| 55 A ongoing legacy of superior breeding Allyson and John Lee’s 200ha farm has 1,200 breeding stock, including a commercial sheep flock. Anne Boswell In early 2025, top-quality Coopworth rams - the result of 50 years of meticulous breeding - will be available for sale. Located on the Waitaki Plains near Oamaru, Allyson and John Lee’s 200ha farm has 1,200 breeding stock, including a commercial sheep flock and the renowned Waikoura Coopworth Stud. This exceptional flock is a source of pride, recorded with Sheep Improvement Ltd (SIL) and managed under authentic commercial conditions. With high fertility and a 188% weaning rate, Waikoura stock exemplifies productivity. The Waikoura Coopworth Stud began 50 years ago, coinciding with the introduction of the breed to New Zealand farms. The breed was developed at Lincoln University to boost national lambing percentages. “Coopworths were designed for mothering, meat and survivability, helping farmers enhance their existing stock,” Allyson says. Though wool was also a focus during the breed’s development, its profitability has waned; however, with a global shift towards eco-friendly materials, there is hope for wool’s resurgence. Waikoura Coopworth Stud integrates fresh genetics annually, using top New Zealand rams to maintain genetic excellence. All stud rams undergo eye muscle scanning. “We aim to breed the ultimate easy-care ram – high output, low input, meaty animals,” Allyson says. “These are strong, functional sheep that thrive.” Coopworth ewes excel as mothers - producing singles, twins, and triplets - and exhibit disease tolerance, reducing ewe wastage. They are productive, long-lived, moderate-sized ewes, known as the “engine room” of successful farming operations, improving weaning percentages and weights efficiently and profitably. Coopworth rams also shine, performing exceptionally in the B+LNZ Low Input Progeny Test MEAT & WOOL » Waikoura Coopworth Stud with reduced dag scores, lower Faecal Egg Counts (FEC) and robust parasite resilience, without sacrificing productivity. Waikoura Coopworth Stud Farmer and Coopworth Sheep Stud Breeder John Lee 03 431 7819 or 0272407544 allycatz@xtra.co.nz 1531 Georgetown-Pukeuri Rd, Awamoko 9494, Oamaru From January 2025, the best of Waikoura Coopworth Stud’s rams will be available for purchase. The Lees hope farmers nationwide will seize the chance to benefit from these superior genetics. “Five decades on, we still offer top-quality rams for purchase annually,” Allyson says. “Farmers can schedule visits to our farm to view the rams, with full records available for each.” Despite a decline in local sheep farms, the Lees are optimistic that their genetics will attract new buyers across New Zealand. “Our breeding philosophy is to develop easy-care, attractive rams.” Follow Waikoura Coopworth Stud on Facebook: @WaikouraCoopworthStudNorthOtago WAIKOURA COOPWORTH STUD
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