New Zealand Merino Stud Breeders: News

New Nine Mile Stud Opens More Possibilities for Superfine Merinos

Not afraid to push the boundaries, Nine Mile Merino Stud in the Lindis Pass is aiming to breed superfine/ ultra fine merinos with a faster maturing carcass.

“It’s got to be a dual purpose sheep these days to give growers options. We knew when we began that carcass values were not a given with the specialist wools we wanted to breed so retaining and reducing micron while improving fleece cut and increasing meat value has been a real challenge,” says owner Gordon Lucas.

Although the stud was only registered in 2009, it has made a good start so far. In a coals to Newcastle story, Nine Mile achieved the joint top price at Wanaka Show ram sale this year when John Perriam of Bendigo Station and the Cook family of Lochar Downs bought a superfine ram for $3600.

When Nine Mile Station converted to merinos in the mid 1980 it was the other way around with Gordon and his wife Spin being regular customers of Bendigo stud.
In the grip of micron madness, the focus was almost exclusively on superfine wool. However by the late 1990s Gordon started looking for more options with his flock. The hogget meat market had developed and the challenge was how to retain his wool type but grow the required body weights to meet this spring money maker.

Around this time Australian trained stud master and family friend Jayne Rive took 12 New Zealand merino growers including Gordon to Australia on a tour to learn more about how to achieve wool density on a plain bodied sheep.

Appetite whetted, Gordon decided to pursue a breeding strategy that included more emphasis on meat frame and fertility. He saw that reducing body wrinkle would have a positive impact on the development of this type.

Gordon and Jayne began the stud program with just 200 ewes- selected as a type from 5500 Nine Mile flock ewes. These ewes were artificially inseminated to three Australian poll rams. Gordon was keen to use poll merinos because he says ‘they are the way of the future and known to be of quieter temperament earlier maturing and higher fecundity.” (fertility).

With lambs on the ground, extensive data gathering followed including micron measurements, and fleece weights as well as 100, 200, and 300 day body weights and eye muscle and fat measurements. This information went to Merino Genetic Services MGS in Armidale, Australia and was sent back as estimated breeding values (EBVs). Nine Mile has found these figures invaluable - used along with subjective appraisal - in selecting the right animals to drive the stud in the desired direction.
Ram clients have also found EBVs very useful in helping them select for the traits they require.

The rams have proven to be versatile, being popular in both high and low rainfalls and altitudes. Even crossbred growers have found them ideal as an easier lambing terminal sire for their hoggets. Breeding a lamb with whiter, finer wools suitable for Smart Wool contracts while still meeting meat yields.

The Nine Mile stud flock now numbers over 600 pedigreed breeding ewes. In March 2009 Nine Mile hosted a field day run by the Otago Merino Association. Gordon and Jayne put up a display of the newly registered Nine Mile stud which received very favorable comment from the large crowd including guest speaker Andries Pienaar from the Mega Meat Merino Stud in South Africa.

In early June 2009 Nine Mile shore 560 hoggets cutting 2.7Kg of 15.8 micron wool @ $10.20 kg (netting $27.54) and killed them at @ 19.2 kg ( netting $ 115) averaging $ 142.54 at eight months of age.

Gordon feels he’s being financially rewarded for his change in direction.
“I think I’m on to a good thing!”

Bog Roy Merinos Win Ewe Hogget Competition Again

The evenness of David and Lisa Anderson's merino hoggets was again commented on by the judges when the couple won the fine-wool section of the New Zealand Ewe Hogget competition for a second time.

The Andersons also won the title in 2008 and strive to produce an even line of Merino ewes that perform well on Bog Roy Station, a 3000ha hill-country property that lies between Otematata and Omarama in South Canterbury.

The couple views merinos as a dual purpose animal and aim to maximise production of both fine wool and meat and view the meat. They are breeding toward a big-framed Merino ewe which can finish a lamb as quickly as possible. The ewe also needs to have sound conformation and loose, but not wrinkly, skin.

They are looking for 18-19 micron good clipping fleece. They often get their ram breeder Bill Sutherland of Benmore Merino Stud to offer an opinion on chosing replacements as he knows the genetic direction the flock is taking. This helps him select the best rams to suit the Andersons' genetic needs.

>> Click here to read a Countrywide article about the Anderson's stock management

>> Click here for information about Benmore Merino Stud

Tara Hills Merinos Win Special Ewe Hogget Award

Merino growers Greg and Mary Stuart of Tara Hills Station at Omarama have yet again proved merinos are ‘good all rounders’, this time by winning a special award for wool quality and production at the 2010 New Zealand ewe hogget competition.

This comes just a month after they winning the production section of the Otago Merino Association’s Merino Excellence Awards for the second time. They were runners-up in the same section in 2008.

The 3340ha high country property winters 7000 merino sheep and 400 cattle. It roughly earns its income equally from wool, beef and sheep meat. Only 340ha is irrigated.

When the couple first entered the ewe hogget competition in 2004, a year after taking over managing the property, they came last. They say the improvement in wool quality and production is due to advice from wool and sheep classer Dick McArthur. They are also grateful for help from ram breeders Bill and Andrew Sutherland of nearby Benmore Merino Stud and Jim Hore of Stonehenge Merino Stud near Ranfurly.

The average wool micron of the Tara Hills flock is 17.3 for ewes and 15.8 microns for hoggets. The Stuarts are also developing a small ultra-fine flock for the Italian suiting market.

>> Click here to read about wool and sheep classer Dick McArthur

>> Click here for information about Benmore Merino Stud

>> Click here for information about Stonehenge Merino Stud

>> Click here to read about the 2010 Merino Excellence Awards

South African Exchange Scholars Announced

Wool classer Jayne Rive and former chairman of the Otago Merino Association Dave (Gundy) Anderson have been chosen to travel to South Africa to visit leading merino stud breeder Andries Pienaar.

Jane and Gundy plan to spend about three weeks at Andries’ Mega Merinos Stud at Klipplaatsfontein in the upper Karoo area in September 2010. The purpose of the exchange is to trade knowledge and ideas. It will be funded by the Gordon McMaster Trust which was started by farmers in the MacKenzie/Waitaki area.

Andries did a lecture tour of the South Island in April 2009 urging merino breeders and growers to focus on optimising productivity.

>> Click here to read more about Andries

Classers Connect Via the Web

Classer Seeks Work…. A new website has been established to help wool classers find work and to keep them up to date with industry news.

Editor of the new New Zealand Wool Classers Association website Dave Carr is encouraging classers to supply him with notices which he will place on the website. He also wants members to send in news and information.

“Some of these aims will take a while to develop but if members can help it can work for all of us. The notice page will be helpful if you are looking for sheds to fill gaps in your schedule or need someone to class a clip if you are doubled up,” says Dave.

The website also has interesting profiles about board members, association newsletters, a copy of the rules and a gallery of classers in action.

>> Click here to visit the site

A Good Keen Merino Woman

With a passion for fine wool, Lincoln graduate and newly qualified wool classer Nicola Kelland has made a spectacular start to her career.

In March Nicola visited the Monaro district in Australia as the recipient of a Central Otago Merino Association Monaro scholarship. During the three week trip she visited ten Merino studs to learn about their breeding objectives and how they manage their Merinos in this extreme climate which bears similarities to the New Zealand high country where she grew up (at Glenbrook Station between Omarama and Twizel).

While in Australia she also won the Graduate Woolclasser of the Year competition at the Sydney show, against a line up of the best classers from TAFE institutions around New South Wales and Queensland. Nicola had completed her wool classing qualification while working as a jillaroo at Haddon Rig, one of Australia’s oldest merino studs. Located in Central West New South Wales, Haddon Rig is a 60,000 acre operation running 15,000-20,000 merinos on three properties.

The job was all stock work which gave Nicola the vital practical experience she sought after completing her Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln in 2008. Although wool science is no longer part of the degree curriculum, for her Honours year she convinced her lecturers to let her complete a masters-level paper in wool production, covering all aspects of the wool industry from on-farm wool production right through to each aspect of the processing chain and the marketing of wool in New Zealand.

“I also needed to complete a project for my Honours year so in association with Jon Hickford and The New Zealand Merino Company, I studied aspects of the staple length and staple strength of New Zealand Merino wool. The project looked into the measurement of staple length and strength and investigated where and why variation is evident between repeated tests carried out on the same line of wool. It also investigated trends in the staple length and strength of New Zealand merino wool from 2002-2008,” says Nicola.

“I really love merino wool production and genetics. The more I learn the more excited I get about the future of the New Zealand merino industry. It’s a great industry to be involved in, with so many progressive growers that are really passionate about what they’re doing,” says Nicola.

Nicola is looking for wool classing or stud stock work. To contact her please phone 027 340 7184 or email nic.kelland@yahoo.com

Merino Classer Merit Awards 2010

The NZ Wool Classer Association's Classer Merit Awards were announced at the Fibre Select professional development day held in Queenstown on 18 June 2010.

The two merino award winners were:

B Abbott, Walter Peak, Cecil Peak, Motatapu and Mt Creighton.
S Dalzell, G,lenaan, Randolph Downs and Glenthorne.

The merino classers to gain commendations were:

P McConway, Blairich
N Ferguson, Mt Dasher
H Whyte-Puna, Irishman Creek
M McLauchlan, Nokomai, Mt Nicholas
W Parsons, Dunstan Peaks

Armidale Wins Clip of the Year

Armidale was announced the overall winner of the 2010 NZWTA Clip of the Year competition at the Central Otago Merino Association’s Merino Excellence Awards dinner held at Queenstown on 19 June.

The social event of of the year for New Zealand merino growers, the competition attracted 132 entrants from around the country. The fleeces were a stunning sight displayed under spotlights against a black backdrop.

Allan Paterson and his son Simon collected the ultimate prize in front of the 180-strong audience. The Patersons run about 7500 commercial merinos, a merino stud and 150 cattle on their 2,058 hectare Ranfurly property in the Maniototo. First runner-up was another Maniototo merino breeder, Jim Hore, from Stonehenge, and the second runner-up was Earl Attfield, from Waikeri Downs, Clyde.

Omarama farmers dominated the Ravensdown merino production competition section, with Greg Stuart from Tara Hills Station taking first place, and Richard and Annabelle Subtil, Omarama Station, named runner-up.

Lauder farmers Robbie and Becs Calder won the Child Cancer fleece competition, having also won the section's fine wool section.

A new award, the Heather Perriam Memorial Award for services to the merino industry, was presented to Keith Ovens, commercial manager at the New Zealand Merino Company. Heather was a pioneer of merino retailing in New Zealand with her Merino Shop at Tarras.

As usual after the presentations an auction was held to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation. Items were donated by CRT, Novartis, McAuslin Merino, Reda, Douglas Finepacks, The Wrinkly Ram and Hot Tubs Omarama and Mihi Superfine Merino. Alistair Campbell from Earnscleugh also donated a magnificent painting of a merino ram by renown New Zealand-born artist and former farmer Alan Somerville. In total over $7000 was raised and the fleeces submitted by award entrants will also be auctioned with the proceeds to be donated to the Child Cancer Foundation.

NZWTA Clip of the Year  Results:

ADULT Up to 16.8 micron
3rd The Rocks, 2nd Bendrose, 1st Nine Mile

16.8 - 17.2 micron
3rd Timburn,  2nd Mt Grand,  1st Craighurst

17.2 - 17.6 micron
3rd Horseshoe,  2nd Matarae,  1st Moutere

17.6 to 18.0 micron
3rd Waikeri Downs,  2nd Stonehenge,  1st Ahuriri Downs

18.0 - 20.0 micron
3rd Middlehurst,  2nd Glenmore,  1st Armidale

HOGGET Up to 15.6 micron
3rd Twin Peaks,  2nd Timburn,  1st The Bend

15.6 - 16 micron
3rd The Rocks,  2nd Tara Hills,  1st Horseshoe

16 to 16.3 micron
3rd Craighurst,  2nd Matarae,  1st Benmore

16.3 to 16.9 micron
3rd Carrickmore,  2nd Buscot,  1st Stonehenge

16.9 to 20 micron
3rd Mt Nicholas,  2nd Middlehurst,  1st Armidale


Overall 2nd Runner Up Waikeri Downs Earl Attfield
Overall 1st Runner Up Stonehenge C Jim Hore
Overall Winner Armidale Allan and Eris Paterson


RAVENSDOWN MERINO PRODUCTION COMP


Production Comp Runner Up  Omarama Station Richard & Annabelle Subtil
Winner  Tara Hills Greg Stuart - Manager


CHILD CANCER FLEECE COMPETITION

Super Fine
3rd Culverden,  2nd Hummock,  1st Moutere Tony and Jillian Jopp

Fine
3rd Benmore,  2nd Otematata,  1st Lauder Robbie and Becs Calder

Overall 1st Lauder Robbie and Becs Calder

Links to Winning Stud Breeders
>> Armidale stud
>> Stonehenge stud
>> Moutere stud
>> Bendrose stud
>> Matarae stud
>> Benmore stud
>> Otematata stud
>> Lauder stud

Simon Hills Wins 2 Tooth Competition

Simons Hill Station won the 2010 biennial Mackenzie Waitaki Merino Two Tooth competition held on 27 and 28 May in the Mackenzie Basin.

Fourteen properties made their commercial merino two tooth flocks available over during the two days. Despite pretty chilly and challenging conditions all properties were able to yard their two tooths and up to 80 hardy souls braved the conditions to follow the competition.

Andrew Sutherland from Benmore Station and Australian sheep classer Chris Bowman judged the event. Chris had judged the event four years ago when the competition was last held in the Mackenzie country and he was pleased to see all flocks had improved over this time. Together with Andrew, he provided constructive comments that created some good discussion along the tour.

The major change in income ratio of meat versus wool was a hot topic with some properties having changed from 80% wool 20% meat to 30% wool 70% meat. There were also discussions about lambing losses. Most properties were happy with their scanning but disappointed with lamb survival. Vaccination programs were also discussed with most properties using Toxo, but there was more debate around the value of camplyo.

During the dinner the Judges announced their choices as follows:
1st Simons Hill Station
2nd Streamlands Station
3rd Maryburn Station
4th Balmoral Station
5th Grays Hills Station & The Wolds Station
Encouragement Award Haldon Station

2010 Monaro Exchange a Success

The Otago Merino Association’s annual exchange to the Monaro district in Australia continues to be a success offering our young people of the industry a chance to broaden their horizons and knowledge. This year’s recipient Nicola Kelland very much enjoyed her time in the Monaro area in March.

Nicola was born and raised on a merino property and has since completed studies at Lincoln with first class honors in wool science. She recently spent time working on Haddon Rig merino stud in Australia. Nicola has a great passion for our merino industry and is a very worthy recipient.

Nicola also recently won the Graduate Woolclasser of the Year competition at the Sydney show, against a line up of the best classers from TAFE institutions round New South Wales and Queensland. Nicola is looking for wool classing work in New Zealand for the coming season.

2010 Monaro Scholarship Report

By Nicola Kelland

After working at Haddon Rig Merino stud (Central West New South Wales) for a year, the Monaro district felt a bit more like home. At 750-1000+ metres above sea level, and with low (variable) rainfall, the climate is similar to that of our high country. Fine wool (16-19 micron) Merinos are run on native pastures, improved pastures (lucerne, phalaris and subterranean clover are combined in a mix), and lucerne. Weeds are very similar to those at home, with barley grass, nodding thistle, scotch thistle, serrated tussock and African lovegrass (very similar to Browntop), although their pest problems are significantly different. Although rabbits aren’t a major problem at the moment, the populations of grasshoppers are unbelievable and they have an incredible ability to rapidly desecrate the landscape. Dingoes and foxes are a major threat to lambs in some areas, and wombats are a problem as they can create huge holes in the paddocks.

On the exchange I visited the following properties around the Monaro district:

Middle View – Bob & Mikala Walters

Middle View runs 1,800 Merino ewes plus replacements on 2,000 acres, averaging 18.2 micron, and selling 220 rams per year. Ewes lamb in October and are shorn in December to reduce risk of flystrike over summer. I helped Bob side-sample his ewe hoggets and select some show ewes. That drop of ewes was sired by rams from Yarrawonga, Bindawarra, Grassy Creek, Merryville and Nerstane, in addition to the best of his own rams. The Nerstane and Middle View rams consistently bred ewes with the best wools, which were very stylish, white and of good length.

Greendale – Alan & Michelle McGuifficke

Greendale runs 1,500 stud ewes, averaging 17.5 micron and selling 90 rams per year. I was very impressed with the wool they had in the shed, the character was excellent and the weights they were cutting were outstanding for this micron. For
example, one of the sire rams tested 16.3μm and cut 16.9kg greasy (58% yield, 9.8 kg clean). Shearing is done pre-lamb in July and lambing is at the end of August, with crutching in February to reduce fly problems. Overall I was really impressed with their operation, they place strong emphasis on the use of objective measurement data for selection decisions and their clients have been very successful in recent wether trials.

Hazeldean – Jim & Libby Litchfield

I started the exchange at a Merino sheep classing and genetics field day at Hazeldean, which focused on ram selection exercises using specific breeding objectives, and provided strategies for buying rams. Presentations by members of the Department of Primary Industries and local sheep classer Craig Wilson quantified the differences in productivity between individual sheep within a mob and highlighted the opportunity to use objective measurement data to make accurate selection decisions and improve the overall productivity of a Merino enterprise.

The home property at Hazeldean runs 2,500 stud ewes plus replacements, plus another 9,000 ewes (2,000 stud and 7,000 commercial) on two other properties located near Cooma and Hay. Stud ewes are shorn in January and lambing begins
in August. I helped out with the AI program which involved joining 660 stud using semen from Nerstane (NSW), Stockton (Tasmania), Bellengery (WA) in addition to that from their own sire rams. Hazeldean also have a very good Angus stud consisting of 1,000 stud cows breeding 400 bulls for sale per year. I worked with Jim tagging bull calves and was really impressed with the quality of his cattle, in particular their frame-size, constitution and temperament. Hazeldean run a very efficient and progressive operation with their breeding programs strongly focused on objective measurement information in the form of EBVs and indexes in addition to subjective appraisal.

Cottage Park – Mark & Jodi Pendergant

Cottage Park runs 1,500 stud ewes plus cattle on 3,000 acres. They also place strong emphasis on objective measurement to make selection decisions and have made good progress with ewe hoggets cutting 7.4 kg greasy (5.2 kg clean) at 18 micron. Their clients have also performed very well in wether trials achieving well in both the good wool and carcass value categories. I helped Mark draft the maiden ewes for joining – they were classed into two mobs: plain and heavy-skinned.
It was really interesting to observe the marked difference in body size and yield between the two groups (with the plainer ewes being consistently significantly larger and higher yielding). We also put the sires out – they use single sire mating
with up to 140 ewes per sire. Corrective mating is applied, with larger plainer sires used over heavier skinned maidens.

Hinesville – Drew & Laura Chapman

They run 1,800 ewes plus replacements at their property at Delegate near the Victorian border. The stud is mostly polled, with the main emphasis on body size and wool cut. Drew is very keen on showing sheep, and takes pride in breeding very large-framed poll ewes. ET is important part of the breeding program with 10-12 ewes used as doners per year. He has strict qualifiers for the ET program – donor ewes must cut 10kg+ (average micron is 19.2) and weigh at least 90 kg. His operation was interesting in that he lambs one third of his ewes in the autumn and two thirds in spring, in order to spread workload, cash-flow, and provide a second opportunity to join his best ewes. He was also really keen on achieving a high level of grazing control and had his property very intensively fenced in order to accomplish this.

Sherwood - Henry & Julia Bridgewater

At Sherwood they run a small stud of 220 ewes, and another 3,300 commercial ewes plus cattle on 13,000 acres of rocky basalt country. The sheep were SRS type based on Severn Park bloodlines, and selection and joinings are done by Charles Massey and Jim Watts. Henry’s operation was quite different to the others in that he is very passionate about SRS type sheep and was keen to develop an SRS stud with strong emphasis on reducing micron while maintaining fleece weight (currently his flock averages 19 micron and cuts 6kg).

Boudjah – Mike & Mary Green

Here I spent a couple of days attending sheep selection field days that Mike had put on for his clients. The workshops were run by Stuart Hodgson who classes sheep both in Australia and New Zealand. Stuart has a great eye for stock and places emphasis on selecting plain, uncomplicated sheep with excellent conformation and constitution. One of the workshops was run at Mike’s property at Kiandra which was quite different to the others I had visited in that it was pretty rugged with a lot of bush country that was similar to that which you see on the ‘Man from Snowy River’.

Paling Yards wether trial (Taralga)

This wether trial was run run by Craig Wilson Livestock and comprised 30 teams consisting of a random selection of 30 wethers from commercial producers from a wide range of areas. The wethers were rotationally grazed on high performing
perennial based pastures under a high stocking rate (30 DSE (dry stock equivalents) per hectare) at “Paling Yards” (770mm rainfall). We were there for the final shearing of the wethers where final results were being generated for wool and carcass value for each team. It was really interesting to see how much variation there was both between animals within a team, and between teams. The most interesting result was that the top teams were able to generate 77% more net income per hectare than the bottom performing teams which showed the huge impact that Merino genetics can
have on income. Also interesting was that there was huge variation in staple strength between animals run in the same environment which demonstrated the significant influence of genetics on the staple strength of wool. Average wool values ranged from $39 to $80 per team highlighting a significant opportunity for improved genetics to increase profit. Overall it was really interesting and provided a great opportunity to have a look at sheep from a large number of properties.

In summary the exchange was hugely beneficial. I met some fantastic people, each with different ideas and ways of doing things. I saw a range of different Merino enterprises, picked up some really useful sheep classing skills, and saw some great country. Many thanks to the Otago Merino Association for providing me with this
opportunity, it was a really worthwhile experience and I’d recommend it to anyone
with a passion for the Merino industry.

This article was reproduced courtesy of the Otago Merino Association

Acheron Bank Wins Merino 2 Tooth Competition

Acheron Bank won the 2010 Canterbury Merino Association Two Tooth Ewe competition. Lake Heron Station was awarded the Gordon McMaster Most Improved trophy.

The results were as follows:

Property Managers Owner

1st Acheron Bank Byron Kirk/Richard Jordan Bruce Miles

2nd Hurunui Plains Robin & Phillipa Jamison

3rd Lake Coleridge Byron & Judy Kirk Bruce Miles

4th Jarrah Aileen & John Sandrey

5th Mt Arrowsmith Eric & Sally Smith Philip Wareing

There was also a stud tour held in conjunction with the competition. In all nine studs and 17 flocks were visited covering a diverse range of country and Merinos.

Applications Open for Merino Scholarship

The Otago Merino Association is accepting applications for its inaugural South African scholarship.

The scholarship is an agricultural exchange organised by the Otago Merino Association in association with Andries Pienaar, a merino stud breeder in South Africa, and with the funding from the Gordon MacMaster Trust. Andries visited the South Island in March last year and was a guest speaker at the Otago Merino Association Field Day at Nine Mile Station.

The Association invites applications from people who are involved in, and enthusiastic about, the merino industry. The successful applicant will take photographs and report back, by providing an article for the Otago Merino newsletter and will be able to do a presentation at a field day, professional development day or function if or as required, by agreement, in the year following the exchange.

The scholarship consists of airfares and accommodation and involves three weeks in the Pretoria area of South Africa, visiting stud farms, and a tour of the area. The anticipated time of travel would be from the third week of July to the end of the first week of August.

Applications close on 15 April 2010. For further information contact the Otago Merino Association secretary on 03 409 2222.

>>Click here to read about Andries Pienaar

Buscot's Merinos the Best Hoggets in NZ

Although dairy cattle now graze the flats of Buscot Station near Omarama, Merino sheep continue to be an important part of the farming operation.

Since the property’s owner Richard Gloag began installing pivot irrigation at Buscot in 2006, the farm has been transformed. The 350 hectares of once brown Hieracium infested flats along the Omarama-Twizel Road and over the hills in the Ahuriri basin now grow rye grass and clover all year round. Grazing dairy cows is the single biggest income source for the station. However Merino meat and wool still contribute well over half of the station’s income.

Buscot’s Merino hoggets drew national attention this year when they won the New Zealand Sheep Breeders Association’s annual New Zealand Ewe Hogget competition. The objective of the competition is to encourage farmers to produce productive and profitable hoggets as replacements for their ewe flocks.

Richard won the fine wool class of the ewe hogget competition in 2006 and 2007. But 2009 was the first time Merinos have won the competition outright since it was established 12 years ago.

Twenty flocks of various breeds made the finals. The judges commented the top flocks were very good but the Buscot hoggets were exceptional, especially considering the class of stock and class of country.

Buscot Key Facts:

Breeding objective: produce big framed heavy fleece cutting dual purpose merino ewes.

Scanning % ewes 140-150
Lambing % ewes 105-110

Wool production 2009 (greasy) 30722 kg @ $8.10/kg net
Ewes 5.2 kg/head, 18 ave micron, $42/head net
Hoggets 3.6 kg/head, 16.5 ave micron, $30/head net

Lamb production 2009
2600 lambs, 18.3kg ave weight, $101 net

The climate at Buscot is extreme--the summers are very hot and dry while the winters are cold and frosty. It is traditional sheep farming country and Buscot has farmed Merino half bred ewes since it was established in 1916.

Richard is the fourth generation of the Munro-Gloag family to farm the property. Each generation has sought to improve the property but the 2300 hectare property was economically marginal until large scale irrigation was developed.

Buscot gained access to irrigation water when the Benmore Irrigation Company secured rights to extract four cumecs of water from the Ohau River. Buscot is a shareholder in the company and one of six properties in the Omarama/Twizel area to have access to the water. The water consent was secured in 1998 and construction began in early 2005.

The irrigation helps ensure the hoggets are well fed all year round. The lambs are born on the 1700 hectares of dry hill country but are weaned down on the irrigated flats. They are moved back up into the hills for the autumn then in late autumn go back under pivots until the grass runs out and they go on to turnips and grass with Lucerne balage. In spring the lambs are culled, shorn and put back on the pivots until the grass comes away again on the hill country. The hoggets are also used as a tool to eat off sprayed out paddocks.

Eight hundred replacement ewe hoggets go into the breeding flock. The cull ewe hoggets and wether hoggets are sent to Canterbury Meat Packers for meat production.

Alan Paterson of Armidale Merino Stud supplies mixed age rams to Buscot and this is part of Richard’s success. Alan classes all the sheep so knows exactly what sort of rams Richard needs. The sheep are classed into three lines:
• The main line
• Cull ewes to be mated with a Border Lester terminal sire
• Heavy skin sheep that need to be plained up

The judges commented a number of contestants had unsuitable rams sent to them but didn’t send them back to the breeder.

“It is so important to make sure the ram breeder is on the same wave length as the grower. Richard liaises closely with his breeder and that is important,” said the judges.

Since installing the pivot irrigation the ewe numbers have been cut back in favour of the more profitable dairy grazers. A dairy conversion of 450 hectares is also going through the consent process as well. However Richard believes Merinos will always be part of the Buscot farming business.

“Merino sheep suit the dry hill country and I am very passionate about the fibre they produce. They will always have a place on Buscot,” says Richard.

Richard also takes a keen interest in what happens beyond the farm gate. His Border Leister Merino meat has been a finalist in the Glammies--a competition to find the best tasting lamb in the country. This year he also travelled to Italy as a Biella ambassador to study how New Zealand Merino fibre, including Buscot’s Merino, is processed into exclusive men’s suiting.

“I really enjoy working with merinos and I think merino has a big future in New Zealand farming as a dual purpose sheep breed.”

>> Click here for information about Armidale Merino Stud
>> Click here for information about the NZ Sheep Breeders Association

Portrait of a Merino Artist

Wearing boots as parched as the golden hills around her, Kate Calder strides out to welcome me to The Rocking Frog art gallery, gift store and café at Waikari in North Canterbury.

Like hundreds of Christchurch day trippers and independent overseas tourists, I’m intrigued by the building with the giant frog on top and keen to take a look inside. The gallery displays the work of artists from all over Canterbury and the South Island, but it is Kate’s water colour paintings of merinos I’ve come to see.

There’s only a couple there today because Kate doesn’t have much time to paint. As well as running The Rocking Frog she is mother to Tom 11 years, Sky 8 years and the youngest Fred at 4 ½ years. In her free time she helps husband Duncan Calder on the farm. The couple own The Forks (1000 acres) and lease another 1000 acres, running merinos and grazing dry cows in winter.

Kate started painting when she and Duncan lived down south at Glen Lyon Station, inland from Twizel. She didn’t have any art training but surrounded by merinos and living in such magnificent high country, was inspired to paint.

“Being surrounded my merinos and the high country it was easy to get into the subject. Duncan is quite a good photographer and my biggest critic. He’ll look at a painting and say that leg isn’t right. You’ve got that wrong lovey.”

When the couple moved back north home to North Canterbury Kate began hand painting big picnic mats. Decorated with country themes such as pig’s bottoms and fat ladies on beaches, they sold well at the local Culverdan Fete.

But it was merinos that inspired Kate the most, and five years ago she had a successful exhibition at Merivale Fine Arts in Christchurch. Later she sold more paintings at the Culverden Fete.

However there still remained the problem of how to display and sell her art on an ongoing basis. She was disillusioned by how little artists receive for work sold at galleries, so three years ago she teamed up with another local woman Vicky Radford to open The Rocking Frog.

“This area is oozing with talent. The whole idea was having somewhere central to centre display it all and not charge a fortune in commission so the artists got more money in their pockets,” says Kate.

They wanted to have a purpose built facility in the front paddock at The Forks but Transit NZ wouldn’t approve the access off the state highway. Instead they bought a very dilapidated house in the Waikari village, gutted it and turned into a small gallery space displaying work of artists throughout the South Island including Jane McIntosh, Anna Dalziel, Phillip Beadle, Ben Woolcomb and Sarah Rutherford.

The Rocking Frog has also become an important part of the community. Two auctions fundraised $4,500 for the medical centre and $5,500 for St Johns Ambulance.

Through her increased profile at The Rocking Frog, Kate has more demand for commissions too. But the children are her main priority at the moment, followed by running the business and helping on the farm.

“There is going to be time for my painting in the future. It is a passion. For now, when I can find time it is a real treat.”

Armidale Stud Stars at 2009 NZ Royal Show

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.

>> Click here for Armidale Stud details
>> Click here for Grays Hill Stud details

Merino Entries Up for 2009 New Zealand Royal Show

There should be healthy competition in the merino ring at the 2009 New Zealand Royal Show with 120 entries, up four from last year.

The Show will be held from 11-13 November. This year's merino judges are:

Steven Phillips, Harden NSW, Australia (Merino): Steven is the Principle of Yarrawonga Merino and Poll Merino Stud in Australia. He has judged at all the major sheep shows in Australia including Wagin, Bendigo, Adelaide, Dubbo and Sydney. Steven is the current leader in three national wether trials.
Jono Merriman, Boorowa NSW, Australia (Fine Wool Merino): Jono is a Partner in the Merrignee Merino and Koonwarra Merino Studs in Australia. In 2005 he won the NSW Junior Merino Sheep Judging Competition at the Sydney Royal Show and was runner up in the National Junior Merino Sheep Competition.
Tony Jopp, Alexandra (Merino): Tony is a veterinarian and farmer who operates Moutere Station which is the largest and oldest stud in the area (1904).

The Merino classes will be held on Wednesday and Thursday. The highlight of the merino programme-- the junior judging competition-- will be held on Friday 13 November starting at 9am. Mr RHM Johnston will be on hand to present the RHM Johnston Merino Junior Judging Shield to this year's winner.

The programme is as follows:

JUDGING PROGRAMME: RING 1 MASKEW MERINO RING
Wednesday 8.30am Classification
9.00am Poll Merino, Merino, Halfbred
2.00pm Grand Champions & Supreme
2.30pm Merino Special Awards
3.30pm Meral Ancare Merino Pair of the Year
4.00pm Merino Group Classes
Friday 9.00am Merino Junior Judging Competition

MERINO ENTRIES
Merino - Ultra Fine Combing
Class 3028 Ram, over 30 months.
39 Matangi Station 40 Matangi Station

Class 3029 Ram, 18 to 30 months.
41 Blairich Merino Stud 42 Matangi Station

AW 3030 Merino Breed Committee $100 prize - Best Ram, 18-30 months.

Class 3031 Ram, under 18 months.
43 Blairich Merino Stud 44 Matangi Station

Class 3032 Ewe, over 30 months.
No Entries

Class 3033 Ewe, 18 to 30 months.
45 Blairich Merino Stud 47 Matangi Station
46 Gibson R W

AW 3034 Merino Breed Committee $100 prize - Best Ewe, 18 to 30 months.

Class 3035 Ewe, under 18 months.
48 Blairich Merino Stud 49 Matangi Station

AW 3036 Champion Merino Ram (ultra fine)

AW 3037 Reserve Champion Merino Ram (ultra fine)

AW 3038 Champion Merino Ewe (ultra fine)

AW 3039 Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (ultra fine)

Merino - Superfine Combing
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Wednesday
Class 3040 Ram, over 30 months.
50 Blairich Merino Stud 52 Matangi Station
51 Matangi Station 53 Paterson A D

Class 3042 Ram, 18 to 30 months.
54 Blairich Merino Stud 58 Matangi Station
55 Blairich Merino Stud 59 Matangi Station
56 Gibson R W 60 Matangi Station
57 Gibson R W 61 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3043 Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ram 18-30 months.

Class 3044 Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
62 Blairich Merino Stud 65 Matangi Station
63 Blairich Merino Stud 66 Paterson A D
64 Heddell Family

Class 3046 Ewe, over 30 months, and her suckling lamb(s).
67 Matangi Station

Class 3048 Ewe, 18 to 30 months.
68 Blairich Merino Stud 72 Matangi Station
69 Blairich Merino Stud 73 Matangi Station
70 Gibson R W 74 Paterson A D
71 Gibson R W 75 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3049 Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ewe 18-30 months.

Class 3050 Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
76 Blairich Merino Stud 79 Matangi Station
77 Blairich Merino Stud 80 Matangi Station
78 Heddell Family 81 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3052 Champion Merino Ram (superfine)

AW 3054 Reserve Champion Merino Ram (superfine)

AW 3056 Champion Merino Ewe (superfine)

AW 3058 Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (superfine)

Merino - Fine Combing
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Wednesday
Class 3070 Ram, over 30 months.
No Entries

Class 3072 Ram, 18 to 30 months.
82 Blairich Merino Stud 86 Matangi Station
83 Gibson R W 87 Paterson A D
84 Gibson R W 88 Paterson A D
85 Matangi Station 89 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3073 Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ram 18-30 months.

Class 3074 Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
90 Black G M & B J 93 Heddell Family
91 Blairich Merino Stud 94 Matangi Station
92 Heddell Family 95 Paterson A D

Class 3076 Ewe, over 30 months, and her suckling lamb(s).
No Entries

Class 3078 Ewe, 18 to 30 months.
96 Blairich Merino Stud 100 Matangi Station
97 Blairich Merino Stud 101 Paterson A D
98 Matangi Station 102 Paterson A D
99 Matangi Station 103 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3079 Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ewe 18-30 months.

Class 3080 Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
104 Black G M & B J 109 Heddell Family
105 Black G M & B J 110 Matangi Station
106 Blairich Merino Stud 111 Paterson A D
107 Blairich Merino Stud 112 Stevenson I D & P E
108 Heddell Family

AW 3082 Champion Merino Ram (fine)

AW 3084 Reserve Champion Merino Ram (fine)

AW 3086 Champion Merino Ewe (fine)

AW 3088 Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (fine)

Merino - Medium Combing
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Wednesday
Prize money for the Ram Classes in the Medium Combing Section is funded from an endowment donated by the family of the late J R Todhunter.
Class 3100 Ram, over 30 months.
113 Black G M & B J 114 Paterson A D

Class 3102 Ram, 18 to 30 months.
115 Black G M & B J 117 Paterson A D
116 Matangi Station 118 Stevenson W J P & N J
AW 3103 Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ram 18-30 months.

Class 3104 Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
119 Black G M & B J 122 Paterson A D
120 Black G M & B J 123 Stevenson W J P & N J
121 Heddell Family 124 Stevenson W J P & N J

Class 3106 Ewe, over 30 months, and her suckling lamb(s).
No Entries

Class 3108 Ewe, 18 to 30 months.
125 Black G M & B J 127 Paterson A D
126 Black G M & B J 128 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3109 Merino Breed Committee $100 Prize - Best Ewe 18-30 months.

Class 3110 Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
129 Black G M & B J 133 Stevenson W J P & N J
130 Black G M & B J 134 Stevenson W J P & N J
131 Heddell Family 135 Stevenson I D & P E
132 Paterson A D

AW 3112 Champion Merino Ram (medium)

AW 3114 Reserve Champion Merino Ram (medium)

AW 3116 Champion Merino Ewe (medium)

AW 3118 Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (medium)

Merino - Group Classes
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Thursday
Class 3160 Three Rams, 18 to 30 months, any combing. Must be entered in other
classes.
136 Blairich Merino Stud 138 Matangi Station
137 Gibson R W 139 Paterson A D

Class 3162 Woodchester Cup: Group of 3 Rams and 2 Ewes. (Open to all combings)
(Ram over 30 months, Ram 18 to 30 months, Ram under 18 months, ewe over 18
months and Ewe under 18 months.)
140 Black G M & B J 143 Paterson A D
141 Blairich Merino Stud 144 Stevenson I D & P E
142 Matangi Station

AW 3164 The Woodchester Challenge Cup. Given by Mr C.D. Chisnall in honour of his
grandparents.

Poll Merino
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Wednesday
Class 3180 Ram, over 30 months.
145 Paterson A D 146 Stevenson I D & P E

Class 3182 Ram, 18 to 30 months.
147 Gibson W H 150 Stevenson I D & P E
148 Gibson W H 151 Stevenson I D & P E
149 Paterson A D

AW 3183 Merino Breed Committee Prize $100 - Best Ram 18-30 months.
Class 3184 Ram, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
152 Paterson A D 154 Stevenson I D & P E
153 Stevenson I D & P E

Class 3186 Ewe, over 30 months, and her suckling lamb(s).
No Entries

Class 3188 Ewe, 18 to 30 months.
155 Gibson W H 156 Paterson A D

AW 3189 Merino Breed Committee Prize $100 - Best Ewe 18-30 months.

Class 3190 Ewe, under 18 months (date of birth to be stated on entry form).
157 Paterson A D 158 Stevenson I D & P E

AW 3192 Champion Poll Merino Ram

AW 3194 Reserve Champion Poll Merino Ram

AW 3196 Champion Poll Merino Ewe

AW 3198 Reserve Champion Poll Merino Ewe

Merino - Overall Awards
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Thursday
The New Zealand Merino Co Ltd provide trophy and ribbon for Supreme Champion.

AW 3210 Grand Champion Merino Ewe

AW 3214 Hadleigh Cup - Ewe with Best Merino Conformation. Presented for perpetual
competition by Mr C.D. Chisnall as a memorial to his grandmother, Sarah Chisnall.

AW 3216 Glenmark Challenge Cup - Grand Champion Merino Ewe.

AW 3218 Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ewe

AW 3222 Grand Champion Merino Ram. Sponsored by PGG Wrightson Ltd. Winner
receives PGG Wrightson Ltd Shield of Excellence. Prize Money: $300

AW 3228 Phoebe Dunbar Cup - Merino Ram with the Best Conformation. Mr C.D.
Chisnall has presented this trophy for perpetual competition as a memorial to his
grandfather, W.S. Chisnall.

AW 3230 Canterbury Merino Breeders’ Assn. Cup - Best NZ Bred Merino Ram.

AW 3232 A A Urquhart Memorial Trophy - Best Merino Ram, 18 to 30 Months. (Includes
all combings, and Poll Merino.) Trophy donated by the family of the late Mr A A
Urquhart.

AW 3234 Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ram

AW 3238 Supreme Champion Merino - Sash and trophy sponsored by The New Zealand Merino Co Ltd.

AW 3239 RAS Award - Gold Medal

AW 3240 R C Todhunter Memorial Cup - Best Merino Ewe Hogget. Trophy given by Mrs
C.A.B. Pilbrow (sister of J.R. Todhunter).

AW 3244 Hugonin Perpetual Trophy - Best Merino Ram Hogget. Sponsored by Novartis (20 litre Click value $750). Given by the late Mr C.P. Hugonin.

AW 3246 RAS Trophy (Marlborough Merino Breeders Cup - Best Ram over 18 Months)

AW 3247 Most Successful Exhibitor Award. The Merino Breed Society sponsors a
trophy and cash prize to the value of $200. Most points from exhibiting in the Merino
Section.

Merial Ancare Merino Pairs Final
AW 3248 MERIAL ANCARE MERINO PAIRS FINAL (1 one shear Ram and 1 one shear Ewe).
To be entered in other classes if possible. Merial Ancare sponsor prize of $1,500 cash
plus 20 Ltr Matrix to winner.

Merino Junior Judging Competition
Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion Friday
A return trip to Australia to the top placed New Zealand competitor (should he or she not be the overall winner) (to be sponsored). Winner to compete in the Australasian Junior Judging at the Melbourne Royal Show 2010.

Class 3260 Merino Junior Judging Competition. Participants under 25 years as at 31
May in the year of the competition. Two finalists from each Merino district: Central
Otago, Mackenzie Country, Canterbury, Marlborough. Administered by Merino Breed
Committee. Post Entries.

AW 3262 R H M Johnston Merino Junior Judging Shield to winner of Merino Junior
Judging Competition.

REDA commits to only buying Zque merino

In a landmark decision Successori REDA, a leader in the Italian worsted fabric market, has commited to only buying Zque-qualifying wool from New Zealand.

REDA is one of the most consistent buyers of New Zealand merino via New England Wools. Zque is an ethical wool brand owned by The New Zealand Merino Company.

Francesco Botto of REDA says the decision to only buy Zque-qualifying wool has been made to support New Zealand merino growers who meet the Zque standards of product integrity and traceability essential for future success in retail markets.

REDA has always been reknown for its quality fabrics and innovative product and design. This has been achieved through a consistent investment in all aspects of the value chain but in particular through investment in the highest technical and environmental machinery and standards (EMAS certification).

>> Click here to visit REDA website

>> Click here to visit Zque website

Otago Merino Association Agricultural Exchange Scholarships Open

People of any age involved in the merino industry are invited to apply for two Otago Merino Association agricultural exchange scholarships to Australia and South Africa.

The 2010 Monaro Scholar will spend two to three weeks in the Monaro area, about an hour south of Canberra in NSW, Australia. The trip, which is sponsored by PGG Wrightson, will take place in April 2010. Applications close 15 November 2009.

The Association is also looking for a scholar to travel to South Africa to stay with merino stud breeder Andries Pienaar. The trip, to be funded with help from the Gordon MacMaster Trust, will take place in July or August next year. Applications close at the end of February 2010.

For further information contact the Otago Merino Association.

>> Click here to read about Andries Pienaar's trip to New Zealand in 2009.

Snow Raking Photo Wins Merino Inc Competition

A dramatic photo of snow bound Merinos on Dingle Burn Station at the head of Lake Hawea has won Merino NZ Inc’s “A day in the life of a merino” photography competition.

The photo was taken by Nick Davison, manager of Gimmermore Farm at Wanaka in May this year.

“We were helicoptered in to retrieve stock after an unexpected snowfall. We were at 4,500ft, and because of the snow we could reach areas that are normally too steep. I came upon this mob of merinos during the course of the day. I always carry my camera when working in spectacular places like Dingle Burn”, says Nick.

The competition attracted over 70 entries. The judges were impressed at the standard of entries, with the top 10% being good enough to place in any photography competition.

Second place was awarded to Angus Rowley for a photo taken during a wether muster on Lake Hawea Station. Third prize was awarded to David Aubrey, with a well captured photo of a bunch of wethers being pushed through Forest Creek near the Ben Mcleod Range.

The Merino Inc Board will choose one image from the entries received, to become the new homepage image for the Inc website. A selection of the entries will also be placed on the website for everyone to enjoy.

>> Click here for more information about Merino Inc

Breakthrough Merino Sleepwear

The outstanding comfort properties of merino are being used in a new range of sleepwear fabrics developed by AgResearch.

The Crown Research Institute has developed a range of men’s and women’s nightwear and loungewear garments using innovative combinations of merino and other natural fibres such as bamboo and silk, yarn structures, fabric weaves and knits, and finishing procedures.

The breakthrough Easy Care Wool Sleepwear is lightweight, has no chemical treatment, helps sleeping, maintains and regulates temperature and looks and feels fantastic.

“Easy Care Wool Sleepwear works in both summer and winter and we believe makes excellent nightwear and loungewear with its outstanding comfort properties,” says Dr Surinder Tandon, Senior Scientist, Textile Science & Technology at AgResearch.

The new fabrics are being manufactured by South Canterbury Textiles in Timaru.

“This cutting edge textile is exciting from our point of view- it’s new, it’s got real advantages over other fabrics used for sleepwear and it creates opportunities for us once it is available,” says South Canterbury Textiles CEO Andrew Miller .

The sleepwear fabric was also supported by the industry organisation Textiles NZ under their new product development programme Transform
and Locus Research.

>> Click here for more information about TransformTextiles NZ
>> Click here for more information about Locus Research