WAIRERE SOUTH ROMNEYS & COMPOSITE RAMS
NZs No1 RAM BREEDING OPERATION
Wairere South Romneys have made a name for themselves, and for owner operator Trevor Peters and his team. The ram breeding operation,which Trevor describes as a franchise, with sister operations in the North Island, consists of five farms in West Otago, Central Otago and East Otago.
Wairere South is a partner in New Zealands number 1 Ram breeding operation, and Trevor has farmed Wairere based stock since 1986.
CAREFUL BREEDING THROUGH STRICT CULLING
The breeding operation places a high value on genetic gains and constantly continues to search for improvements in those traits which most add value to their clients flocks.
The Romneys rams & ewes have to endure harsh winters, and that enviroment provides a real testing ground for the Wairere South sheep. The large scale operation has 2800 recorded Wairere South stud ewes, and these ewes have a reputation as easy-care with no need for assistance.
Wairere South has a policy of very strict culling within their stud ewe flock, and this has resulted in the Wairere South clients seeing great gains in fertility, lambing percentages, lamb survivability, and weight gain.
All of this coupled with the use of the top Wairere Romney rams, has seen some significant production gains across all brackets.
This past season Wairere South has set target weights for their ram hoggets, with a regular weighting and culling policy. It is very pleasing to see these target weights being achieved or bettered so far this season.
Wairere South have also continued a rigourus culling policy in the stud ewe flock with all ewes being eye appraised individually prior to mating and any ewes found to have faults being culled.
FOCUS ON INCREASING YIELDS
Wairere South Farms have focussed on increasing yields on the high value primals, that being the middles and legs of lambs.
Over the past season across the commercial farms, the legs that met or exceeded the minimum saleable yield increased from a yield of 78% im 2008/09 to 85% in 2009/10.
The loins that met or exceeded the minimum saleable meat yield increased from a yield of 76% in 2008/09 to 83% in 2009/10.
The Shoulder saleable yield compared favourably with the previous season of 86% saleable meat on qualifying lambs.
Targeting the highest schedule to maximise returns, the averagecarcase weight was 17.62kg.
The schedule plus the average yield quality lambs of $4.17 was returning a 23cent premium over the base schedule coupled with the pool (last season of $3.35) meant a 42cent per kg premium over the base schedule or $7.52 per head on all qualifying lambs.
Scanning in the M/A stud ewes averaged 197% with stud 2ths scanning 204% this season and given the climatic conditions this winter and spring, the results speak for themselves.
RAM SELLING
With the two tooth rams being put up for sale in 2011 the new advances in genetic inputs we are making, mean we will have more of our top-ranking rams available to clients this year.