| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Peters Genetics Keeping the farm, stud in the family Karen Phelps D Jeannette and Clayton Peter have taken on more of the family farming business since the sad passing of Clayton’s father Trevor around 18 months ago. Trevor was a stalwart of the Romney sheep breeding industry in New Zealand with his wellrespected Peters Genetics stud, one of the most successful ram breeding operations in the country. Jeannette and Clayton have leased the land and stock at Clutha Downs at Beaumont, where the stud is operated from, and will run this alongside their own farm Spylaw Farms in Dunrobin. This will give a total of 2600ha and 23,000 stock units altogether. It’s been a big change but Clayton says it was important to keep the farm and stud in the family. He shares his father’s passion for sheep and has been involved with the stud for over 20 years so it’s not a big change in many respects. Peters Genetics consists of Romney, Romtex, hotshot terminals and commercial ewes. Clayton’s focused on culling out the bottom performers leaving 2500 fully recorded and DNA tested stud ewes. There are also 500 Suftex ewes, which he has culled back from 750 to an elite mob of 500. Clayton says that Peters Genetics strives to achieve increased survivability, 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. There is a strict culling policy, which starts at scanning. Around 400 Romney’s, 100 Suftex and 50 Romtex rams are sold by private treaty each year starting early December. Jeannette and Clayton have also taken over the cattle stud, something that is newer to Clayton but a challenge he is relishing. Peters Angus Stud comprises 220 stud cows and 100 commercial cows. Clayton has culled this back from over 300 to 220 and says the bull gures are already responding. He is doing a lot of AI work, using some top American genetics for faster gain. An on farm sale is held at the end of May/early June, when around 20 top quality bulls are offered. Clayton aims to increase this to 30-35. Jeannette and Clayton are taking on an oversee role in their larger business, working over both properties with the help of manager Justin Wallis, the stud master on Clutha Downs. Clayton will also probably take over the family business contracting arm to undertake all the work on their farms giving greater control. Peters Farms Ltd, owned by Clayton’s mum Karen, Clayton and Jeannette, brother Morgan and wife Megan (who also separately own their own farm, Bullock Range at Moa Flat, a 1300ha farm Every drop means quite a lot when it’s from Peters Genetics CLAYTON PETERS 03 204 8817 027 222 4421 JUSTIN WALLIS 03 976 6509 027 225 8330 Jeannette & Clayton Peters. with 11,000 stock units), and sister Justine and her husband Don who farm in Gisborne incorporates three farms: Clutha Downs, Attadale, 2391ha in Middlemarch and Wantwood Station near Gore. The farms all have managers and staff to operate them with the family overseeing governance. Clayton says the family is doing as much as they can to protect the environment and their land including smart graze management leaving buffer zones, fencing off waterways and planting natives. It’s work, which will be on going, to protect this solid family farming operation for future generations. Ram hoggets and Peters Angus Stud bulls. Paul Turner 027 230 1689 Super Air have a modern fleet of SpreadSmart equipped aircraft, delivering market leading fertiliser and lime application benefits.
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