Sheep NewZ #21 Summer 2020
Hello Members, ASSOCIATION NEWS & VIEWS Special thanks to Janine Smith for putting together a great profile for her Glen Leith Romneys. Also thanks to our From The President regular contributors of articles and photos for the NewZ. I have had several favourable comments lately on its content. What interesting times we live in at Very encouraging. This time we’re all about wool with present. The Covid pandemic marches several interesting articles. on around the world - seemingly out of control in some parts. Two important A couple of weekends ago I attended the AGM of the NZ elections have been held with both the Rare Breeds Conservation Society – a very select gathering USA and NZ looking forward to being controlled by the of 16 this time, regrettably (though many apologies) - as Left/Centre Left – I say “looking forward” with tongue – in there were three very interesting speakers – a well-known - cheek! I find it very strange that a block of people, who poultry breeder, Mr Ian Selby from Taranaki; an equally produce around sixty percent of our country’s income, will well known pig breeder and international judge, Mr Pierre have virtually no representation in Parliament. Perhaps its (Peter) Le Bas who shares his time between family in NZ time for a Farmers’ Party or Producers’ Party! and the UK and finally Chris Garrett, a harness maker and head of the Donkey Sanctuary, UK. On talking to Chris I As I write we have had 58mm of rain, which was very much learned he had also trained as a blade shearer in the UK but needed for crops, and more importantly to keep the grass now only does a few for small holders. On the Sunday we growing for lambs. The lambing season here in Canterbury visited John Earney’s property, “Avonstour Island”. This is could not have been better. Although scanning was back a specialist rare breeds farm off the Forgotten Highway out this was, by all reports, balanced out by very good survival of Stratford. John has several different feral sheep breeds as rates. Hopefully, we will not see any further drastic price well as his now unregistered Dorset Horn stud and a variety reductions for our sheep meat. of other species. The NZRBCS is trying to track down remnant flocks of NZ What to do with wool? I find it hard to believe that such a Drysdale sheep – once 600,000 strong - they seem to have wonderful product is only worth a pittance of its true value. vanished from NZ farms. Please advise me if you know the The agricultural media is awash with articles from all whereabouts of any purebreds as they would be keen to corners of this industry, so basically anything being said is acquire some, at least to take semen and or embryos for only repeating what has been said before. As I see it the future use. Maybe with the recently much touted resurgence major problem with wool is that it only commands approxi- in wool they will be needed in the near future? mately 2% of the World’s fibre market. Therein lies the problem. The high-end fashion market that has been using The photo below is of our Ryeland (W/F) & Shropshire Merino wool to make some wonderful products is perhaps (B/F) ram hoggets on their way to the shed to be shorn the example the rest of the wool industry needs to follow. tomorrow. Final pick is still to be made. Make something out of your particular style of wool that the consumer wants and really push it!
The ram selling season is about to start. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all ram breeders well in their sales. To the ram buyers remember that your ram purchase has an effect on your breeding programme for the upcoming year [and the future! - Editor]. Use the data that is provided wisely in your decisions.
All the best for the upcoming festive season.
Tom Burrows Helen McKenzie President NZSBA Editor (06) 372 7842 or Email: [email protected]
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.” From The General Manager As this topic is in everyone’s conversation, I should also mention Covid-19, as it is really optimistic news about the I am writing this report a week after show week, which many vaccines now surfacing. I don’t take the flu vaccine, should really be renamed race week, as we had races, but no but if it means the only way I will be able to travel overseas show. The NZ Agricultural Show (formerly Canterbury A & to see my daughter I will be taking it. P) agreed in May not to have a show, and so we had tremendous weather and races. To our sponsors thank you for your continued support, and to members, let’s hope Ram Selling goes well, and here’s Congratulations to the Canterbury Racing Industry for their hoping for a normal 2021. perseverance and commitment and the Canterbury business community is most thankful. Greg Burgess
Regarding Sheep 125 due to the uncertainty regarding General Manager, NZSBA covid-19, planning has been on hold, but our committee will soon get back into action regarding activities in and around next year’s show.
We are having an audio conference call this week. “Wood burns faster when you have to cut and chop it yourself.” Jumpers for guys and jumpers for gals are being made and Harrison Ford will be available early next year. Sizes and the cost will be circulated to members next year.
Our office will be undergoing much needed renovations and painting over the Christmas break, so I will be at the office every day trying not to get in their way, but the remaining staff won’t return until Monday 25th January 2021.
This year’s Flock Book is being circulated and remember the Flock Book can be also sourced from our website www.nzsheep.co.nz
I was asked about Pedigree recording this month. Pedigree recording like Performance recording isn’t mandatory, but is encouraged, and is an option for interested breeders to have their records stored, a good management tool, and should they ever wish to performance record then it is an easier transition.
Remember our Youth Initiative - If a young breeder qualifies being 10 - 21 years old and has less than 50 ewes they are exempt from all fees (subscription, breed levies, maiden ewe fee) except activity fees… eg registering a sire.
If you qualify please contact the office and give your details.
My next communication to you will include the breeds and the numbers so far on board.
This is a decision we should be really proud of.
The New Zealand Ewe Hogget Competition was cancelled this year, but a significant sponsor has pulled out for next year, and this long running commercial competition is now in jeopardy of not being able to continue.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.” Feature Breed numbers were then the third most numerous behind, in order, Leicester 67 and Lincoln 82.’ Romney Sheep The following short excerpt is from Graham Meadows’ book, “Sheep Breeds of New Zealand”, Reed Books, 1997. ‘Romney were first imported into New Zealand in 1853. In 1904 a separate Romney Marsh Breed Society was registered, with the first flock book published in 1905. In 1956, in recognition of the changes it had undergone from its original ancestors, the name of the breed was changed to New Zealand Romney.’
There was an earlier importation by Messrs Bennett and Young, reaching Wellington in 1843 but according to Sheep Production, Vol. 1 by GA Wickham and MF McDonald, the first sustainable introduction was in 1853.
Recently the NZ Romney Sheep Breeders Association has joined with the many breeds registered under the aegis of the NZ Sheepbreeders’ Association.
BREED DESCRIPTION (From NZSBA Flock book) ‘The NZ Romney should be a large scopey animal, alert, with a strong constitution able to adapt to varying Above engraving from The New Zealand Farmer; a Century environments. It is a dual-purpose sheep producing the in Retrospect, August, 1982 majority of our wool exports. It produces a good proportion ORIGIN & HISTORY – compiled by the Editor (Abridged of our prime export lambs as straight Romneys, and dams in places) for the bulk of our down-cross prime lambs.’
I quote from well-known Australian sheep breeder, Ivan Heazlewood’s book, “From the Sheep Pen – Short Sheep Tales and Long Lambs Tails, published in 2012 by the Romneys have provided the dam breed for the NZ Australian Stud Sheep Breeders’ Association Ltd. developed breeds of Perendale – Cheviot over Romney (Tasmanian branch). initially; Coopworth – Border Leicester over Romney; and may also feature as one of the two dam breeds used in the ‘The Romney has been known variously as the Marsh sheep, make-up of New Zealand Half Bred sheep (the main one the Canterbury, the Kent, the Romney Marsh, and more being English Leicester) with Merino as the sire breed. lately the Romney.
The South of England was really the stronghold of the Down breeds and in fact they formed a barrier around the Bodyweight 60,000acre area of the Kentish Coast, which had earlier been reclaimed from the sea, known as Romney Marsh… Ewes: Average 65-67kg Rams: Average100kg Like all longwool breeds the Romney was touched by a wave of New Leicester enthusiasm which swept through Meat England around 1800. That infusion was minor and thankfully not enough to detract from the hardiness and Fleshing should be leanish, firm, dense and deep, yet centuries-long acclimatisation of the breed to the marsh resilient to the touch. environment… Breeding/Lambing In the early 19th Century, every breed had its “Bakewell”. In the case of the Romney breed that person was Richard Lambing percentage: 120-160% Goord of Sittingbourne, Kent. He used the recently demonstrated Bakewellian methods; selection, culling and inbreeding to change the sheep of Kent from a localised, Numbers vaguely common type to a standardised, recognised breed. Registered ewe numbers (NZSA Flock book (2020) are Sixty four Romney flocks were recorded in New Zealand around 13,500 Flock Book Volume 1, 1895, about one third of them quoting establishment in the 1870’s, four in the 1860’s and Wool one in 1857. Of the 64 flocks registered in 1895, nine had over 100 ewes, seventeen over 200 ewes, seven over 500 33-37microns. Fairly soft, full handling resilient wool. ewes and five over 1,000. Interestingly Romney flock “Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.” STUD PROFILE # 1 One of the great successes of this joint venture is my ram Glen Leith, Flock #3339, 176/16. He was Supreme Champion Romney at Established 1964 Christchurch Show in 2017 and 2018. His wool is his Owned by Janine R. Smith, outstanding trait, being white, soft and well crimped. About 75% of my hoggets have wool under 30 micron so I am Ranfurly definitely heading in the direction Dad intended.
Glen Leith Romney Stud was founded in 1964 when my father, Ian Smith, purchased ewes from D.H. Kennedy and J.F. Murray. I took over the stud in 2017 when I returned to New Zealand after 26 years in the yacht charter business in Greece. It was not my intention to get involved in stud breeding, but Dad became unwell, so I was challenged with a steep learning curve while he had to get used to supervising from outside the race. Glen Leith 176/16. He was Supreme Champion Dad shearing Romney at Christchurch Show in 2017 and 2018.
Dad has always focused on wool and progress was made quickly with the purchase of semen from a ram called ‘Elmo’, from Tintern Grammar in Victoria Australia. Elmo caught the eye of Hugh Taylor, of Doughboy Romney stud, when he had been in Australia judging so arrangements were made to bring his genetics into the country.
Glen Leith Romneys and Dorset Downs in the mist
I sell my rams at the Maniototo Ram Fair on December 4. Janine
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
STUD PROFILE # 2 2020 sees the Paki-iti Romney continuing with the Pak-Iti Farms, Flock #806, foundations laid before it with continued focus on growth, Established 1920 reproduction, survival, meat and incorporating Facial Eczema and breeding for parasite resistance. Other breeding Owned by Paki-iti Farms Trust, Feilding options have been added over the years with Suffolk’s being PAKI-ITI ROMNEYS - 100 YEARS OF RAM bred since 1995 and a Suftex flock being added in 2007 resulting in over 500 blackface rams being sold and leased BREEDING last year. A stabilized Romtex flock was also added in 2011 With the changing trends in breeding animals not many to offer enhanced maternal growth and meat. studs can proudly say that they have been breeding for 100 years or more. 2020 sees Paki-iti achieve this milestone.
Our Great Grandfather, Archie Morton, began breeding rams in 1920 with the purchase of 130 Romney ewes from Ernest Short. The stud was then taken over by our grandfather Pete Morton in 1937 at the age of 25, with the Great Depression forcing Archie to find off farm work as an animal lecturer at Massey University.
Pete then transferred the stud to William, our father, in 1975, only to have to take the running of it back over in 1988, following William’s death in a car accident. Pete, and then a manager, ran the business through to 1999. At this point, Stewart (26) and Andrew (24) took over the management of Paki-iti.
Over the 100 years the sheep have changed, adapting to the requirements of the day, but always being bred for the hill country.
“In addition to these points, it must have a ruggedness of constitution which will enable it to thrive under the variety of conditions, climatic and physical obtained in the terrain over which it is grazed, from which ranges from Invercargill in the south to the North Cape. Of no other breed is so much expected…”
A C Morton 1948 - describing Romney sheep – not much has changed with the points he makes.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Game Changer for the Wool Industry (reprinted with the author’s permission)
Has the Green Party gifted the wool entering the waterways, being consumed and bioaccumulating up through the food chain, and then they industry the lifeline it needs? would show the end of life of that carpet.
In 2008 a dreadlocked Nandor Tanczos bought the ‘Waste They would show that synthetic carpet lying in a landfill, a Minimisation Act’ through parliament, a piece of legislation thousand years from now, never to decay, a permanent blight which has transformed the landfill and recycling industries on the living world, while they would show a woolen carpet in New Zealand. This year the ‘Product Stewardship’ going into an industrial composting facility, pure compost component of that legislation was enabled which makes rolling out the other end, and that returning to a farm to manufacturers responsible for the end of life disposal of grow the next carpet. their products. In the example of a television this would add the $50 dollars it might cost to dismantle and reassimilate all Symbiot its materials back into production cycles into the purchase For most of the millenia since hominids gave up their fur price, rather than attempting to recover that cost at the end our ancestors have relied on plant and animal fibre to keep of its life. us warm, and no fibre has warmed us like wool. Wool has The first 6 priority products addressed by the legislation are: clothed us, given us blankets for the cold winters and rugs for floor coverings. Human-kind has been in symbiosis with 1. plastic packaging our plant and animal domesticates, and much of the 2. tyres complexity of the modern world would not have been possible without these relationships. It is time to forget this 3. electrical and electronic products (e-waste) gross and absurd chapter of consuming the finite fossil resource just to replace what the living world provides us. 4. agrichemicals and their containers Opportunity 5. refrigerants It is important to recognize the moments to build bridges 6. farm plastics between those who seek to protect the natural world, and Cradle to Cradle those that derive their livelihoods from the natural world to achieve our common goals. If the coarse wool industry were In the seminal book ‘Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way to recognize Product Stewardship as the gateway to a radical We Make Things’ the authors Michael Braungart and shift in consumer demand, lobby the Green Party for both William McDonough describe remaking our industrial Carpets and Home Insulation to become the next Priority processes to manage a separation between ‘Biological Products to be addressed under the legislation, then the wool Nutrients’ and ‘Technical Nutrients’ . industry could return to the place it belongs. Technical nutrients are finite resources like aluminium If the cost of dissecting a synthetic carpet into its various where the primary energy is in extraction, and these need to materials, and returning those materials to their be recycled and returned to the crucibles of manufacturing. manufacturers were included in its price then it would level Biological Nutrients on the other hand are those which need the playing field with woolen carpets. to be returned to the earth, composted, and become the fertility that grows the next generation of product. The industry could seek Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification to enjoy international recognition as a leader in a space Marketing where synthetics can never compete. This would give the The wool industry has long struggled to muster convincing industry a massive ecological, technical and marketing points as to why a consumer should buy their product, to the advantage over the tragedy that is synthetics. point that carpet sales representatives frequently refuse to endorse their products. Simon Thomson has a 260ha drystock farm near Raglan and is a Materials Technologist who has But how would Greenpeace market woollen carpets? They worked in Research & Development of high would ask where your carpets come from; they would show performance composites in the drone and yacht racing the oilfields of the Middle East versus the King Country’s industries, and natural fibres and biopolymers within green pastures, they would show an infant rolling around in the agricultural industry. an oil slick on the floor versus on a blanket of natural wool, they would show the inhalation of plastic microfilaments into that infants lungs, they would show those microplastics
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Both rams will blow out by approximately another 6 Improve the Quality too! microns for MFD as they mature, meaning the first will be about 32 microns as an adult, and the second about 40 It is fantastic to see new-found microns. enthusiasm for promoting the virtues of wool, especially in the The first ram has great wool, and if every Romney was like strong wool sector. It is a product this there wouldn’t be a problem, but the second has garbage wool. It has huge fibres that likely exceed 80 micron in with a great story and good diameter and that are in all probability medulated, meaning sustainability credentials in the they will remain white if dyed and stand out prominently in emerging carbon economy. It any carpet made from this wool. Equally the fibres that can should be a winner! Jon Hickford be seen at around 8 microns in diameter will break and fall There is one challenge though: high value markets demand out of carpet as lint. It will be the carpet that ‘keeps on quality and consistency, and I am not sure that we can giving’! Together these fine and strong fibres will give the deliver that currently based on what I am seeing on the back carpet buyer a bad experience, and you could understand of the average cross-bred sheep in New Zealand. Part of the why they might then choose a synthetic product. problem is that we ‘took our eye off the ball’ and let quality slip, but it has been further aggravated by our obsession with Wool testing is a valuable tool for ascertaining wool quality, wool weight as opposed to wool quality. Twice as much and while used by many fine and medium wool sheep worthless product is no match for something that is vastly breeders, it is not something routinely used for the majority more valuable, yet the sheep industries genetic engine SIL, of our cross-bred flocks. I know the argument will be that it insists on having a wool weight term in the NZ Maternal is costly to do, and while that might be true if you were to Worth Index. As I have said previously, that needs to test every flock ewe, I think you owe it to yourself to test change, because it adds little value to breeding, or the key rams, especially stud rams. This is easily done by ‘worth’ of a sheep. sending mid-side wool samples to a test house like the New Zealand Wool Testing Authority. It isn’t expensive relative Quality is what is needed, not quantity, yet we still have a to many other tests you might choose to use on your sheep, large number of low wool quality maternal rams being sold. pastures or soils. The problem can be addressed with increased use of wool testing, but before I get to that, I will illustrate the problem. There are most certainly good cross-bred wool rams ‘out Here below are two wool fibre diameter histograms. They there’ in the industry and given that many of the key wool are both from Romney ram hoggets. quality traits are moderately to highly heritable then using them will lead to rapid improvement in wool quality. This has to be done without losing ground for other key traits, the ones that should be in the SIL Maternal Worth Index: reproduction, survival, growth and adult size. Albeit, balance that against what I have said in the past about ‘horses for courses’, because your specific breed may have other key breeding objectives too.
Now don’t get me wrong here. Some of you will be saying: “but where is the value proposition”? It is a fair question, because there isn’t one currently. It would be a gamble to go Ram 1. MFD = 25.4 micron, FDSD = 4.5 micron, 0% down this path, and I can’t deny that, but to give a bit of medulation perspective, if all your lambs’ wool was similar to Ram 1, then new market opportunities open up, and in what is already a higher value market. Who is brave enough to take the first step? Jon Hickford
Professor Jon Hickford Lincoln University President of the NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Ram 2. MFD = 33.5 micron, FDSD – 13.6 micron, 12.5% medulation
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Amberley Show October 2020 2020 Ram 18-30 months 1 Andrew Sidey, 2 Hoban Family, 3 Hoban Family
4 M & J Sidey, 5 M & J Sidey More than 240 sheep were entered at the Show held at the
Amberley Domain, with more than 50 Corriedales, 40 2021 Premier Golden Ribbon Ram Hogget Dorset Downs and good numbers in the other breeds 1 GR & RW Wilson, 2 GG & BM Gilbert, 3 A Sidey, according to the Sheep Section convenor, Jimmy Gardiner. 4 A Sidey, 5 GG & BM Gilbert, 6 A Sidey The All Breeds Champion Ewe Hogget was won by a Texel owned by Waipara farmers Keith and Ruth Berry. They Champion Ram GR & RW Wilson have been breeding Texels since the 1990’s. Reserve Champion Ram GR & RW Wilson The Corriedale sheep breed was the Feature Breed of the show with a special ribbon for the Champion Corriedale 2022 Woolly Ewe, over 18 months, 2 or more lambs at Ram Hogget won by Robin Wilson of West Melton. The top foot sheep from the NZ Corriedale Council’s Annual Production 1 GG & BM Gilbert, 2 GG & BM Gilbert Ram and Ewe Hogget Competitions were also on display.
The Council President, Mark Sidey won the Production Ram 2023 Shorn Ewe Over 30 months, 2 or more lambs at Hogget Class while the Ewe Hogget Class was won by foot Gordon Gilbert of Southbridge. 1 Hoban Family, 2 Hoban Family
Corriedale Feature Breed Results 2024 Shorn Ewe 18 -30 months, 2 or more lambs at foot 1 Hoban Family Class 2018 Woolly Ram over 18 months 1 GR & RW Wilson, 2 Longfield Stud 2025 Ewe, Under 18 months
1 TJ & FM Burrows, 2 TJ & FM Burrows, 3 Hoban family 2019 Ram, Over 30 months 4 TJ & FM Burrows 1 M & J Sidey, 2 Hoban Family, 3 M & J Sidey
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
OBITUARY He founded his “Burtergill” Merino stud in 1967 and was a stud breeder until his flock was withdrawn in Mr Arnold van Asch 2008. Arnold supported the Merino breed very well over the By Greg Burgess, General 40 years he was a registered breeder, serving on the Manager NZSBA Merino Breed Committee from 1971 to 2006 and being I have just been informed that its chairman from 1981 to 1983. Arnold van Asch, a Past He was the NZSBA Merino Council representative President of the New Zealand 1977 to 2000 and NZSBA President from 1991 -1995. Sheepbreeders’ Association, passed away recently. He was also the Vice President of the World Merino Association in 2002. Arnold was the 5th generation on the family’s Awatere Valley Farm, “Burtergill”. A renowned Merino sheep breeder over the years he also owned a well-respected South Devon cattle stud. Arnold showed livestock for Arnold van Asch, RIP four decades at his local Marlborough Show. He also judged sheep and cattle at A & P shows throughout New Zealand.
Arnold was always a keen supporter of the New Zealand Sheepbreeders’ Association. He even attended our NZSBA Council meeting this year and contributed to the meeting.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
SUFFOLKNZ Expo held at Ashburton in November.
Suffolk ram hoggets at Ashburton Photo: Ian McCall
Results
Open Ram Hogget 1st Norm& Marg Carr 2nd Kerry Dwyer 3rd Stuart Sinclair 4th Eric Ross 5th Kerry Dwyer.
Commercial Ram Hogget 1st Norm & Marg Carr 2nd John Miles 3rd Symon Howard
Ewe Hogget 1st Chris Hampton 2nd Norm & Marg Carr 3rd Penni Loffhagen.
Novice class Ram Hogget The chairman of the Suffolk breed committee, Symon 1st& 2nd Elizabeth Hampton Howard presents Norman Carr the Suffolk Ambassador of Ewe Hogget the Year award Photo: Ian McCall 1st Elizabeth Hampton, It was great to have the 4 breeds involved, everybody Everybody had an enjoyable day it was a very relaxed enjoyed each other’s company. The day was followed with atmosphere under a hot mid Canterbury sun. an enjoyable dinner at the Ashburton hotel. Symon Howard Thanks to both Carrfields & PGG Wrightson for the BBQ & Chairman, SUFFOLKNZ refreshments well received by all.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Three other breeds were invited to participate at the Ashburton showgrounds
No results (except what is below photos) given but the following four nice photos from Ian McCall.
Guy Letham's, Hermiston, First placed Romney at the special show at Ashburton
Dorset Down rams at Ashburton Mark Copland holding Westmere farming's, First place Border Leicester at Ashburton
Noman Carr holding his and Margaret's, Omagh stud's First place Ram at the Suffolk breeders special show at Ashburton
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Whilst our mandate is to promote the education and awareness of wool, I feel it goes further than this in that we must be focused on supporting commercial entities to create and sell wool products to drive the demand for wool fibre in New CFW Chairman general. Under my leadership I can assure you all this will I would like to take this opportunity to be our core focus. formally introduce myself as the new Chairman of Campaign For Wool NZ Trust Industry Direction (CFWNZT). My name is Tom O’Sullivan I am acutely aware of the dire predicament we find and I joined the Campaign as a farmer trustee ourselves in for strong wool. I recognise that our efforts following the tragic passing of our past need to address the fundamental issues with the way wool is chairman, Renata Apatu. grown, processed, and marketed. As the saying goes - "if nothing changes, nothing changes". Doing nothing is now I was raised on the family farm in Hinds, Mid Canterbury simply not an option for the industry. where my grandfather and father both farmed sheep and cattle. Due to the dairy boom in Canterbury in the early To this end, the Campaign For Wool proactively approached 2000’s we decided to exit farming sheep on flatland in Marketing and Agri-Strategist Brian Richards (Richards Canterbury and move to a new property, at Ashley Clinton Partners) in June to discuss the dire situation for NZ strong in south western Hawkes Bay – Pukenui Station. wool. The Campaign For Wool board then agreed to take the proactive step of funding Richards & Partners draw up a My career after completing a Commerce and Marketing scoping document of a possible new transformational Degree at Lincoln University has been a varied one but one strategy for the NZ strong wool industry. that has been largely involved with NZ Agri Business, particularly the meat industry. Upon the family purchasing We presented this proposal to MPI in Wellington in August Pukenui Station in 2009, I exited my ‘corporate life’ to take as well as many stakeholders in the industry and the up the challenge of hands-on farming in the hills of southern feedback we received from most who have seen it was very Hawkes Bay. positive.
Over three generations of farming sheep my family has seen More recently, as many of you will be aware, the the high and lows of the wool industry. In 1953, due to the government has announced their decision to support the huge demand for wool (to be made into soldiers’ uniforms formation of the Strong Wool Action Group (SWAG). for the Korean War), my grandfather Dennis O’Sullivan paid for his entire 1,600acre block with the wool cheque that The groups’ mandate is to deliver on the key three year! Dad recalls he and his brother picking wool off recommendations made in the recently released industry barbed-wired fences that year such was its value. report, being;
Dad therefore struggled with the depressed prices he • Develop a market-focused investment case and received for wool through the 1980 and 90’s bemoaning the strategic roadmap for the strong wool sector by fact he could barely “buy a second hand-car” from his yearly partnering with global experts to identify wool revenue. opportunities for the sector. Sadly in the past 10 years over-seeing our farming enterprise • Establish the capability necessary to get the sector in Hawkes Bay, I have witnessed the dramatic decline in the match fit, including the appointment of an strong wool price to the point where in FY19, for the first Executive Officer to co-ordinate actions. time ever in my family’s history with wool, the cost to shear • Establish a governance and co-ordination group to our animals exceeded the revenue we received for it by represent the sector and oversee the sector’s $6,500. Unbelievably in part due to the COVID-19 developments. pandemic, the cost of wool to our farming business has increased in the past 12 months to a staggering $25,000! This SWAG governance group of twelve, is being chaired by Rob Hewett from Silver Fern Farms. I have been also This is deadly serious and unless we can collectively move been invited to join this committee, both as a farmer and as the industry in a new transformational direction, we are chairman of the Campaign For Wool. seriously facing the possibility of a sunset industry. I see my role as Chairman for the campaign as critical in doing all we Others on the group are: Kate Acland (Farmer, PAG can to unlock a new future for this back-bone industry of our member), Andrew Morrison (Beef & Lamb NZ), Tony country. Balfour (Ice Breaker and Nike), Steve Williamson (NZ
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Merino), Nadine Turley (Iwi representative), Craig Hickson other wool industry stakeholders to also put forward seed (Progressive Meats), Peter Whiteman (Seagard Masurel capital has been communicated. The key incentive here is Wool), David Ferrier (NZ Wool Scours), John Rodwell that MPI have agreed to match industry contributions to this (PAG author), Paul Alston (Cavalier Bremworth). initiative on a 4 to 1 basis.
Andrew Caughey has been appointed as the Executive The SWAG group is keen to provide regular updates on Officer for the group to co-ordinate activities. Andy has vast progress and I will endeavour to keep you all posted via this experience with wool and a strong marketing background. I CFW newsletter. I am also more than happy to discuss am eager to contribute positively to this industry initiative SWAG or CFW matters in person if required. and I am keen to see it move as fast as possible. I know, like me, all NZ strong sheep farmers have seen wool transition Whilst this SWAG initiative has effectively put on hold the from a revenue to a sizeable animal health cost in the past work we had commenced doing with Brian Richards and his two years which is really hurting our businesses, so we team in Auckland, we will be watching developments very urgently need action. Not that we will see the current closely and look to complement what SWAG is doing if at situation resolved within a year or two, but we at least need all possible. a new long term direction to give all stakeholders in the industry some ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. I believe the work we have done with Brian will be extremely useful in creating a new industry strategy and we Seed funding for this group has been initiated by the big NZ hope to pick it up again when the timing is right to do so. meat companies namely, Silver Fern Farms, Alliance, ANZCO, Progressive Meats and AFFCO. The invitation to
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Time to Explore Unique Areas of the South Island… Molesworth Tag a-long tours have existing itineraries that work On this magnificent journey of a lifetime, your guide will give you a well; however, they also create bespoke tours on request. For full understanding of life and land in this region, with the bonus of further information on the ‘Molesworth Four Day Tag-along Tour’ or meeting Merino sheep and beef station owners. Naturally, the other exciting South Island tours, please contact Geoff and Lee. farmers have wonderful stories to share, as farm life here is quite “We did the 4WD Tag Along Tour in October 2019. We would different with rugged terrain, extreme scorching summers to highly recommend this tour for its mix of magnificent scenery, snowy, freezing cold winters. At the majority of these Stations the challenging 4WD tracks, highly entertaining commentary, farm couples will host lunch or morning tea. hospitality and good fun. It is one thing to look at great scenery At South Island Tours NZ, Geoff and Lee Swift are tour experts, and marvel at it; but this tour also gets you right in the middle of it they have 28 years of South Island tour knowledge and are hands to enjoy all it has to offer. on owner/operators. Over the years Geoff and Lee have made Our tour guide Geoff Swift was extremely knowledgeable about the many friends and contacts which enables them to provide you with areas covered, its history, people and highlights. The an extra special tour experience. accommodation and food were of very good standard too. We Smaller groups allow them to offer a more personalised, off the came away with a real understanding of the area and its people; as beaten track tour, with a varied selection of accommodation to suit well as dozens of great photographs to help us re-live the days. each individual group. On this tour, you have an option of Our trip will live long in the memory and we wouldn't hesitate to individual rooms in the shearer’s quarters or a higher level of book another tour with this company”. accommodation within a new farmhouse. Kind Regards, Graham and Joyce Bell - October 2019
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
#BALES4BLAIR
Slopedown sheep farmer Amy Blaikie, along with Eastern Southland farmers Brooke Cameron and Sarah Dooley, are thrilled to be offering a unique opportunity for local sheep farmers to contribute towards the Southland Charity Hospital.
Amy came up with the idea that farmers could donate bales of wool to insulate and carpet the hospital. Her friends Brooke and Sarah quickly got on board, and they have gained the full support of the New Zealand Wool Industry.
The three passionate friends who met at the local rural playgroup are encouraging Southland farmers to help support their vision and create a lasting memory of the epic Blair Vining.
The Southland Charity Hospital website quotes that the hospital will be ‘founded by the community, for the community, and will provide healthcare for those living in the Southern DHB Zone who would otherwise be unable to access treatment through the For more information on how to donate, check out private or public systems’. Bales4Blair on Facebook, contact your local Broker or
It goes on to say that ‘the story is just beginning: but the organisers on the numbers above. with your help, we can ensure our community receives the care they deserve’, and this is Amy, Brooke and Sarah’s way of both making a contribution, and For more information contact: encouraging local farmers to get on board. Amy Blaikie 027 389 4214
Farmers from throughout New Zealand are able to Brooke Cameron 027 737 7218 donate any full bales of wool (fleece or bellies and Sarah Dooley 027 473 365 pieces) and it will be sorted into lines at the New Donations are being accepted until the Zealand Wool Scouring factories. end of January 2021 This project would not be possible without the support and generosity of Nigel and Tony at New Zealand Wool Scouring.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Amy Blaikie 027 389 4214, Brooke Cameron 027 373 7218 and Sarah Dooley 027 473 3655.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
The Canterbury Poll Dorset club had a day at Leeston for the breeders to bring some of their rams for display. This is the top pick of each breeder. ➢
Photo: Ian McCall
A BIT OF HISTORY use coarse-woolled sheep. About 1874 Mr Ludlam’s flock was dispersed, and most of the ewes sold were fourth, fifith ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP. and, sixth cross ewes, and a comparatively small number of NZ National Library Papers Past purebred sheep, a few very good imported rams among Marlborough Express 9 October, 1909 them. For some time after the flock was disposed of there ORIGIN OF THE BREED IN THE NORTH ISLAND was some difficulty in obtaining purebred rams, and in many INTERESTING REMARKS BY AN AUTHORITY cases rams no purer than the ewes were used with the result (NZ Times correspondent) Masterton, Oct. 6. that no progress was made in obtaining purity of the breed. This difficulty was got over later on by the importation of In the course of an address on Romney Marsh sheep before both Romney Marsh ewes and rams from Kent, which have the pupils of the wool-classing classes of the Masterton had the effect of imparting more of the true Romney Technical School and prominent breeders of the district, Mr character. A Matthews, the well-known Romney Marsh breeder, of Wairongomai, who is probably the best authority in the “I have often found sheep in the showyards carrying Dominion on that particular breed of sheep, made some beautiful fine wool, but deficient in most of the interesting remarks on the origin of the breed in the North characteristic features of a true Romney Marsh, the wool Island of New Zealand. having the fineness of a merino but not that of a long- woolled sheep. “Most of our Romney Marsh sheep,” said Mr Matthews, “have been bred up from merino ewes, as until the last few HINTS FOR WOOL GROWERS. years scarcely any purebred ewes were imported. The early “There is no fixed type of Romney as far as wool is settlers selected their sheep runs along the coastline or on concerned, either in England or New Zealand. At the the banks of rivers in order to obtain water carriage for their English shows you will see sheep from the same flock wool to the nearest shipping port, there being no roads or carrying quite different wool, and in New Zealand, if you bridges in those days. The sheep introduced from Australia wish to sell your rams readily, you must grow two different were merinos, and probably the most useful breed for the classes of wool. With our climate we should be able to grow settlers’ purposes when one took into consideration the the best wool in the world, but we have to be careful not to rough condition of the country. At that time it required a allow wool to carry us away and suffer constitution to be light sheep to climb the rough and steep hills of the coast, neglected. In order to produce healthy wool and well-grown and to travel to the Wellington market over the coast tracks. sheep we must feed the Romney well. The Romney is credited with being one of the hardiest of long-wools, but in “About the year 1856 a Mr Leonard Young imported two or its original home in the marsh or uplands of Kent it was three Romney Marsh ewes from England, which, after accustomed to rich pasture, and consequently we cannot running for some time at Porirua On Mr Drake’s property, hope in New Zealand to bring the breed to perfection unless passed into the hands of the late Mr Alfred Ludlam. Mr we treat it well. It is a large sheep, and an early maturing Ludlam obtained some merino ewes from Dr Hildebrand, of one, and if you treat it fairly it is fit for market at from this district, and by using imported Romney Marsh rams sixteen to eighteen months old. I have grown Romney started his flock at Waiwetu. In a few years he was able to Marsh wethers for show purpose that weighed over 90 supply settlers all over the Wellington district with crossbred pounds [40.8kg, Editor] when only fourteen months old and rams, and they were soon used largely among the merino fed on grass only.” ewes. Footrot about this time became such a serious trouble among merino flocks that settlers became very anxious to .
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
Wools of New Zealand Update
Wools of New Zealand, a company 100% owned focused on driving increased demand for wool by farming families and established in 2006, is on and capturing more value by “being no more than the brink of making big changes. In February one step removed from the 2021, we plan to have branded Wools of New consumer”. We believe Zealand woollen carpet sold in retail stores in that this move will help all New Zealand. As consumers are becoming more New Zealand wool farmers conscious about the products they buy and how as it aims to increase the they are made, we at Wools of New Zealand see demand and consumption an opportunity to encourage the purchase of of woollen products. woollen carpets, with all its benefits, over synthetic carpets. Our aim is to deliver quality woollen carpets to New Zealanders with prices Make sure to follow the journey via our website that are competitive with synthetic carpets to woolsnz.com or facebook @woolsnz. provide good farm gate return on wool. We are
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
The Lost Sheep by Lynne Grove “Replace plastic with a product that lasts. Meet UN goals, climate forecasts. Pull the wool from your eyes Make carpets, blankets, insulation. Give wool- Look locally, the answer lies growers compensation!” across the paddock, in the shed. Quickly, before the last sheep’s led Wool kept us warm, saved our mental health to slaughter at the Alliance through Lockdown, and could lead to wealth meek as a lamb, without defiance. with R&D, targets, investment,
let’s seek production reassessment. A dollar a kilo, too scant to restore,
too low to keep the wolf from the door. Buy wool! Grow New Zealand’s flock. Too late, the world will realise Increase our national woolly stock. The last sheep’s gone, wool’s demise. ‘Wild and woolly’, an NZ campaign, Yesterday’s cream of the crop, Eco plus, economic gain. Wool industry for the chop. Peak sheep in nineteen eighty-two Lose a sustainable resource? Now five per person, way too few. A world without wool? There must be recourse…. Under the weather, short of assets? But wait! Knitters are up in arms! Wool should be a vital facet No fleece to spin, no source for yarns. to aid our regions in recovery, Needles crossed, carders in hand, Spin a wool-based rediscovery. they ply their message, yarn-bomb the land. Soon shearers gather, handpieces raised No more our family’s black sheep Demanding policy be re-appraised. Wool should peak, a resource to keep.
Our lost sheep found, rejoice together, Farmers block roads with four-wheel bikes, Each lamb is precious, each ewe, each wether. Battle opinion, gain Facebook likes. Shear joy! For work and for pleasure, Herd their mobs to mob the steps Wool – New Zealand’s national treasure. of Parliament, joined by reps of Agriculture, Fibre and Food, growing support, charging the mood. Schoolkids emerge in wool uniform advocating product reform.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
The office had this query from a firm in Norway re NZ farmers possible interest in the product below.
SMARTBELLS
Smartbjella is the brand name for Smartbells, company founded in Norway by farmers with over 20K units deployed in the market already. The tracker is a robust, simple to use and affordable solution for farmers to keep control of their stock and faster herding time while free grazing season. The ultra-long battery life given by the innovative NB-IoT technology provides farmers a maintenance free unit with up to 10y service lifetime.
Historical data, accounting loss of stock, movement patterns and death alarms are some of the benefits while using Smartbells form your phone or PC.
Marcos Arizti CEO // Smartbells AS T: +47 99 55 71 00 M: +47 979 580 35 W: https://smartbjella.no/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/rUSZ61SXGmU
Received these two photos of SAMM sheep from Australia after publication of the last newsletter which featured SAMM. The top photo says “Gracefield ewes” but no caption was given for the ram photo.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”
FOR SALE Note: CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS FREE advertisements are available for member Kaituna Ram Sale breeders with surplus stud sheep for sale. Full or half page ads may have a charge. Talk to Wednesday 9 December 2020 Greg! 95 rams on offer Remember the “Sheep NewZ” goes up on the Hampshire, South Suffolk, Poll Dorset and website, available to be read by anyone with an Southdown interest in sheep!!! Email adverts to the Editor or Ram videos and full catalogue also available [email protected] here: bidr.co.nz/auction/573
Sheep Breeds posters are available at The Closing Date for next issue of the Office. the newsletter will be February 20th Contact: [email protected] for the March 2021 newsletter. Please get items in well before the deadline!!!
“FEATURE BREED” open to NZSBA JERSEY/PULLOVERS – We All Breeds, but particularly are currently investigating producing a breeds not featured yet. large run of jersey/pullovers for members to purchase. They will have If you would like to be part of this section or the the NZSBA logo on them and some will newsletter, photos and stud histories of all have Sheep 125 on them also to celebrate breeds are accepted at any time for next issue.
125 years of stud breeding. EMAIL OR POST TO THE EDITOR – see https://www.truefleece.co.nz/collections front page for address details. https://www.wildsouthclothing.co.nz/Product/MM047/ 320-AWAKINO-P%7COVER Published by NZ Sheepbreeders’ Association Email: [email protected] Any feedback would be appreciated – Phone: (03) 358 9412 [email protected] The Association accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any published opinion, nor information, supplied by individuals or reprinted from other sources. Items may be abridged or edited.
“Fostering the improvement of all sheep breeds and providing a unified body whose collective voice has a beneficial effect on the total New Zealand sheep industry.”