best genetics. There was a lot of skill involved in keeping ahead of the pack by sourcing the right genetics and crossing the right ewe and ram. It was about striving for excellence and improvements, and the ability to market the product to clients – there was no Facebook or email.” Ian counts himself lucky to have met some wonderful people and his involvement with the breed has taken him around the world, both judging and attending world conferences. Connecting with like-minded people and seeing the world stand out as highlights for him. Ian has been a committee member of the breed society since the 1980s, serving as president and helping to organise world conferences in NZ. Life membership is a bit overwhelming, he says, and it is nice to think his work has been appreciated. “A lot of time and effort has gone in, but there’s a lot of satisfaction. It’s great to be rewarded for doing something you love.” 49

Recognition

Otago Merino Awards Dinner 2023 2023 NIKKE CHILD CANCER FLEECE COMPETITION

Jaine Munro - Guinness World Record Sheep High Jump. 4th Place People of The Land Category Kira Volkov - Wheat Fields

Up to 16.2 micron 3rd Glen Carry; 2nd Little Valley (Garths); 1st Hazel Hills

2023 NZWTA CLIP OF THE YEAR

16.3-17.3 micron 3rd Stonehenge; 2nd Merino Ridges; 3rd Little Valley (Shane’s)

Superfine Wool - Up to 17.5micron 3rd Patearoa. 2nd Foulden Hill. 1st Matarae.

17.4-18.3 micron 3rd Glenrock; 2nd Waikeri Downs; 3rd Otematata

Fine Wool – Over 17.5 micron 3rd Maryburn. 2nd Armidale. 1st Benmore.

Over 18.3 micron 3rd Bluestone; 2nd Ahuriri Downs; 3rd Buscot

Top Stud Clip: Benmore Top Commerical Clip: Foulden Hill Overall 2023 Clip of the Year Winner: Benmore (pictured)

Overall Child Cancer Fleece Competition Winner Little Valley (Shane’s) OTAGO MERINO ASSOCIATION/NZWTA FINE WOOL PIX COMPETITION 2023 Peoples Choice Winner on Social Media Amy Hughes ‘Kakanui Mountains’ Voting on the finalists by everyone at the Merino Awards evening resulted in; 1st Place Animals Category Trent Spittle – New Beginning. 2nd Place Landscape Category - Amy Hughes, ‘Kakanui Mountains’. 3rd Place Funny Bloopers & Mischievous Mishaps Category Anna

MERINO BREEDER DIRECTORY

STUD NAME

NAME

LOCATION

PHONE

STUD NAME

NAME

LOCATION

PHONE

Armidale Awapiri Balmoral Benmore Blairich Cleardale Earnscleugh Eskland Glenlee Glenmore Glentanner Gray’s Hills Hawksburn Isolation Kaiwara Knowsley Park Little Valley

Simon Paterson Eric and Sally Smith Sam Simpson Bill and Kate Sutherland Tom and Ron Small Ben Todhunter Duncan Campbell Helen Heddel Rob Hamilton Will and Emily Murray Mark Ivey Mark and Sherie Urquhart Phillip McElroy Rob and Sally Peter Geoff Millar James Mitchell Lindon and Jenni Sanders

Ranfurly Awatere Valley Lake Tekapo Omarama Awatere Valley Rakaia Gorge Alexandra Darfield Awatere Valley Lake Tekapo Lake Pukaki Lake Tekapo Cromwell Ward Swannanoa Ferndale Alexandra

03 444 9322 03 575 7990 021 336 806 03 438 9474 03 575 7257 03 302 8233 027 489 2820 027 436 1389 03 575 7765 03 680 6752 03 426 9638 03 680 6640 03 445 0874 03 575 6866 03 312 6635 0274 430 6892 03 448 6575

Malvern Downs Robbie Gibson Tarras 03 445 2839 Maryburn Martin Murray Fairlie 03 680 6612 Matangi John Sanders Alexandra 03 448 7806 Matarae William and Emily Jones Outram 03 464 3855 Middlehurst Willie Macdonald Wairau Valley 03 575 7042 Moutere Jopp Family Alexandra 03 447 3726 Muller Mike and Mary Satterthwaite Awatere Valley 03 575 7144 Nine Mile Gordon Lucas Tarras 03 445 2885 Otematata Hugh Cameron Otematata 03 438 7863 Somerton Park Isobel Somerton-Smythe Swannanoa 03 342 8488 Stonehenge Andrew Hore Ranfurly 03 444 7066 Strathclyde John McArthur Clyde 03 448 8335 The Gums Ian and Mark Stevenson Cheviot 03 319 8587 Two Thumbs John Simpson Fairlie 03 680 6897 Upcot Bill Stevenson Awatere Valley 03 575 7463 Wairua Russell Smilie Hakataramea Valley 03 436 0287

Merino Review 2023

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