24 | Taking a fresh approach to sheep genetics Romney genetics are mainly sourced from Rawahi Romneys with some from Grassendale Romneys, and Texel genetics come from Waikaka Texel Stud. Karen Phelps Wilden Station in West Otago is taking a fresh approach to its sheep genetics this season to improve growth rates and hybrid vigour using Suftex rams from Fernvale Genetics and Martin Suftex. “We are putting a terminal Suftex sire over the Romney ewes for the second cycle to achieve this,” explains farm manager Peter Adam. “We can have 1,000–1,500 lambs waiting to go to our finishing farm Waipahi at the end of April/start of May and they are eating feed we need to get into winter with.” Romney genetics are mainly sourced from Rawahi Romneys with some from Grassendale Romneys, and Texel genetics come from Waikaka Texel Stud. Across three properties, totalling over 2,000 hectares, Wilden Station runs roughly 16,000 stock units, including 8,000 ewes, 2,090 hoggets, 290 mixed-age cows, and 60 rising two-year-old heifers. About 2,600 hoggets and 230 R2 cattle are finished at Waipahi during the winter and spring period. The cattle side of the operation comprises Angus and Angus-cross cows, split into breeding and commercial mobs. For the Angus, Wilden Station uses Umbrella Range Angus bulls with around half the Angus mated with Simmentals from Hill Valley Simmentals to take advantage of hybrid vigour. “It’s good to bring the Simmental into the mix and they do well in terms of growth and weights. Our two-year-olds are averaging over 320kgs on the hook and this is largely due to the Simmental genetics,” says Peter. The 242-hectare finishing farm at Waipahi, located 45 minutes from the home farm, allows Wilden Station to finish all its own stock. The Waipahi block has seen major improvements since it was purchased including a new water scheme and a re-grassing programme to shorter-term rotation grasses. Kale has also been sown for lamb finishing this year. Long-serving staff play a key role in the farm’s operations. “They make my job easier and it’s great to see them develop and take the next step up. The longer they’re here the more they can learn and the more MEAT & WOOL » Peter Adam responsibility they can take,” says Peter says. “Because staff are involved in all aspects of the business. this means they know why we are doing what we’re doing and this understanding helps drive better outcomes.” Current challenges include lifting lambing percentages after several disappointing seasons. Iodine injections were trialled after testing revealed marginal iodine levels in dead lambs but Peter says poor weather for lambing this year didn’t help. Wilden Station is committed to environmental stewardship and Peter is chairperson of the Pomahaka Water Care Group. With wool and meat prices improving he is hoping that money can be invested in more riparian plantings in places where the farm borders the creeks and rivers. “That sort of stuff we couldn’t look at when we didn’t have the cashflow but hopefully now we can. Also shelter belts, replacement of worn water lines and some fencing repairs. The whole industry is certainly a lot more positive although rising costs for items such as fertiliser will offset some of the commodity price increases.” Fernvale Genetics, located in Moa Flat, West Otago is an elite ram breeding company that has seen 3 generations of the Brenssell family over the past 80 years develop the stud to its current status. The stud today has entrenched key breeding policies that are used to produce superior animals that will have the Genetic make up to enhance the commercial sheep farming operations they are transferred into. These key breeding policies include: • Only multiple born & reared animals sold or retained in stud. • Quality outside bloodlines used every third generation. • Commercial pressure though 45,000 stock units. • Two year ram performance guarantee. • All ewe hoggets put to ram 027 201 8181 fernvale@farmside.co.nz www.fernvale.co.nz Fernvale Genetics is part of a large 45,000 stock unit sheep and beef operation. Not only is the focus on the stud, but the commercial side of the sheep and beef operations have to be pro table. The combined farming operation includes 18,500 Beef stock units with 1,200 breeding cows. EST 2001 Pete says long-serving staff play a key role in the farm’s operations.
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