6 | Philip Brandon proud of the results Selection of Ram Hoggets. Awaroa stud ewes. Richard Loader Facial eczema tolerance is a key focus for King Country perendale stud ram breeder Philip Brandon, and he’s very proud of the results. “FE is our biggest challenge in this region and if you’re not breeding for tolerance to it then you’re going downhill,” says Philip. “We’ve been doing sporodesmin testing for FE for twenty-one years now and this year we will be testing at .58mg/kg. The benchmark level is set at .60mg/kg so we’re right up there. We’re the second highest in the perendale breed.” Awaroa Perendale Ram Stud uses 5K DNA testing, which enables forecasting for a generation of traits including FE using the 5000 markers in a single gene. A tissue sample is taken from the sheep’s ear, which is then sent away for testing. “The markers can be taken out of the gene that are used for breeding values, including weaning weights, wool weights, growth rates and eczema tolerance. They are then SIL recorded.” About 80 two-tooth Awaroa stud rams are offered for sale each November, mostly on farm by private treaty but a small number will go to the North Island Perendale Sale in Te Kuiti on Monday the 11th of November. There will be about eight other breeders from the North Island there, with a total of 60 rams on offer. “I also take some up to the Frankton Ram Sale in the middle of January. I have about fifteen clients from the North Island - Northland over to the East Coast and down to RURAL PEOPLE » Awaroa Perendale Ram Stud Flock: 510 EMA Scanned Philip Brandon 897 Waitomo Valley Rd, RD 7 Otorohanga 3977 Ph: (07) 873 6313 Email: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz 21 Years of Eczema Testing 4 Star Rating 2024 Sires Dosed @ .58 For reliable, quality shearing contracting in the mighty King Country 027 636 0410 monkshearing@outlook.co.nz Monkshearing We provide professional quality advice and friendly service to dairy, drystock, forestry, horticulture and rural businesses throughout New Zealand. Bailey Ingham are proud to support Philip Brandon and Awaroa 18 Maniapoto Street Otorohanga 07 873 7325 41 Bank Street Te Awamutu 07 870 1888 | 29 Hakiaha Street Taumarunui 07 895 7315 info@baileyingham.co.nz | www.baileyingham.co.nz Taranaki. Awaroa Perendale rams have a good name out there, with good breeding values and eczema tolerance, that’s one of the biggest things around this area now.” Philip and his late wife Audrey moved onto their 130-hectare farm just out of Waitomo Village thirteen years ago. Philip had previously farmed in partnership with his brother on the family’s 1020-hectare sheep and beef station out towards the West Coast and established the stud in the ‘90s. When he and Audrey moved to their new farm they brought with them 500 stud ewes, a mob of ram hoggets and a couple of truckloads of trade heifers for fattening. Today the flat to steep contour farm is home to 480 perendale ewes, of which 300 are stud ewes, and about 70 trade heifers. At seventy years young, Philip has been farming all his life and says it just gets in your blood. “I’m out on the land and the land is part of your blood. I like to see things done properly. When we came here the farm was in a poor state and I’ve done a lot of development, renewing fencing and re-grassing. The farm hadn’t seen a lot of fertiliser and we’ve fertilised every year. A lot of the flats hadn’t been drained so I cleaned out the drains, recontoured the land and regrassed so there was a good pasture afterwards. Development is on-going, even after thirteen years, but it makes you feel very proud with what we have done over that time. I particularly enjoy the stud and trying to improve it.”
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