Business Rural Spring 2021

54 | Family determined Photos: Jeannette & Clayton Peters; stud ewes grazing (right). Karen helps T he stud game is never an easy one but after the sad passing of Clayton Peter’s father Tre- vor earlier this year the family is determined to carry on his legacy. “Mum’s still a big part of the business and we’ve put a lot of hard work into the stud over the years. Dad was passionate about breeding and was al- ways thinking outside the square and I guess I take after my dad like that,” says Clayton. As Trevor once said: “Farming is in our blood, we’ve been at it that long” and he is never far from the family’s thoughts and his name and passion for sheep and cattle lives on. Trevor and wife Karen began their stud breed- ing career with Dorset Down, and later expanded into Suffolk sheep. In 1989 they moved to Clutha Downs, Beaumont Otago and in 1992 joined forces with Derek and Chris Daniell forming part of New Zealand’s number one ram breeding operation, Wairere, which specialised in production of high performance Romney rams of Wairarapa genetics. The Peters’ portion of that business operated un- der the brand Wairere South. In 1993 Trevor began ram selling and in 2012, after a successful twenty- year ram breeding and marketing partnership with the Daniells, Trevor and Karen made the decision to branch out independently to bring their children into their farming enterprise. They re-branded as Peters Genetics forming the company Peters Farms Ltd. It is now owned by Karen, Clayton and wife Jeannette, brother Morgan and wife Megan, and sister Justine and her hus- band Don who farm in Gisborne. The company farms around 35,000 high perfor- mance stock units. MEAT & WOOL » Peters Genetics It incorporates three farms: Clutha Downs at Beaumont, where the stud is operated from, Attadale, 2391ha in Middlemarch and Wantwood Station near Gore. The family business also includes a contracting arm to undertake all the work on their farms giving greater control. Clayton and Jeanette also own Spylaw Farms in Dunrobin, a 1050ha farm with 13,000 sheep and beef stock units and Morgan and Megan own Bullock Range at Moa Flat, a 1300ha farm with 11,000 stock units. Peters Genetics sheep stud consisting of Peters romneys, romtex, hot shot terminals and com- mercial ewes is one of the most successful ram breeding operations in New Zealand thanks to the hard work put in by Trevor and Karen. The next sale is coming up in December where rams will be sold by private treaty including around 500 romneys, 200 suftex and 50 romtex. Clayton says that Peters Genetics sheep stud and breeding operation strives to achieve increased sur- vivability, fertility, growth rates, yield grading, and bright white wool across all stock. It incorporates a variety of breeds to suit the need of any farmer whether they are farming for meat, wool, breeding or a combination of all three. He says because Peters Genetics sheep are run in large mobs this helps accelerate the selection process for toughness and survivability. They have a strict culling policy, which starts at scanning. Clayton says that with hot dry summers and long cold winters the Otago and Southland environment is a great testing ground for the sheep so those purchasing rams in December will get their hands on some great genetics. “Our clients are seeing great gains in fertility, lambing percentages, lamb survivability and weight gain.” Pleased t o support Peters Genetics Alan Macdonald Jack Perniskie Erin Howes Tim Walsh Caleb Macdonald Toll Free Enquiries 0800 276 999 www.cpwool.co.nz At CP Wool, you can expect great service, coupled with in-depth knowledge and experience. CP Wool is 100% New Zealand owned and supports and promotes the New Zealand wool industry at a grass roots level both locally and globally. Employing more than 50 wool specialists, CP Wool delivers a high level of wool expertise, excellent technical skills and has extensive industry experience. Servicing locations throughout NZ “Mum’s still a big part of the business and we’ve put a lot of hard work into the stud over the years. Dad was passionate about breeding and was always thinking outside the square and I guess I take after my dad like that.” Super Air have a modern fleet of SpreadSmart equipped aircraft, delivering market leading fertiliser and lime application benefits. Contacts: Paul Turner - Phone: 027 230 1689