Assisted by his son Simon, Allan Paterson of Armidale Merino Stud was a star performer in the merino ring at the 2009 Royal New Zealand Show in Christchurch this week.
Allan was the most successful merino exhibitor taking out the prizes for Allan was the most successful merino exhibitor taking out the prizes for:
- Champion medium ram
- Champion fine ram
- Champion poll ram that went on to Grand Champion Merino Ram
- Champion fine ewe that went on to be Grand Champion Merino Ewe.
“This is one of the best years we have had at the show. We brought 18 sheep to the show and every one has a ticket. We are quite thrilled about that. They included 12 firsts, four seconds and two thirds.”
In a repeat performance of last year, the prize winning poll merino ram, owned by Mark Urquhart of Grays Hills Stud in Fairlie, went on to win overall Supreme Champion Merino of the show. Both rams had the same sire. Last year’s Poll Merino Grand Champion Ram was put to 100 ewes. They pregnancy scanned at 167% and produced 147 live lambs.
This year in the group classes, Allan also won the Woodchester Cup for a group of five sheep and Merial Ancare Pairs Final (1 one shear Ram and 1 one shear Ewe).
Allan’s grandfather George established Armidale stud near Ranfurly before the Second World War. It lapsed because of the war but Allan’s father Bruce restarted it again in 1954. He started showing at Christchurch in 1961 and the family has consistently done well since then. These days Allan’s son Simon is a great help with the stud sheep and showing.
“In previous years we haven’t been showing to the same extent but having Simon home helps because of his enthusiasm.”
From its earliest days Armidale has always looked for size, conformation and plenty of wool. It largely still sticks to these criteria.
“We still want to breed big good doing productive sheep. We are definitely trying to produce a dual purpose sheep. We want to breed young sheep which grow out to good weights early.”
In the commercial flock the Patersons have been killing merino hoggets in April and May at 18kg instead of taking them through the winter.
“With wintering costs if you grow them out to these weights early it is more profitable although there is still good money for people who want to take them through the winter and shear them. Either way you still need an animal to grow out quickly to 19 or 20 kg,” says Allan.
Allan is increasing his focus on breeding poll merinos because the genetics are improving, producing slightly more fertile quicker maturing sheep.
"We want to build up a ewe base of 200-300 ewes that are poll dominant and run them as a separate entity within the stud."
There were 120 entries in the merino classes, up four from last year. Australian judge Steven Phillips, who has judged at all the major sheep shows in Australia, said the standard at Christchurch was on par with back home and the NZ sheep had particularly good quality well nourished wool.
Allan’s nephew Mike Paterson from Goldwyn at Kurow won the merino junior judge competition. Mike says his uncle has been a great help teaching him how to class sheep and he hopes to become a farm manager in the future. Mike’s prize will be to compete at the Melbourne Show next year.
Merino Show Results:
Merino - Superfine Combing Ram, over 30 months. (4): Paterson A D 1, Matangi Station 2, Blairich Merino Stud 3. Ram, 18 to 30 months. (8): Gibson R W 1, Matangi Station 2, Matangi Station 3. Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ram 18-30 months: R W Gibson. Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (5): Blairich Merino Stud 1, Blairich Merino Stud 2, Blairich Merino Stud 3. Ewe, 18 to 30 months. (8): Gibson R W 1, Blairich Merino Stud 2, Stevenson I D & P E 3. Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ewe 18-30 months. : R W Gibson. Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (6): Stevenson I D & P E 1, Matangi Station 2, Blairich Merino Stud 3. Champion Merino Ram (superfine) : R W Gibson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (superfine) : A D Paterson. Champion Merino Ewe (superfine) : R W Gibson. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (superfine) : Blairich Merino Stud.
Merino - Ultra Fine Combing Ram, over 30 months (2): Matangi Station 1, Matangi Station 2. Ram, 18 to 30 months (2): Gibson R W 1, Blairich Merino Stud 2. Merino Breed Committee $100 prize - Best Ram, 18-30 months: R W Gibson. Ram, under 18 months (2): Blairich Merino Stud 1, Matangi Station 2. Ewe, 18 to 30 months (3): Matangi Station 1, Gibson R W 2. Merino Breed Committee $100 prize - Best Ewe, 18 to 30 months: Matangi Station. Ewe, under 18 months (2): Blairich Merino Stud 1, Matangi Station 2. Champion Merino Ram (ultra fine): R W Gibson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (ultra fine): Blairich Merino Stud. Champion Merino Ewe (ultra fine): Matangi Station. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (ultra fine): R W Gibson.
Merino - Fine Combing Ram, 18 to 30 months. (8): Paterson A D 1, Paterson A D 2, Blairich Merino Stud 3. Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ram 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (6): Paterson A D 1, Heddell Family 2, Heddell Family 3. Ewe, 18 to 30 months. (8): Paterson A D 1, Blairich Merino Stud 2, Paterson A D 3. Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ewe 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (9): Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2, Blairich Merino Stud 3. Champion Merino Ram (fine) : A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (fine) : A D Paterson. Champion Merino Ewe (fine) : A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (fine) : Blairich Merino Stud.
Merino - Medium Combing Ram, over 30 months. (2): Paterson A D 1, Black G M & B J 2. Ram, 18 to 30 months. (4): Paterson A D 1, Black G M & B J 2, Stevenson W J P & N J 3. Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ram 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (6): Paterson A D 1, Black G M & B J 2, Black G M & B J 3. Ewe, 18 to 30 months. (4): Black G M & B J 1, Paterson A D 2, Stevenson I D & P E 3. Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ewe 18-30 months: G M & B J Black. Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (7): Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2, Black G M & B J 3. Champion Merino Ram (medium) : A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (medium) : A D Paterson. Champion Merino Ewe (medium) : G M & B J Black. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (medium) : A D Paterson.
Merino - Group Classes Three Rams, 18 to 30 months, any combing. (4): Paterson A D 1, Matangi Station 2. Woodchester Cup: Group of 3 Rams and 2 Ewes. (Open to all combings) (5): Paterson A D 1, Blairich Merino Stud 2, Stevenson I D & P E 3. The Woodchester Challenge Cup : A D Paterson.
Poll Merino Ram, over 30 months. (2): Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2. Ram, 18 to 30 months. (5): Paterson A D 1, Gibson W H 2, Gibson W H 3. Merino Breed Committee Prize $100 - Best Ram 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (3): Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2. Ewe, 18 to 30 months. (2): Gibson W H 1, Paterson A D 2. Merino Breed Committee Prize $100 - Best Ewe 18-30 months: W H Gibson. Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form). (2): Stevenson I D & P E 1, Paterson A D 2. Champion Poll Merino Ram : A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Poll Merino Ram : A D Paterson. Champion Poll Merino Ewe : W H Gibson. Reserve Champion Poll Merino Ewe : I D & P E Stevenson.
Merino - Overall Awards Grand Champion Merino Ewe : A D Paterson. Hadleigh Cup - Ewe with Best Merino Conformation. : G M & B J Black. Glenmark Challenge Cup - Grand Champion Merino Ewe. : A D Paterson. Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ewe : Matangi Station. Grand Champion Merino Ram. Sponsored by PGG Wrightson Ltd. : A D Paterson. Phoebe Dunbar Cup - Merino Ram with the Best Conformation. : A D Paterson. Canterbury Merino Breeders' Assn. Cup - Best NZ Bred Merino Ram. : A D Paterson. A A Urquhart Memorial Trophy - Best Merino Ram, 18 to 30 Months. (Includes all combings, and Poll Merino.): R W Gibson. Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ram : R W Gibson. Supreme Champion Merino - Sash and trophy sponsored by The New Zealand Merino Co Ltd: A D Paterson. RAS Award - Gold Medal : A D Paterson. R C Todhunter Memorial Cup - Best Merino Ewe Hogget. : I D & P E Stevenson. Hugonin Perpetual Trophy - Best Merino Ram Hogget Sponsored by Novartis (20 litre Click value $750): A D Paterson. RAS Trophy (Marlborough Merino Breeders Cup - Best Ram over 18 Months): A D Paterson. Most Successful Exhibitor Award The Merino Breed Society sponsors a trophy and cash prize to the value of $200. : A D Paterson.
Merial Ancare Merino Pairs Final MERIAL ANCARE MERINO PAIRS FINAL (1 one shear Ram and 1 one shear Ewe). To be entered in other classes if possible: A D Paterson.
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