| 53 This year, the stud has also welcomed a third partner, Ben and Kelsey Shannon, of Pukekowhai Farms. BALLANCE AWARDS » Motumatai Pastorals Sheep breeder Stewart Cowan, of Wairarapa Texel Developments (WTD), acquired his first purebred Texel sire not long after Texels were first released commercially in New Zealand 35 years ago as a terminal breed. It was a sound choice: this fertile meaty breed has been a game changer for the NZ sheep industry. In 2016, Stewart went into stud 50/50 partnership with Andy and Gemma Phillips of Motumatai. Today, WTD continues to play a key role in driving efficient, sustainable sheep production on the couple’s award-winning sheep and beef farm. Andy and Gemma won the Regional Supreme Award at this year’s Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “My association with Andy goes back to the 1990s when he was managing a large property next door to where we were at that stage,” says Stewart. “He showed a keen interest in Texels back then, purchasing rams I had bred.” The WTD stud partnership between Stewart and Andy has been very successful. In response to buyer demand, WTD has also been breeding Suftex since 2020. “That has almost doubled our ram sales. In the last three years, we have constantly increased our ram clientele and we are definitely fielding more enquiries too.” The stud flock currently comprises 750 ewes, all SIL performance recorded and indexed Terminal/Dual Purpose. Around 500 mixed age ewes and 252 ewe hoggets go to the ram at present. Rams are sold every year on farm, usually from the end of November through to February. “We’re very fortunate that we’ve built such a fantastic background in genetic worth. I have a intense passion for genetics that I believe is clearly showing in the progeny we’re turning out. The interest shown from bigger stud operations demonstrates they are very keen to get our genetics in their cross breeding programmes. “Texels were brought in as a terminal breed but there’s quite a quandary in Texel circles today as to whether they are a terminal or a maternal breed. A growing number of our clients are looking at the maternal figures in conjunction with the terminal figures; we run two indexes so they can see the comparisons. We can help them pick a sire that will give them the ram they want, whether maternal/dual purpose or terminal.” This year, the stud has also welcomed a third partner, Ben and Kelsey Shannon, of Pukekowhai Farms. “Andy and I are really looking forward to seeing what they will bring to the stud too.” DEMAND STRONG FOR VERSATILE TEXELS 06 372 2770 027 211 3936 texels4u@gmail.com WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS Let’s talk. S T E WA R T C O WA N
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