50 | Suffolk breed’s superior performance While Stonylea’s genetics form the backbone of the stud, Andrew is open to incorporating exceptional outside bloodlines. Karen Phelps Stonylea Suffolk Stud is gearing up for its annual sale on December 13th at Canterbury Park. Stud owner and lamb trader Andrew Adams says the Suffolk breed’s exceptional qualities and the stud’s commitment to excellence will mean some great rams will be available for purchasers to add value to their farming operations. His first-hand experience has solidified Andrew’s confidence in the Suffolk breed’s superior performance in commercial flocks. “Suffolks are black faced, so very easy to identify at birth, and are fast growing sheep with plenty of meat,” Andrew says. “For our commercial operation we obviously buy and fatten a lot of lambs, and I’ve done trials killing and fattening different sheep breeds. The fastest growing are the pure breeds, not the mixed breeds.” Addressing a common preference among farmers for smaller sheep due to longevity concerns, Andrew offers a compelling counter argument: “Our rams are 66kgs in February when we scan them, but mixed breed rams can be just 60kgs in August. So why would you use a mixed breed for a fast-growing terminal sire?” Interestingly, Andrew acknowledges that the diversity in sheep breeds actually benefits his trading business. “We need people to breed the smaller, slowergrowing sheep, or we’d be out of business before the winter. So the mixed breeds keep our industry going,” he admits with a smile. The upcoming sale at Canterbury Park will showcase the fruits of Andrew’s labour, offering around 100 Suffolk rams to discerning buyers. It represents a unique opportunity for farmers to invest in genetics that have been developed over three decades. Stonylea Suffolk Stud, located near Darfield in Canterbury, is a testament to generational farming excellence. Andrew, alongside his wife Jacqui, has expanded the original 200-hectare farm to 500 MEAT & WOOL » Stoneylea - Andrew Adams GO FOR GOLD WITH RAMS FROM PETERS GENETICS PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTION & PRICE - THE WINNING COMBO hectares. The operation now encompasses not only the Suffolk stud but also a substantial sheep and cattle fattening enterprise, as well as 130 hectares of cropping. The stud itself boasts approximately 300 ewes and 100 hoggets, all carefully selected and bred to embody the traits that Andrew values most: rapid growth and superior meat yield. The results speak for themselves, with Stonylea ewes consistently achieving impressive weaning weights and ram performance that surpasses industry standards. “When the rams are scanned at the end of February for the last four to six years, they have averaged 66.5kgs,” Andrew says. He proudly recounts a recent evaluation at Lincoln University, where ten of his rams averaged an outstanding 66.5% meat ratio, with the top performer reaching a remarkable 69%. The stud’s success isn’t limited to controlled environments. Andrew cites their experience running a commercial flock on challenging hill FERTILISER SPREADING | FARM MAPPING GPS TRACKING | VARIABLE RATE SPREADING LIVESTOCK CARTAGE | DAILY FREIGHT CONCRETE SUPPLIES | GRAIN CARTAGE SHINGLE SUPPLIES | FERTILISER SUPPLIES Leeston: 03 3248 070 | Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz country in Kaikoura, where lambing rates reached 150%, and an impressive 35% of lambs were ready for market directly off their mothers at 19kgs. While Stonylea’s genetics form the backbone of the stud, Andrew remains open to incorporating exceptional outside bloodlines when the opportunity arises. He specifically mentions the positive impact of Collie Hills Suffolk Stud rams, which have contributed to producing “meaty, well-grown, correct sheep.” In recent years, Andrew has implemented a rigorous culling strategy to accelerate genetic improvement. By increasing ewe numbers and culling over half of the ewe and ram lambs annually, he’s able to concentrate on the most desirable traits. This approach has yielded remarkable results, with top scanning rams achieving EMA (eye muscle area) measurements of 27 or 28 at the end of February. The entire Stonylea Suffolk Stud is SIL (Sheep Improvement Limited) registered, providing buyers with comprehensive genetic information and performance data to inform their purchasing decisions at the upcoming sale.
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