22 | Kelso Ram Stud Hamish Bibby with an Olann hogget fleece 23.2 micron. Matt Holden and Olivia Ellis Sue Russell The story of Kelso Genetics traces back to the 1970’s when Roger Marshall, a Rangitikei sheep farmer, pioneered the modern crossbred sheep breeding on his farm, Tutu Totara. This has had a massive impact on fertility, growth rate and meat yield and overall, a positive impact on the New Zealand sheep industry. From that beginning today the Kelso breeding programme is managed by Hamish and Kelly Bibby which is based on the Bibby family farm, Lunesdale in Ongaonga Central Hawkes Bay. Key to the success of the breeding programme has been attention to three elements: stockmanship, science and innovation. Olivia Ellis, a graduate from Lincoln University, has been part of the Kelso team these past 18 months. “Kelso was rapidly growing at the time so they decided to invest in a new role and that’s when I became part of the team.” Olivia’s role as Operations Manager is busy and exciting with no two days the same. Her role varies from on farm performance recording, to client visits and ram sales. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with First Class Honours and she completed her dissertation on the molecular genetic analysis of IGF-1 in Romney sheep and its role in growth. Along with Hamish and Olivia, Matt Holden works with farmers to achieve their sheep breeding needs and ram requirements. David Marshall, Roger’s son, has a strategic role in the business, constantly driving the team to focus on what commercial farmers need in their farming systems. Olivia says, they complement each other really well and are extremely lucky to have such a strong team. Kelso Genetics Ltd is jointly owned by the Marshall, Holden and Bibby families. The whole point of Kelso, Olivia says, is to help commercial farmers to produce high performing efficient sheep that require low input. “It is pretty hard to come by the ‘perfect’ sheep so we have tried to breed a great all-rounder sheep that will suit different environments and will bring real and lasting value in a commercial flock.” To enable this to happen, Kelso has been taking the time to invest in different areas of the business. It is important to Kelso that they keep driving priorities focussed on low input, welfare, environment and health traits. “It is pretty hard to come by the ‘perfect’ sheep so we have tried to breed a great all-rounder sheep that will suit different environments and will bring real and lasting value in a commercial flock.” RURAL PEOPLE » Kelso Ram Stud FLEECE TESTING MAXIMISING FLOCK POTENTIAL Micron & CVD | Staple Length & Strength | Yield & Clean Fleece Weight Order Online: nzwta.co.nz Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD Working hard to maximise the value of my client’s properties TONY RASMUSSEN M 027 429 2253 E tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 327 Haliburton Road 4279 State Highway 2 71 Pakaututu Road 269 Pleasant Valley Road 246 Brownlie Road 479 Valley Road 1312 Ngahape Road 750 Clareinch Road 465 Tourere Road 1667 Kahuranaki Road 89 McDonald Road 4279 State Highway 2 Kelso has been involved with the Beef & Lamb Genetics Low Input Progeny Trial since it was formed and have been seeing great results. This progeny trial highlights the role that genetics can play in a sheep’s ability to perform with minimal inputs in a challenging environment. Facial eczema is becoming an increasing issue to the New Zealand sheep industry. Kelso fortunately purchased the Kaahu FE Gold flock from Murray Sargent in 2020. This flock complements our Kelso Maternal flock when targeting an overall balanced sheep. For the past four years, the programme has also been measuring methane outputs in sheep. “The interesting part about this research is that we are finding a good balance between maintaining production and showing a reduction in methane. And being at the forefront of a very science driven industry is an exciting place to be” she says. Another area Kelso has been investing in is the Olann breeding programme, where they are producing a crossbred animal for hill country environments with mid-micron wool. “Olann is adding more value to the wool clip while still having a good dual purpose carcass and characteristics.” Artificial insemination and embryo transfer programmes are being used to accelerate the rates of genetic gain in the Olann flock. “It’s great to be part of a team really making huge gains and differences to the whole sector. We’re very proud of what has been achieved to date and we’re driven to continue to help improve our client’s bottom line.” A strong client base is what drives the success of the business on a day-to-day basis. “We pride ourselves on the value of those relationships. In May we host the Kelso Winter Workshop where clients can mingle with other like-minded farmers, visit farms and enjoy some well-deserved social time.” One of the reasons Kelso resources this opportunity is to get farmer feedback. As working in the realm of genetics requires a far-sighted approach, we have to think 10 – 15 years ahead of what the market is currently demanding. Olivia says it is great to be involved in such an innovative thriving business, where success is driven by a passion.
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