18 | Wiltshire sale offers shedding flocks The Fosses’ journey into Wiltshires began in 2016 when they established their pedigree SIL recorded Wiltshire flock. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » Peter and Caroline Foss As the wool industry continues to face challenges many New Zealand farmers are turning their attention to self-shedding sheep breeds. Some of those leading this transition are Peter and Caroline Foss, whose Ipurua stud near Aria is set to host its fifth annual Wiltshire ram sale on Thursday, November 21st. The sale, which begins at 2pm, will feature around 80 full-shedding Wiltshire two-tooth rams. What sets this event apart is not just the quality of the stock on offer but also the wealth of knowledge the Fosses are eager to share about rapidly transitioning flocks to self-shedding breeds. “People want to know how long it will take to convert a flock to a shedding flock,” says Peter. “With the right sires that are growing minimal wool, we can have the bulk of the sheep in a flock shedding in two generations. We’ve done it here, so I speak from experience.” The Fosses’ journey into Wiltshires began in 2016 when they established their pedigree SIL recorded Wiltshire flock, now 500 strong. This move was in response to what Peter terms “the abysmal state of the wool industry.” Despite his enduring belief in wool, Peter recognised the need to adapt to market demands. One of the key factors in achieving a quick transition to a shedding flock is the careful selection of sires. “New Zealand’s Wiltshires are inherently woolly, even though they shed fully, compared with the best shedding genetics you can get. I pay particular attention to coat type because most of our rams go into crossbred flocks whose owners want to see wool disappear as quickly as they can. The very best of our Wiltshire ewes won’t even grow one inch of wool in a year whereas there are a lot of Wiltshires in New Zealand that will grow 2-3 inches a year.” The Fosses have gone to great lengths to source the best shedding genetics available, namely Welsh EasyCare and Exlana, which are both full shedding UK breeds. The Fosses weaned 30 embryo lambs from 50 implants last year and liked what they saw so this year they’ve put in 130 implants and have 90 embryo lambs on the ground. “The UK genetics we have imported are extremely good at shedding. Their coats are so short they cannot be classed as wool,” says Peter. This focus on superior shedding genetics is already showing results in their crossbreeding program. The Fosses farm 500 commercial Romney and 800 commercial half and three quarter bred Wiltshires. “We only have 300 Romney ewes that need shearing twice a year left. All the rest are first or second cross. Three-quarters of the lambs from the second generation do not need any shearing.” The Fosses’ breeding program goes beyond just focusing on shedding characteristics. They are also working on improving facial eczema (FE) tolerance and breeding for worm resistance, aiming for sheep that require minimal drenching. 33 Moa St, Piopio 3912 07 877 8054 / 07 873 7273 / 021 202 9749 kchservice@kchonda.co.nz / honda.49@icloud.com Proudly supporting Peter & Caroline Foss This holistic approach to breeding aligns with the increasing demand for low-maintenance sheep that can thrive in various New Zealand conditions. Visitors to the sale will have the opportunity to view all classes of stock on display from 10am, allowing ample time to assess the rams and discuss breeding strategies with the Fosses. WILTSHIRE 2T RAM SALE SELLING APPROX. 65 FULL SHED 2T RAMS No Shearing No Dipping No Dagging SIL Recorded FE Dosing Livestreaming on bidr SALE DAY Thurs 21st Nov, 2.00pm • On farm at 495 Potaka Rd, Aria Peter & Caroline Foss 07 8777 881 pcfossy@xtra.co.nz Find us on Facebook: Ipurua Wiltshires Anna Martyn • 021 247 2278 • akmartyn@yahoo.com.au
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