Making your sheepfarming easier and more profitable.
John Thompson, South Otago.
“Six years ago I started managing this 520 ha effective block near Clinton, for Lindsay and Jill Divers. After three years, Lindsay approached me about forming a 50:50 company with them to own the stock and plant, and lease the land. It is great to get that opportunity after managing properties for many years.
I run it by myself, but get gangs in for the big jobs. I like to focus on doing the stock well. It was very pleasing to lamb 150% with the 3800 Romney ewes in 2007. When I started six years ago, lambing was at the 125% level.
The drought season resulted in an average carcase weight of 16.5kg, a kilo below normal. But the ewes held on well, and tailed 140% this year. With a much better season, 4060 lambs have averaged 17.7 kg and $93.73. All of the lambs have gone through the Alliance pool, with 60% in the “quality contract” . Over the past few years we have developed gullies and steep faces out of gorse. Although the carrying capacity is low because of rocky ground, it is better than nothing. Ewe hoggets are off farm from May to January, returning at 60kg average. The farm also winters 60 cows and 30 weaners to finish”.
George & Sarah Tatham, Wairarapa
George and Sarah are the 2010 winners of the Wairarapa Farm Business of the Year, they farm 7000 ewes on the Wairarapa coast.
“In February 2007 I took over the Wairere East Friesian/Romney flock of 1500 ewes. The Wairere ewes performed really well through these past three difficult seasons, at 160%+ and high weaning weights – 33-34kg at 105 days, apart from August 2008, with 240mm during lambing."
"I am surprised at how well the teeth and condition last on the older 1/2 East Friesian ewes (up to ten years old).”
Tony Hansen, Hunterville
Sold Wairere capital stock ewe lambs (34kg) at Fielding in Januray for $111, a good boost for Tony's lifestyle change.
Steve and Rhonda Bamford, Balclutha
Steve and Rhonda won the Clutha farmer of the year in 2004, “We put Texel rams over the Romney and Coopworth ewes which accumulated as the operation was expanded. The flock was then stabilised with Texel/Romney rams, but we became a little concerned about fertility, though our range is in a tight band 148-153%. That’s why we decided to change to Wairere TefRom, injecting more fertility, growth rate, and milking ability. Our target is to consistently do 150-160%, and do it easily without heavy flushing of ewes.
In 2009 we weaned in the second week of January, and killed 2900 lambs from our 6,000 ewes at an average of 18.5kg. One draft was very close to a $100 killsheet. We were pleased to tail 149%, after the previous year's drought, and a ten percent lower scanning.”
Don and Duncan McRae, Wanaka
“The drought was tough here in 2008, and we compounded it by holding on to lambs too long. So we were delighted to scan 160% from our 5,000 Romney ewes. Tailing was 140%, so excellent survival. Since changing from Merinos in 1999 (by buying in Wairere Romney ewe lambs), lambing has consistently been around 140 to 146%, with a carcase weight of 17kg average.
Fifteen years ago, Alphaburn was running 10,000 su and producing 3,500 Merino lambs, compared to 7,000 Romney lambs now. A major development program to beat bracken fern has increased carrying capacity to 14,000 su. “We run 1400 deer and 1,000 cattle as part of the mix. We still have a few Merino wethers grazing to 5,500 feet above sea level; the Romneys graze up to 4,500 feet.”
