New Zealand Merino Stud Breeders: News

Young Merino Group Supports Next Generation of Merino Breeders & Growers

Established in 2004, the Young Merino Group exists to give young people who are enthusiastic about the merino industry a chance to see a range of different merino farms and find ways of improving their operations at home.

Originally the group was set up for people that had returned home and just taken over the family farm or were in the process of succession. More recently membership has been opened up to farm managers and people involved in the industry. New members include wool classer Nicola Kelland of AgFirst Consultants, Mark Stevenson from the New Zealand Merino Company and Rob Kidd from Lincoln University who is looking at doing work on introducing merinos to areas that haven't traditionally run merinos.

Group chairman Simon Paterson of Armidale Merino Stud in Ranfurly says having a small group of young people gets members talking more than they probably would in a group of older people.

“We target people from 25 to 35 but it doesn't matter if someone is really keen from outside this range. Most of the 12 members are from the Central Otago region but a few are from further north in the Mackenzie country and Canterbury.”

The group meets three times a year--twice on farms and once off farm. Karl Barkley of Agfirst Consultants in Alexandra, facilitates the meetings and organizes guest speakers if required. The group also publishes a newsletter and supplies articles about its activities to the Otago Merino Association and Merino Inc which support the group financially.

At the last meeting in Christchurch the group visited Agri-seeds to find out about their breeding programs and in the evening MAF spoke about planning for a natural disaster. The following morning the group went to Lincoln University where Guy Trafford talked about the threats and opportunities posed by the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and Jon Hickford spoke about gene markers and how they could benefit growers. To finish Rob Kidd gave a brief description of what he is going to be working on over the next year in regards to running merinos in a non traditional environment.

For more information about the Young Merino Group contact Simon at Armidale.

>> Click here for a link to Armidale contact details

Blacks Awarded Two Honours at Christchurch Show

The Black family’s life long support of the merino industry and the Canterbury A&P Show were recognized at this year's Show in Christchurch.

Merino growers and breeders Graham and Bev Black of Awapiri up the Awatere Valley in Marlborough received the Canterbury A&P Association's 2010 Dakins Ambassador of the Year award. Graham was also awarded a life membership of the New Zealand Merino, Poll & Half Breed Society —an honor bestowed very infrequently.

The annual Dakin award recognises the Blacks continued loyalty to the A&P movement over a number of years, the support extended by the Blacks to the Canterbury A&P Association and the standard of their exhibits. The prize is $3000 to pay for a trip to an international A&P Show or agricultural event and a silver salver for perpetual competition. Each year nominations for the award are put forward by the chairmen of the principal sections of the Show. The life membership of the New Zealand Merino, Poll & Half Breed Society recognizes the enormous contribution Graham has made to the merino breed over the last 30 years.

Graham's commitment, energy and enthusiasm for the merino breed has been obvious to anyone who has worked with him. Raised in Fairlie , he worked for Willie Urquhart for five years when he left school. During this time he mustered and worked on other Mackenzie places including Grays Hills and Godley Peaks. On leaving Streamlands he went to Mesopotamia and after staying for two years managed Clent Hills in the Ashburton Gorge. For a year before he married and bought Awapiri, he was casual mustering on places in the Rangitata and Ashburton Gorges and on Brooksdale in the Waimakari.

Graham and Bev moved to Awapiri in 1966. They started the Awapiri medium wool stud in 1975. In 1978 he added to Awapiri and was able to extend the size of the stud. In 1998 he identified the finer end of the Awapiri stud and from this established the Excell stud.Despite the distance from Christchurch, the Blacks have shown sheep at the Canterbury A&P Show every year since 1963. Graham became a committee member of the Merino Sheepbreeders’ committee in 1979 and has served on that committee ever since.

He was Chairman of the NZ Merino Breeders’ committee for a three year term and then became Chairman of the organising committee and Convenor of the 1998 World Merino Conference held in Christchurch. Graham has judged merinos extensively at Shows and 2 tooth competitions in New Zealand and 11 times in Australia and in South Africa. Graham’s ability to train young people to bring out the best in their sheep judging and presentation skills is widely regarded. Many of his students have won the premier NZ title.

When accepting the life membership award from another life member Bill Gibson (Malvern Downs) Graham acknowledged the contribution of his wife Bev and son Duncan. After receiving the Dakin award in front of the members marquee Bev and Graham were taken for a ride in a wagon pulled by a team of Colin Drummond’s prize winning Erewhon horses. It was a fitting tribute as Bev grew up on Erewhon and her family were heavily involved in judging and exhibiting at the Show. She was also a competitor in the first Young Merino Judges competition in 1963. Other merino breeders to win the Dakins Ambassador of the Year Award in the past include Bill and Francis Gibson (Malvern Downs) and Graeme and Alison Stevenson (Flaxton).

MERINO JUNIOR JUDGE RESULTS

In the merino junior judge competition 17-year-old Will Gibson of Foulden Hill in Middlemarch, Otago showed the beginnings of a promising career in the merino industry, taking the title against seven older regional finalists already working on merino properties. It was only the second time the John McGlashan College student had entered the event which is open to competitors under 25 years. Johnny Andrews, who works for Bill Stevenson at Upcott up the Awatere, came second.

Each competitor is assessed on how he or she handles and rates the same four sheep and how confidently they explain their decisions to the judges and public. Will is a keen sheep and cattle man and has been managing his own flock of fine coloured merino since he was nine years old. He contracts the wool from his 120-strong fully recorded flock to Jane Henry Merino for manufacture into luxury scarves and shawls. Will’s prize for winning the Junior Judge competition is a return trip to compete in the junior judge competition at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2011.

PATERSONS TAKE TOP MERINO PRIZE

Will acknowledged the support and help of the Paterson family of Armidale at Ranfurly. Alan and his son Simon Paterson had another excellent Show winning the Grand Champion Merino Ram, Best NZ Bred Merino Ram, A A Urquhart Memorial Trophy - Best Merino Ram, 18 to 30 Months. (Includes all combings, and Poll Merino), Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ram, Supreme Champion Merino and Best Merino Ram Hogget.

Delighted with the results, Alan Paterson said the Grand Champion Merino Ram was on a par with other top rams he has exhbited in the past.

2010 MERINO SHOW RESULTS

Merino - Superfine Combing Ram, over 30 months. (1): Matangi Station 1. Ram, 18 to 30 months, Gibson R W 1, Paterson A D 2, Calder G & R. Merino Breed Committee Best Ram 18-30 months: R W Gibson. Ram, under 18 months Stevenson I D & P E 1, Matangi Station 2, Small R T & S J 3. Ewe, 18 to 30 months Matangi Station 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2, Matangi Station 3. Merino Breed Committee Best Ewe 18-30 months.   Matangi Station. Ewe, under 18 months Stevenson I D & P E 1, Small R T & S J 2, Matangi Station Champion Merino Ram (superfine) R W Gibson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (superfine) I D & P E Stevenson. Champion Merino Ewe (superfine) Matangi Station. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (superfine) I D & P E Stevenson.

Merino - Ultra Fine Combing Ram, 18 to 30 months: Gibson R W 1, Gibson R W 2, Matangi Station 3. Merino Breed Committee Best Ram, 18-30 months: R W Gibson. Ram, under 18 months: Matangi Station 1. Ewe, 18 to 30 months: Gibson R W 1, Calder G & R. Merino Breed Committee Best Ewe, 18 to 30 months: R W Gibson. Ewe, under 18 months: Matangi Station 1. Champion Merino Ram (ultra fine): R W Gibson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (ultra fine): R W Gibson. Champion Merino Ewe (ultra fine): R W Gibson. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (ultra fine): G & R Calder.

Merino - Fine Combing Ram, over 30 months. Paterson A D 1. Ram, 18 to 30 months. Paterson A D 1, Small R T & S J 2, Paterson A D 3. Merino Breed Committee Best Ram 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ram, under 18 months Stevenson I D & P E 1, Paterson A D 2, Small R T & S J 3. Ewe, 18 to 30 months. Stevenson I D & P E 1, Matangi Station 2, Small R T & S J 3. Merino Breed Committee Best Ewe 18-30 months: I D & P E Stevenson. Ewe, under 18 months Stevenson I D & P E 1, Small R T & S J 2, Paterson A D 3. Champion Merino Ram (fine): A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (fine): A D Paterson. Champion Merino Ewe (fine): I D & P E Stevenson. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (fine): Matangi Station.

Merino - Medium Combing Ram, over 30 months. (3): Matangi Station 1, Matangi Station 2. Ram, 18 to 30 months Black G M & B J 1, Paterson A D 2, Paterson A D 3. Merino Breed Committee Best Ram 18-30 months: G M & B J Black. Ram, under 18 months Paterson A D 1, Stevenson W J P & N J 2, Black G M & B J 3. Ewe, 18 to 30 months Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2, Black G M & B J 3. Merino Breed Committee Best Ewe 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ewe, under 18 months Stevenson W J P & N J 1, Heddell Family 2, Stevenson W J P & N J 3. Champion Merino Ram (medium) : A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Merino Ram (medium): G M & B J Black. Champion Merino Ewe (medium): A D Paterson. Reserve Champion Merino Ewe (medium) : W J P & N J Stevenson.

Merino - Group Classes Three Rams, 18 to 30 months, any combing Paterson A D 1, Gibson R W 2. Merial Ancare Pairs. Ram 18 to 30 months and Ewe 18 to 30 months. Paterson A D 1. Woodchester Cup: Group of 3 Rams and 2 Ewes. (Open to all combings) Paterson A D 1, Small R T & S J 2. The Woodchester Challenge Cup A D Paterson. Poll Merino (Judges): Max Douglas, New South Wales, Geoff Howie, Milton Ram, over 30 months. Stevenson I D & P E 1. Ram, 18 to 30 months. (3): Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2. Merino Breed Committee Best Ram 18-30 months: A D Paterson. Ram, under 18 months Paterson A D 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2. Ewe, 18 to 30 months. (3): Stevenson I D & P E 1, Stevenson I D & P E 2. Merino Breed Committee Best Ewe 18-30 months: I D & P E Stevenson. Ewe, under 18 months 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 : I D & P E Stevenson. Reserve Champion Poll Merino Ewe: I D & P E Stevenson.

Merino - Overall Awards Grand Champion Merino Ewe : Matangi Station. Hadleigh Cup - Ewe with Best Merino Conformation: Matangi Station. Glenmark Challenge Cup - Grand Champion Merino Ewe: Matangi Station. Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ewe : I D & P E Stevenson. Grand Champion Merino Ram. Sponsored by PGG Wrightson Ltd : A D Paterson. Phoebe Dunbar Cup - Merino Ram with the Best Conformation : R T & S J Small. 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.): A D Paterson. Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ram : A D Paterson. Supreme Champion Merino - Sash and trophy sponsored by The New Zealand Merino Co Ltd: 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: A D Paterson.

Halfbred (Judge(s): Arnold van Asch, Blenheim Ram 18 to 30 months (1): Stevenson I D & P E 1. Halfbred Breed Committee Best Ram 18-30 months: I D & P E Stevenson. Ewe, 18 to 30 months and her suckling lamb(s) (1): Stevenson I D & P E 1. Halfbred Breed Committee Best Ewe 18-30 months: I D & P E Stevenson. Champion Halfbred Ram : I D & P E Stevenson. Champion Halfbred Ewe : I D & P E Stevenson. Supreme Champion Halfbred: I D & P E Stevenson. Halfbred Competition Cup - Supreme Champion Halfbred: I D & P E Stevenson.

Sheep Interbreeds Champion/Group Awards PGG Wrightson Ltd Champion Wool Breeds Pair (Champion Ram & Champion Ewe) Matangi Station, A D Paterson. Elders Primary Wool Best Wool Breeds Ram Hogget, A D Paterson, W E & P M Bain, O J Adams. 'The National Bank of New Zealand' Best Fine Woolled Sheep, A D Paterson. Food & Fibre Trifecta - 3 ram hoggets of each breed - 11.00am : R T & S J Small, R T & S J Small, A D Paterson, Peter F W Boag, Peter F W Boag, Peter F W Boag, W E & P M Bain, W E & P M Bain, W E & P M Bain.

Wanted: Manufacturers for World-first Merino Fabrics

AgResearch is seeking commercial partners to produce and market four world-first merino fabrics.

The Crown Research Institute AgResearch gave 10 leading New Zealand fashion designers samples of the four fabrics to use in their collections at this month’s New Zealand Fashion Week. Several designers now want the fabrics to be made available commercially.

“I would definitely put it in my next collection if it were commercially available to use. Those who’ve seen the garments made with this AgResearch fabric have loved them and I think they would sell well at a retail level,” says designer Kylee Davis of Stitch Ministry who is taking her fashion collection to the UK in February.

Another designer, Theresa Brady of Sable & Minx, is also keen to use AgResearch’s anti-odour fabric if it is commercially manufactured.

“It’s a gorgeous merino fabric with wonderful drape, recovery and quality,” says Theresa. “It would be fantastic if it were commercially available. I would certainly use it if it were produced within my price point.”

AgResearch is now looking for partners to commercial the following new technologies:

Fabric 1: AgResearch novel dyed wool fabric-geometric and random patterns.
• Unique single dyeing method to produce two colour reversible patterns on wool fabrics and garments.
• Allows late-stage colouring.
• Uses a dyeing process suitable for a wide range of fabric weights and gauges.
• Reduces holding coloured yarn.
• Limitless design from screen to free-hand.
• Yarns, garments, panels or fabric lengths can be treated and dyed.
Click here http://www.agresearch.co.nz/images/fashionweek/fabric1.jpg to see a photo of a garment using the fabric. The designer is Blak.

Fabric 2: AgResearch anti-odour and antistatic next-to-skin wool fabric.
• Unique permanent antistatic, antibacterial and anti-odour properties–breaks existing boundaries.
• More environmentally responsible production than existing technologies–antibacterial agent doesn’t leach from fabric.
• Breathability – does not cling to the body.
• Don’t need to wash fabric as much to keep fresh.
• Machine washable and quick drying (saves energy).
• Lightweight.
• 100% Merino wool and wool-rich blends.
Click here http://www.agresearch.co.nz/images/fashionweek/fabric2.jpg to see a photo of a garment using the fabric. The designer is Trix & Dandy.

Fabric 3: AgResearch novel dyed wool fabric - reversible 2-sided colour.
• World-first reversible two colour fabric produced in a single dyeing.
• Unique dyeing technique that can be used on 100% wool and a wide range of fabrics and fabric weights and gauges.
• Individual garments, panels or lengths can be dyed.
• Overdye old fabrics.
• Dye choices – dye the yarn or the fabric or the garment.
Click here http://www.agresearch.co.nz/images/fashionweek/fabric3.jpg to see a photo of a garment using the fabric. The designer is Salasai.

Fabric 4: AgResearch bright coloured wool.
• Modified wool dyed to produce exceptionally bright, intense colours.
• Can be blended with acrylic or dyeable polyester and dyed in single bath.
• Similar light and wash fastness to acrylic.
• Higher lustre than wool dyed by traditional methods.
Click here http://www.agresearch.co.nz/images/fashionweek/fabric4.jpg to see a photo of a garment using the fabric. The designer is NYNE.

Lochar Downs Changes Direction But Merino Stud Remains

The Cook family at Lochar Downs near Cromwell remains committed to its merino stud despite their decision to convert the core business from merino growing to dairy grazing.

For three generations Lochar Downs Stud has produced rams for use in their commercial merino growing operation. To improve returns for the last six years the stud has been aiming to breed a dual purpose meat and wool-producing sheep. But despite investing in good genetics and farm management practices, the family has still made the hard decision to convert their low country farm to dairy grazing.

The Cooks have been breeding merinos for nearly 45 years. Lochar Downs Merino Stud (formerly Waitiri) was founded in 1966 when Esmond Cook and his brother Julian Cook of Waitiri Station in the Kawarau Gorge imported 25 ewes and a ram from Koonoona Station in Burra, South Australia. They were big and relatively strong wooled sheep and their progeny cut a huge amount of wool on their first shearing—almost twice what the New Zealand-bred hoggets cut.

“They thought they were on to something but after the next year going through a Central Otago winter they fell back in line with the local sheep and in time there were colour issues as well because of the wet,” recalls Esmond’s son John.

Realising the South Australian bloodlines weren’t well suited their country, the family spent a long period moving to Merryville blood lines which did better in the cold wet conditions. Moutere and Malvern Downs were just two of the local stud to provide genetics. When artificial insemination technology arrived the Cooks used it to access genetics from Australia. Huge returns for fine wool meant the emphasis was primarily on micron.

In 1995 Waitiri was sold and the family moved to their present location at Lochar Downs at the foot of the Pisa Range. Preferring farming to school, John’s son Willie became involved in the stud and showing sheep. With his dad, Willie has helped steer the stud towards a more dual purpose animal. Nine Mile genetics have been used with the stud ewes for the last two years and the results are looking good.

“We’ve gone a full circle where cash flow is king because merino growers need animals producing fine fleece and meat. As merino growers our target was to kill a $100 lamb and get $100 for the fleece so the emphasis of our stud is on a big animal with very fine bright wool although this hard to achieve with hoggets,” says Willie.

John is appreciative of the merino stud breeding community which he says has always been willing to help providing information and sharing genetics. Progress within the stud means recently there has been buyer interest in Lochar Down rams so in the future animals will be available through private sale.

>> Click here for more information about Lochar Downs including contact details

Monaro Merino Scholarship Applications Open

Applications are open for the Otago Merino Association's annual Monaro Scholarship agricultural exchange to Australia.

Monaro is a district in NSW, about an hour south of Canberra. The exchange consists of 2-3 weeks in the Monaro area in April 2011. It is sponsored by PGG Wrightson.

If you are interested in applying for this scholarship or know of someone in the merino industry who would benefit from this exchange pelase submit a letter to the Secretary of the Otago Merino Association by 29 October 2011. The address is PO Box 1765, Queenstown.

>>Click here to read about 2010 Monaro scholar Nicola Kelland.

>> Click here to read Nicola's report about her trip to Australia and see the photos.

Malvern Downs Bloodlines Run Throughout NZ

One of the oldest merino studs in Otago, Malvern Downs at Tarras has had a significant impact on the bloodlines of fine wool stud and commercial merinos throughout New Zealand.

Many merino studs in New Zealand have been founded on Malvern Downs ewes and some maintain that bloodline by utilising sires containing strains of Malvern or pure Malvern blood. For example Lochar Downs, Stonehenge, Otematata, Matarae, Rhino Park, Earnscleugh, Hawksburn, Lauder Station and many more now disbanded.

The Merryville-based stud was registered in May 1924 by Hector Gibson although records can be traced as far back as 1895. Malvern Downs had originally been part of the great Morven Hills station which covered 352,000 acres and ran 110,000 merinos in 1871. The ram breeding depot known as the “Ram Paddocks” was located on land adjacent to Malvern Downs.

Malvern Downs also established New Zealand’s first polled stud in 1950. The now semi-retired stud master Bill Gibson had worked as a jackaroo at Boonoke near Narranderra in southern NSW, Australia in his early 20s. So impressed he was by poll merinos that when he returned to New Zealand he established a separate poll stud at Malvern Downs. It has taken a long time for New Zealand merino growers to adopt poll merino genetics but the tide is finally turning and today many polled merinos in New Zealand carry Malvern Downs blood.

In the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s Malvern Downs stud sold about 300 rams a year and at its peak in the 1970s sold 750 rams annually. Today the picture is very different with about 80 rams sold each year in private sales and at the Central Otago Merino Ram Sale at Wanaka. Bill puts the declining demand down to a huge increase in the number of studs, the introduction of artificial insemination technology and high country farmers looking after their rams better than in the past.

Bill and his son Robert, who took over Malvern Downs Station in 1980, say the market has always defined the type of ram bred on Malvern Downs.

“I still say as a stud breeder you are dictated to by ram buyers and what they want in the future. If you just do what you like you are out on a limb. The merino breed it has had its fads and fashions but I do go along with plainer bodied big sheep that climb and carry a heavy fleece of well nourished white wool in the 17-21 micron range,” says Bill.

The purpose of both studs is to breed rams which can be used over registered and non-registered Merino ewes to achieve or maintain superfine fleeces, and to provide the option of poll Merino if required. Rams are bred to be strong, healthy and true to type. They must also be sound on their feet, capable of serving ewes and getting them pregnant.

Bill records all lambs born to registered ewes. All rams serve between 30 and 70 ewes each. Selection and culling is year round. Subjective selection is used for type. Half of the lambs bred are culled between docking and the age of four months. Later selection is made on fibre diameter, wool weights and yields.

Bill and Robert also set tough selection criteria for the stud flock rejecting sheep because of teeth and jaw structure, woolly faces, wool length, feet structure and stance, frame size and conformation.

Emphasis is also placed on objective wool measurement with all rams side-sampled and yield tested at 11 months.

Bill and Robert both love merinos and believe they will always have a permanent place in New Zealand’s high country. Although today the stud is scaled back to 500 ewes it still ranks among the four biggest fine wool studs in New Zealand and also amongst the most successful.

In 2008 the poll stud had a setback when 60 young ewes were rustled. Fifty eight years of valuable genetics were lost but father and son remain committed to the studs and showing their prize sheep. They have exhibited at every local show since 1934 and have won 26 Canterbury fine wool championships in the last 47 years. Their fleeces have won classes at Sydney, Australia and Bloemfontein, South Africa. Malvern Downs rams have been exported to Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Hungary, China and the Falklands.

>> Click here to read about Bill Gibson

>> Click here for Malvern Downs Stud contact details

>> Click here for Malvern Downs Poll Stud contact details

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.”