22 | RURAL PEOPLE » Tumeke Farming Innovators in sheep farming since 1967 Simon and Pascale. Karen Phelps 06 323 2944 027 2760963 t.kendrick@kinect.co.nz . . . Call us today! Manawatu Shearing Top Service Competitive Rates Covering Manawatu, Rangitikei &Wairarapa areas Proud to support CarthewGenetics P 06 323 0255 M 027 928 8630 W farmworxbikes.co.nz • On Farm Service • New and Used Sales • Fully Equipped Workshop Tumeke Farming (formerly Carthew Genetics) has been revolutionizing the sheep farming industry since 1967. Stud owners Pascale and Simon Carthew’s philosophy is simple - breeding sheep that perform well in any conditions, while minimising inputs and maintaining balance with nature. It’s an approach that’s earned them a reputation for producing sheep that are robust, healthy and highly productive. “We are committed to breeding sheep that are easy care, tough, healthy and structurally sound,” says Pascale. “All our sheep have full ancestry information on both dams and sires going back to 1967. This level of detail allows us to selectively breed for desired traits, such as disease resistance, lambing performance and carcass productivity.” Unlike many stud-driven sheep breeders, she says that Tumeke Farming is commercially driven. Preferential treatment is not given to any of the sheep and they are farmed, performance recorded, and selected in a typical hill country environment with commercial stocking rates, steep hills, and a cold climate. “This approach ensures that our sheep are bred for real-world conditions, rather than just for show,” says Pascale. All of the sheep also go through an independent structural confirmation audit by Guy Martin from Livestock Confirmation and are selected accordingly. “By selecting and breeding only from sound animals we imitate the natural selection process, where weak animals don’t survive. This is a real point of difference and one of the results is that we haven’t drenched ewes for the last 25 years,” says Pascale. The Carthews’ commitment to breeding sheep that survive is also evident in their approach to facial eczema (FE). Their Coopworth FE line is bred from the highest FE sires available in New Zealand, ensuring resistance to this common disease. Tumeke Farming offers several breeds of sheep including Tumeke Landcorp Lamb Supreme and Tumeke Suffolk Supreme. The former is a whitefaced terminal sire developed by Landcorp, with no expense spared to maximize carcass productivity. The Carthews are the only breeders outside Landcorp to have these sheep. The latter is a black-faced alternative developed by the Carthews utilising the best Suftex sires available. Pascale says that one of the most exciting offerings is the Tumeke Coopworth Romney X. “This crossbreed is a blend of the best with the best and may be the future of farming. By combining the best traits of Coopworth and Romney sheep we have created a breed that is highly adaptable and productive.” Tumeke Farming is operated from a 325ha leased farm in Woodville and a 200ha lease block in Rangiwahia. Each year in December the Carthews sell around 450-500 rams on farm in Rangiwahia. The couple takes a highly personal approach, spending a couple hours with each client, helping them to select the best rams for their needs. It’s no surprise that many clients are long term and have become friends over the years. “When people buy rams from us they know we’ve done the selection and the hard yards on their behalf.”
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