Business Rural North Spring 2021

40 | Proactive terminal sire breeding Puketotara Poll Dorset Stud is now one of the North Island’s largest poll dorset breeders. Karen Phelps P uketotara Poll Dorset Stud is one of three ter- minal sire breeding operations in the country to facial eczema test, and it’s already seeing results. “As climate change intensifies we’re seeing facial eczema (FE) crop up in parts of New Zealand that it hasn’t been previously. Now it’s becoming an issue in almost all of the North Island,” says Puketotara stud owner Ken Haywood. Puketotara stud is based on Ken and wife Rebecca’s 440ha total/270ha effective King Country farm. They work with Coastlands Poll Dorsets in Kawakawa Bay, Clevedon, owned by Cliff Deery, who is also testing for FE, to operate a closed poll dorset flock. Ken acknowledges this is not easy but it helps avoid watering down any progress made with regards to FE. FE testing is undertaken through AgResearch using ramguard. The toxin in the spores that affect the sheep are grown in the lab, then the resulting liquid is used by Ken to dose his sheep so he can measure an enzyme in the blood that shows if the sheep is susceptible or tolerant to facial ec- zema so breeding decisions can be made. For Ken it’s about staying ahead of what breeders will need in years to come in order to farm successfully and also differentiating his stud. All of the terminal sire breeders FE testing are in the North Island, which Ken says is proof that the issue is becoming more prominent. Ken and Rebecca run 1450 ewes of which 370 are poll dorset, 100 black face composite, 350 recorded romney stud ewes which are also on SIL and FE tested up to FE Gold level and the remainder commercial romneys. They also have 500 ewe hog- gets, 260 ram hoggets, 150 yearling cattle and 45 two-year-old cattle. All cattle are steers and bulls for either trade or fattening. They have operated their poll dorset stud since 1988 and all sheep in the stud are recorded on SIL. Although small numbers initially, as demand increased they built up the poll dorset component and are now one of the North Island’s largest poll dorset breeders. Ken says he likes the breed due to its white face and fast growth rate with good muscularity and meat. It gives farmers all-important options. They can finish early, if the weather is not conducive to keeping the stock, or retain them for longer if the want to. He says while initially the terminal sire industry focused on length of carcass, with changes in land use to dairy pushing sheep into more marginal country breeding goals have shifted accordingly. “Sheep farmers now often have to finish lambs on land that was previously store country. It requires a different type of sheep – one that is quicker and easier to finish with more meat, so our focus is on conformation, meat, growth and FE tolerance.” Ken says he has clients on hard hill country at Taumarunui successfully finishing lambs with good results showing the right breed and type of ram is key to maximising profits. Puketotara stud sells rams by private treaty each year. Ken says this allows him direct contact with his clients. “We can discuss their needs and supply genetics that enable them to achieve their goals and objec- tives. We also get feedback on how our genetics are doing on their farms so we know what to target with our breeding programme. When farmers come to buy rams it’s an important day for them. This way we can build a better relationship and provide them with advice and genetics.” Rebecca, who works part time as a district nurse, is an integral part of the stud operation and does the recording. Ken says that not all terminal sire breeders performance record but he considers it vital if breeders want to improve the profitability of their sheep and offer superior genetics into the future. At Puketotara stud EID tagging is done at birth giving accuracy and speed to the process. He is proud that when Puketotara put up a poll dorset ram three years ago for the Central Progeny Test (CPT) run by Beef and Lamb it performed well showing the stud is “up there with the best”. RURAL PEOPLE » Puketotara Stud: Ken & Rebecca Haywood Phone: 07 872 6444 Fax: 07 872 6446 Email: info@gfa.co.nz Website: www.gfa.co.nz Working together to achieve your goals.