18 | “The Dorset Down’s vitality, stature, and ability to grow have always impressed me.” RURAL PEOPLE » Manawa Dorset Downs High-performing Dorset Down genetics Ewe and twins. Alexia Johnston Manawa Farm, in Kairanga, is proving its worth as a leading producer of high- performing Dorset Down genetics. The fast-growing, efficient sheep breed has been delivering consistent results for commercial farmers across the North Island, including the Wall family at Manawa Farm. Nestled between Palmerston North and Feilding, in the Manawatu, Manawa Farm is a 127 hectare intensively run sheep breeding, beef finishing, and dairy grazing operation, managed by Andrew Wall and his partner Jo Kerslake. Alongside the Dorset Downs stud, they buy in 120 weaner Friesian bulls and Friesian-cross steers each spring and graze 60 dairy heifers on contract. Andrew says diversity helps the business thrive, including cashflow while reducing risk by not having all their eggs in one basket. The Wall family has been on Manawa Farm for more than 100 years, with Andrew representing the fourth generation. After 15 years working as an agricultural scientist through Massey University and AgResearch, he returned to the family property in 2017. Andrew says the area is a fantastic location for farming, with diverse land classes, a kind year-round climate, and a vibrant rural community. Manawa Farm’s Dorset Downs stud is the oldest registered flock of its kind in the North Island, established by Andrew’s late father, Chris Wall, in the early 1970s. “You could say they’re in my DNA as I’ve grown up with them,” Andrew says. After trialling several breeds, Chris was impressed with the Dorset Down’s ability to produce fast-growing, high-quality prime lambs. “The Dorset Down’s vitality, stature, and ability to grow have always impressed me,” Andrew says. Today, the stud runs 165 breeding ewes, mated to rams from New Zealand’s Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL) database. Each year, about 60 ram lambs are retained and sold as two-tooth terminal rams to commercial sheep farmers across the western and upper North Island. “Growth rate is important for our clients,” he says. “We select lambs that have both a high weaning liveweight and post-weaning growth rate to get them to a killable size as soon as possible.” He says feedback from farmers is consistently positive with many impressed by the early lamb picks, the size and shape of the lambs, and the quality of the meat. The stud also prioritises practical traits such as low dag scores, mothering ability, and structural soundness, factors that support animal welfare and on-farm efficiency. Andrew and Jo are now aligning their breeding goals with changing environmental conditions. “With the climate predicted to get warmer and wetter in the North Island, we’re starting to select for internal worm resistance and are involved in the Beef+Lamb NZ facial eczema study,” he says. They’ve also introduced new maternal genetics from The Gums Partnership (Stevenson Genetics) dispersal sale to add further depth to their breeding programme. Each year about 50 carefully selected two-tooth rams are available for sale, offering proven, fast growing genetics backed by over 50 years of refinement. As Andrew reflects on the season ahead, he says there’s no better time on the farm than late spring, when it is often “cranking along”, with plenty of grass, and stock weight gains, and this year is no exception. Manawa FarmDorset Downs “We aim to provide rams that produce easily identifiable lambs that reach a prime weight quickly and efficiently with less workload for you.” • 50+ years of improvement • Fast growing genetics • Less dags • A strong constitution and structural integrity Two-tooth rams available from November For more information call Andrew Wall M 021 055 9270 A Kairanga, Palmerston North Take advantage of terminal rams with: We provide a broad range of accounting solutions including Financial Accounting & Taxation Services, Business Development & Support, Software Solutions, Farm Accounting and Payroll & GST Management PO Box 273, 184 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North 4410 Phone: (06) 356-5303 Email: team@watsonadvisory.co.nz
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