Business Rural Spring 2021

42 | MEAT & WOOL » Lammerlaw Romney Stud: Eric & Lynsey McIntosh A sheep that’s proven hardy on the hill This third generation farmer and wool classer Eric Laurenson keeping an eye on lambing (top). Quality crimpy wool (below). Kim Newth B red for Mackenzie Country conditions, rams out of the Lammerlaw Romney Stud are also known for their exceptional wool and all-round performance. Some 50 quality rams will be available by private sale this coming December/January. The stud is named after the Lammerlaw Range in Central Otago, a reference to the rugged alpine country where stud owner Eric Laurenson grew up. He first developed a passion for wool on his fam- ily’s 2200 hectare hill country property at Paerau, (Maori for “many ridges”) and is today a 50% equity partner in that land. In the Mackenzie, Eric and partner Lynsey McIn- tosh have a 170 hectare farm where they run 400 Romney ewes, 400 dual purpose Romdale ewes plus Romney stud ewes. “We’re utilising Romdale rams as well and the ewe lambs that come from them are put in the commercial flock. We’ve also put some Romneys to Romdales to add a bit more hybrid vigour. We scanned 200% in the commercial mob this year and 180% in the stud mob. We target fertility and mothering ability as well as wool quality and worm resistance.” Lammerlaw sources rams from life-long Rom- ney breeder Gordon Levet (‘Kikitangeo’), who is renowned for developing a worm-resistant strain of sheep. He received the Royal Agricultural Award in 2008 and the Sheep Industry Innovation Award in the 2016 Sheep Industry Awards. Rams are also sourced from top studs such as Merrydowns in Gore and Gatton Park from Ashburton. As well as seeing improvements in worm resist- ance and other target traits, Eric is pleased at the consistency being achieved with wool quality. Coarse fibres are being minimised in fleeces to ensure better handling. “Ultimately, I would like to see that hard work and money spent on fibre turned into something we can be proud of. I think the worm is beginning to turn on this as we see more and more being written on the good things going for wool.” This third generation farmer and wool classer is taking steps of his own to showcase wool’s potential by making carpet from his own wool in conjunction with NZ Yarn. The farm fleece to farm floor carpet initiative started last year, when Eric decided to replace worn out carpets at the family homestead in Paerau with carpet made out of the best fibre around, off the backs of his own sheep. “It’s all body wool – there’s no blending with short inferior wool. I had our wool tested on wear. It had over 50 per cent less wear compared to a sam- ple of carpet from a name brand in New Zealand.” Eric is currently having a second run of wool processed for carpet with the goal of getting it into houses around Fairlie. “We’re looking for more people who may wish to be involved as well.” Looking ahead to the ram season, Eric says there is good demand for Lammerlaw rams locally. Buy- ers have come from as far afield as the Chatham Islands in past years. “Some merino farmers are us- ing them to put over their sheep to get a first class cross breed. There’s a good market for the half-bred wool and you get good heavy fat lambs too.” South Canterbury For all your shearing requirements – including fine wool Joel Foster M. 0274 075 531 P. 03 614 7791 E. foster.shearing@xtra.co.nz 90 Te Ngawai Rd, Pleasant Point Proud to support Lammerlaw Romney Stud Mulligan Agriculture Phone Alistair 027 485 5626 or 685 8244 | Proudly supporting Lammerlaw Romney Stud Land Development - Rock & Stone Picker available this season. CULTIVATION & DRILLING 31 years providing quality on-farm services to Mackenzie Districts Ploughing • Subsoiling • Grubbing & Rolling Multidiscing • Beet & Maize Planting • Direct Drilling Discs & Tyne Drills • Roller Drilling • Harrow Seeder This season we are operating alongside our other planter, a strip tillage precision planter. Only one pass needed to get the job done. PUDNEY FENCING Local experienced fencers servicing Fairlie, Albury and Mackenzie Basin l i i i i li , l i i ∙ Conventional Stock Fencing ∙ Predator Fencing ∙ Lifestyle/Commercial/Residential ∙ Yard Repairs & Replacement (Sheep, Cattle & Deer) ∙ Pole Sheds , For free quotes and consultation, contact: , : Chris Pudney 03 685 8711 or 027 685 8104 Paul 027 244 3354 | Kyllee 027 688 8677 pkhenton@xtra.co.nz www.comfycow.co.nz