Southdown Sheep Society, NZ

A large crowd gathered to watch the sheep judging which comprised many breeds from the traditional Romneys, Perendales, Southdowns and Suffolks through to Dorpers and Merinos.

The Gore sheep show has become so popular that it was second only to the New Zealand A&P Show in Canterbury.

A Southdown ram, owned jointly by Rob Hall, Graham Calder and Andrew Christey, was named the supreme sheep of the show with Blair Robertson’s Romney ram coming in a very close second.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman Andrew Morrison praised breeders for the quality line up of sheep at the show.

“It’s a great demonstration of sheep and why our industry is so strong.

“The past decade has been the most profitable in sheep farming in 60 years and that’s off the back of some great genetics,” Morrison said.

Morrison assured sheep farmers that wool would eventually make a comeback.

Alister Hall, left, and his brother Rob had a day to remember at the Winton A&P Show.

Alister Hall, his brother Rob and daughter Teegan had a special family moment at the Winton A&P Show on Saturday.

For the first time, the brothers each had a supreme winner at the same show. Alister’s Friesian cow won the Supreme Dairy Animal Award and Rob’s Southdown ram was judged Supreme Sheep. The day got better for Alister when the Friesian was named the show’s Supreme Exhibit.

Teegan added to the occasion by receiving a $1000 first year agricultural scholarship from the show organisation.

[Read full article here]

SECOND ON-FARM: Tracey and Andrew Powdrell (pictured) with some of the Turiroa Tiger rams that will be up for auction on their on-farm sale on December 12. The couple are rapt with the quality of their up to 115 lineup, across four varieties.

Turiroa Stud near Wairoa will host their second on-farm terminal ram sale on December 12. They will have up to 115 big, meaty Southdowns, Tigers, Suftex and Belsuftex rams for sale by auction.

This year, Andrew and Tracey Powdrell have the first of their Beltex cross progeny available for sale.

“Beltex are renowned for a high bone to meat ratio and increased yielding percentages,” Andrew said.

“They are moderate framed meat machines with a huge loin and back end.”

Turiroa Belsuftex Rams comprise 25 percent Beltex, 75 percent Suftex.

“We were looking for something to thicken up the Suftex and get them maturing earlier,” Andrew said.

“The cross has worked very well, with the added advantage of a black face.”

He said the Beltex cross genetics had exceeded their expectations.

“They are born small and hardy and hit the ground running. The muscling doesn’t develop until the lambs are a few weeks old.  “We have no lambing trouble with them whatsoever. “Even the Belsuftex ewe lambs that lambed as hoggets were fine,” Andrew said. “The feet have been great too with no issues. We see these Belsuftex rams as leaving early maturing progeny off the hills at 15-17 kg carcase weight. ”

“We will continue to blend the Beltex genetics into our Suftex to thicken them up and we can’t wait to see how the progeny perform out on the farms in different environments.”

Turiroa will also have Suftex, Southdown and Tigers, a Southdown, South Suffolk cross.

“The Tigers perform well because they have the best of the Southdown characteristics of a deep, meaty body with the advantage of the brown face for easy identification among the progeny. They have lots of Hybrid Vigour and fertility with many clients reporting higher scanning percentages in their early mob than their m/a mob which is pleasing to see the fertility come through.”

The Powdrells have been mating their stud ewe hoggets for 20 years and built up a really good fertility in the flock.

“We are looking forward to catching up with old and hopefully some new clients on December 12.

“We are really pleased with the strong team of rams we have coming forward to sale, with our key criteria of early maturing and good feet really evident in the rams.”

The sale starts at 11am on sale day.

Visitors from North Otago (from left) Martin Parsons and Ross Nimmo look at Romney and Southdown rams on sale at the Merrydowns stud.

Although it is only a couple of weeks into the Otago and Southland ram sales season, early indicators are the numbers are looking good for buyers and sellers.

Blair and Sally Robertson, of Merrydowns Romney and Southdown Stud, and the Otago Southland Coopworth sale in Gore were some of the first off the auction block last week.

PGG Wrightsons livestock genetics representative Callum McDonald said the ram sales season had just started.

‘‘However, indicators are showing it will be strong,’’ Mr McDonald said.

‘‘The rams are good quality, with good performance and are well sought after.

‘‘Merrydowns’ average was $1585 for Romney rams and $1167 for Southdown rams.’’

Fourth-generation stud sheep breeder Blair Robertson, from the Merrydowns stud at Waikoikoi, enjoyed a strong on-farm sale in West Otago last week for a catalogue of 229 Romney and Southdown rams.

The top priced Coopworth ram at the Gore sale last week was sold by George and Fraser Fletcher for $2300 and the average price was $1425.

‘‘They are good rams that ticked the boxes and people have the confidence to pay the money.’’

Carrfields livestock agent Roger Keach said while it was early in the ram sale season for Southland and Otago, a record was set for a Dorset Down ram in Cheviot last week.

‘‘It was offered by Colin Smith, of Bankhead Stud, Rangiora, and bought by Ian Stevenson, of The Gums Partnership, of Cheviot, for $17,500,’’ Mr Keach said.

He said the record price for selling a ram was $41,000, set more than 25 years ago.

A top price of $8500 was achieved at the Merrydowns Romney and Southdown ram sale last week.

Jack Robertson (left), of Merrydowns stud, chats with Trevor McCall, of Charlton.

Mr Robertson was pleased with the prices at the 11th on-farm sale at Waikoikoi last Tuesday.

‘‘It was a successful sale.

‘‘The average prices was $1425 overall, and the top ram, a Romney, was $8500, which went to Dean and Fiona Addenbrooke, of Ruakiwi, Tuatapere,’’ he said.

‘‘He was a very good quality ram, well balanced, with beautiful wool and good performance data.’’

The price received compared favourably with last year’s top selling ram, a Southdown, which sold for $7000.

There were 70-80 buyers registered, which was on par with previous years, and 85 Southdown rams and 144 Romney rams offered.

The Gore Ram Fair will be held at the Gore showgrounds on January 21 and 22.

PGG Wrightson upper South Island genetics rep Simon Eddington

“Good rams”‘ remain unsold after last Friday’s Canterbury A&P Association elite ram and ewe sale.

PGG Wrightson upper South Island genetics rep Simon Eddington said while the sheep industry had been enjoying a resurgence, quality rams were proving hard to sell.

“Everybody’s positive at the moment, with the lift in lamb prices, but it just doesn’t translate into sales of rams” Eddington said.

“It will take a couple of years before we start to see a lift in ewe numbers and more demand for rams”.

More than 200 rams went under the hammer at Canterbury Agricultural Park on Friday, down slightly on last year, and about one-third remained unsold.

The day’s top price of $12,500 went to a Suffolk ram from Collie Hills Partnership, of South Canterbury, while Chris Medlicott, of Clifton Downs Stud, of Hook, near Waimate, received $11,000 for a Southdown ram.

A Romney ram from Irvine Farms, at Brightwater, near Nelson, received $5800.

“It was hard going. Really good rams sold well, as they always do” Eddington said.

“But there were some good rams which didn’t get a bid, which is disappointing because the farmers put a lot of work into preparing them and then end up taking their rams home”.

He said on-farm ram sales were having an impact, but the biggest factor was the relatively low number of ewes around compared with an abundance of stud rams.

“Buyers are very selective in what they’re buying and they can afford to be because there’s still lots of rams coming forward.

“Farmers are having a good season, but you don’t just get one or two seasons out of a ram, you usually get four to five years”.

Southdown

3740 Ram, over 18 months, shorn.
1st Place Stuart W Brannigan
2nd Place A C & L K Christey
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan

3742 Ram, under 18 months, shorn – winner receives the CENTRAL
1st Place P G, F C Williams 
2nd Place Neville J Moorhead 
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan
Commended I M & C A Jordan
Highly Commended I M & C A Jordan
Very Highly Commended Stuart W Brannigan 

3744 Boehringer Ingelheim Quality Meat Yield Class, two Rams,
1st Place I M & C A Jordan 
2nd Place Stuart W Brannigan 
3rd Place A C & L K Christey 
4th Place P G, F C Williams 
5th Place Stuart W Brannigan 
6th Place Neville J Moorhead 

3748 Champion Southdown Ram
Awarded to: Stuart W Brannigan 

3749 JOHN DEANS SOUTHDOWN SHEEP TERRINE.
Awarded to: Stuart W Brannigan 

3750 Reserve Champion Southdown Ram
Awarded to: A C & L K Christey

3756 Ewe, over 30 months, shorn, and her suckling lamb(s).
1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place I M & C A Jordan
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3758 Ewe, 18 to 30 months, shorn and her suckling lamb(s).
1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place P G, F C Williams
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan

3760 Essential Nutrition Ewe Hogget under 18mth with or without lamb/s at foot -shorn on or after 1st September 2019.
1st Place A D Gillespie 
2nd Place A D Gillespie 
3rd Place J & A Burrows 
Commended I M & C A Jordan
Highly Commended Mr Sam E Hughes
Very Highly Commended P G, F C Williams 

3761 Allflex NZ Ltd Pair of Ewes, under 18 months, shorn.
1st Place A D Gillespie A D Gillespie
2nd Place P G, F C Williams PG, FC Williams
3rd Place A C & L K Christey A C & L K Christey

3764 Champion Southdown Ewe. Winner receives the Perpetual Trophy – JARMAN CUP.
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

3765 Reserve Champion Southdown Ewe
Awarded to: A D Gillespie A D Gillespie

3766 Supreme Champion Southdown
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

3770 Most Points Southdown Section – winner receives the JAMES DEANS CHALLENGE
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

3771 Allflex Best Carcase Southdown. Allflex kindly donate a $50 voucher.
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

Judge Hugh Taylor congratulates Oxford farmer Dave Gillespie on winning all breeds champion meat breed with his Southdown ewe.

Cattle classes might have been cancelled, but all ages flocked to see the sheep at the Rangiora Show on Saturday, October 26.

Judge Hugh Taylor had the job of selecting the all breeds champions and said he was impressed with the sheep on display.

“I know the numbers are down a wee bit, but generally the standard is very high. A lot of these sheep will go through the Canterbury A&P Show and do very well.

“And even into the flock section there’s some very good sheep, which is good to see.”

Mr Taylor chose Oxford farmer Dave Gillespie’s Southdown ewe as all breeds champion meat breed, while the champion wool breed ribbon went to a Corriedale ram bred by TA & CM Beaton.

He said most farmers were in good spirits thanks to a very favourable season with plenty of rain.

Buyers from Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Taupo paid up to $165 for the first of the new-season’s lambs at Stortford Lodge yesterday.

The southdown-cross terminal lambs were among a line of almost 1400 newly weaned lambs from Waikareao Station, Te Aute. The mixed-sex lambs ranged from $131 to $165.

The rest of the small sheep yarding was mostly hoggets with lambs at foot which were well up at week’s yarding. The best of them made $121 all counted.

Southdown NZ 2019

Marlborough/Nelson Tour

May 13^th – 15^th

(Please note all times are approximate at this stage and some venues are to be confirmed.)

Monday 13^th May: Day 1

1.00 pm         Council Meeting

6.00 pm         Annual General Meeting – Chateau Marlborough, 95 High Street, Blenheim

7.30pm          Dinner at Chateau Marlborough

                        Accommodation at Chateau Marlborough

Tuesday 14^th May:  Day 2

7.30 am         Bus departs Chateau Marlborough

                        Morning Tea in Tapawera (via SH63, Korere-Tophouse Road, Kerr Hill Road, Moteuka Valley Highway)

                        Visit Ed & Lauren Lukey’s, Matariki (Commercial Southdown Client)

                        Lunch at Mapua (own cost, various options)

                        Primary industry visits in Richmond & Nelson

                        Depart Nelson and return to Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim

                        “Walking Bus” to Clubs of Marlborough

7.30 pm         Dinner at Clubs of Marlborough

                        Accommodation at Chateau Marlborough

Wednesday 15^th May: Day 3

7.30 am         Bus departs Chateau Marlborough

                      Visit The Land Rover Shed

                        Visit Jordan’s farm for SIL Ewe Lamb demonstration/workshop

                        Continued SIL presentation/discussion & lunch at Speights Ale House

                      Visit Chris, Julia & Richard Dawkin’s farm “The Pyramids” B+L Innovation Farm Programme

                        Visit Giesens Cellar Door

                      Visit Graham & Christina’s property to see rest of “Willowhaugh stud”

4.20 pm         Depart for Chateau Marlborough via Blenheim Airport

(For those who are staying another night in Blenheim there will be special Post-Tour dinner)         

Southdown Sheep Society of New Zealand

Marlborough/Nelson Tour

May 13th – 15th 2019

I/We wish to register for the 2019 Southdown NZ Marlborough/Nelson Tour.

Names: (First and Last)

1. _________________________________   2. ___________________________________

Mailing Address:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Contact Number’s  ___________________________________________________________

Stud Name  _______________________     Email:     ________________________________

Accommodation

□ Monday 13th – Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim

□ Tuesday 14th – Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim

□ Wednesday 15th – Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim

□ Double

□ Twin Share (I wish to share with _________________________)

□ Single

□ Extra Night’s Accommodation required (extra cost of $189/night/room) Dates Required:

Travel Arrangements:

□ Arriving and Departing by car and will meet at Chateau Marlborough

□ Arriving by Plane – flight details _______________________

□ Departing by Plane – flight details _________________________

(Check in time of 4.30 pm or later would be preferable, as we intend to be back at Blenheim Airport by that time.)

Meals: Food allergies or special diet needs __________________________________

To confirm your place on the 2019 tour please send your completed registration form with payment no later than SUNDAY 31^ST MARCH to Christina Jordan, 678 Middle Renwick Road, RD 1, Blenheim 7271, or email to wjordan@xtra.co.nz or 027 6285 308.

Cost per person is $430.00 based on double or share twin, or $620.00 Single for two nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, lunch on Wednesday and bus travel costs.

Please make cheques payable to Southdown NZ or payment can be made directly to our Bank Account: 02 0727 0045103 00 Please use your name as a reference if paying by Internet Banking.

□ Cheque enclosed       or         □ Payment has been made by Internet Banking

Signature   _________________________       Date _______________________________

SOUTHDOWN RESULTS.

Lot 26  Mt.Annan  474/17 $3300.00 Harding Farming

Lot 27 Mt.Annan 339/17 $4000.00 A.D.Gillespie and P.G.& F.C.Williams

Lot 28 Willowhaugh 244/17 $1800.00 D.F.& J.R.Gray and C.D.Prouting

Lot 29 Willowhaugh 54/17  Passed

Lot 30 Banbury 502/17 Passed

Lot 31 Banbury 601/17 Passed

Lot 32 Bellfield 65/17  $4000.00 A.& J.Tatham

Lot 33 Moor End 37/17  $2000.00 P.D.McCormick

Lot 34 Moor End 16/17 $2000.00  Harding Farming

Lot 35 Ashbourne 707/17 $1600.00 Glenhazard Holdings Ltd

Lot 36 Ashbourne 712/17 Passed

Lot 37 Te Mara 5/17 Passed

Lot 38 Te Mars 77/17 (Replacement) Passed

Lot 39 Wiri 5/17 Passed

Lot 40 Wiri 57/17 $2500.00 Murvale Farm & R.& J.Trousdale

Lot 41 Murvale A23/17 Passed

Lot 42 Murvale A19/17 Withdrawn

Lot 43 Glen Orrin 105/17 Withdrawn

Lot 44 Silverdale 12/17 Passed

Lot 45 Willowhaugh 140/17 $1500.00  C.Miller-Brown

Lot 46 Willowhaugh 1/17 (Replacement) $1100.00  A.H.Brown

Lot 47  Moor End 73/17   $900.00 Terry Bros.

Lot 48 Ashbourne 701/17 (Ewe) $400.00 Aniwaniwa Ltd, Gore

Lot 49 Ashbourne 713/17 (Ewe) $400.00 Aniwaniwa Ltd, Gore