28 | Paying attention to the genetics Neville Caldwell of Moeraki Downs started his own Coopworth Stud five years ago. Virginia Wright MEAT & WOOL » Moeraki Downs About ve years ago after a family conference with his three adult children, two sons on sheep farms and one daughter just graduating from university, Neville Caldwell decided that Moeraki Downs would start its own Coopworth Stud. Neville had paid big money for a very good ram at the Gore Stud sale, “and I thought if I’m going to start buying them I may as well start breeding my own.” He quickly found that paying attention to the genetics of his stud ewes and whichever ram they were using was a lot more interesting than working with his ock ewes, and since then they’ve been developing their ideas while learning from other breeders and building their technology. “My son Nathan and I went up to the North Island two years in a row. We did the East Coast one year stopping in at Coopworth Stud breeders, and did the West Coast the next. We learnt a lot and ended up buying a couple of rams each trip so that was really good.” They then jumped in the deep end when they bought a 120 Coopworth stud ock through tender, and Neville’s very appreciative of the help he had getting started from Roger Keech who’s now an independent consultant. Along with the information they’ve soaked up over the years they’ve started scoring condition, dags, fertility and live lambs, eye muscle and most recently IMF scanning which also gives them the skin thickness of the sheep. “We IMF’d our top 40 rams this year with Peter Clulee from Otago Ultra-Scanning who really helped us. We found one of the rams we bought this year is very high in IMF fat so we’ve put him over some of our stud ewes and we’re really looking forward to seeing what his progeny does with the IMF. They’ve just nished shearing their now 280 stud ewes, and have individually tested the micron from each one feeding the information electronically to SIL (Stock Improvement Limited). “We still do heavy culling, including for the eece. For example this year we’ve just nished shearing 780 hoggets and not one had anything wrong with them which I put down to our culling over the last ve years.” Around 70% of purebred Coopworths in the stud ock are put to one of their own purebred Coopworth rams. They usually buy in a Perendale ram to put over the remaining ewes which gives them genuine rst cross Coopdale ram lambs. “Some clients are looking for the genetic gains you get with cross-breeding. It depends on their farm,” says Neville. Partners: Doug Harvie, Craig Wyatt, Brett Challis, Robyn Friedrich and Tom Saul. Software solutions, including Cash Manager, Focus, MYOB, Xero and Figured Harvie GreenWyatt is here to help you maintain and grow your agri business. Our rural business accounting, business and planning disciplines. They scan around 200%, but the regular culling that begins almost as soon as the stud lambs are born means that in August this year they’ve kept around 100 ram lambs and 100 ewe lambs with more culling to come once their eece weights come in. Culled lambs are either killed or join the general ock if they’re good enough. By the time summer arrives they expect to have around 40 each of Coopworth and Coopdale rams for sale. “We like to have a decent selection when the clients turn up so they’ve got plenty to choose from whether they want two or 10 because each client’s different. Some like a more open face, some like a good topknot which is more typical of the true Coopworth. I had a client this year who only wanted open legs which is more the Perendales, they’re all different.” “It’s a lot more work with the stud,” says Neville, “but it’s interesting and rewarding as well. I’ve got some regular clients and I learn from them what they want and what they like. I’m still learning, and I’m really looking forward to meeting some new clients this year as well.” MUSTER 2023 Calendar Lighting up your home with our beautiful New Zealand High Country, every day of the year! 12 photos fromMUSTER - Anna Munro Photography with rural and inspiring quotes to boot you out of bed in the morning! An ideal Christmas present for someone with a heart for the high country. muster.anna.munro $35 each - Order at www.musterannamunro.co.nz or call 027 381 7599
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