34 | Malvern Downs has key partnership Robbie Gibson and his wife Chrissy . Karen Phelps MEAT & WOOL » Malvern Downs Partnering with Norwegian clothing manufacturer Devold has helped Malvern Downs to gain certainty over the wool markets. “Things are promising in the wool sector and as we have aligned ourselves with Devold this takes all the uncertainty out of market for us,” says Robbie Gibson, who operates the 560-hectare property near Tarras with wife Chrissie. “We get a three-year contract and know what we will get for our wool, which makes things much easier as long as we can produce the wool they require to their specifications.” Malvern Downs, New Zealand’s second-oldest merino stud established in 1924, now receives approximately $27 clean per kilogram for its premium fleece wool - a significant premium above commodity wool prices. Robbie says the partnership is a good example of how direct relationships between farmers and end-users can create value for both parties as well as ensuring complete traceability from farm to finished garment. The relationship extends far beyond the usual buyer-seller arrangement with Devold representatives visiting the farm annually, providing direct feedback and maintaining close engagement with farmers. Robbie says the company’s commitment to animal welfare and sustainability aligns perfectly with the Gibson’s farming philosophy, creating a partnership built on shared values. “They are a very good family-owned company who are just as passionate about what they’re doing with the wool as we are about growing it,” explains Robbie. “We get a lot of feedback from them. They show a real interest.” Devold’s stringent quality requirements have influenced breeding decisions at Malvern Downs. The company demands only fleece wool - no oddments - and requires complete traceability for every kilogram. This wool undergoes 22 stages of processing before Devold determines its final use, ensuring only the highest quality makes it to market. “We’re rewarded for extra length and low CVs by Devold,” says Robbie. “We know exactly what’s getting made from our wool.” The partnership has meant ram selection has increasingly focused on characteristics valued by Devold. However Robbie says that fundamental breeding principles remain paramount. “We should never lose sight of what a merino is all about – good constitution, structure and feet before looking at other things.” The farm runs 3000 merinos including 1800 ewes, of which 500 are stud ewes. Malvern Downs comprises approximately 300 polled ewes and 200 horned sheep, with the polled line becoming increasingly popular. The polled merinos, first introduced to New Zealand by Robbie’s parents Bill and Frances in 1950, offer practical advantages. “Polled merinos are easier to draft having no horns to get caught up in things, quicker maturing, bigger bodied and have a greater length of wool,” says Robbie. “In our case we have polled rams shearing up to 12 kilograms of wool.” The Gibson family’s commitment to merino breeding spans three generations, with the farm celebrating its centenary of stud sheep breeding last November. Robbie’s father Bill, now 97, and Robbie himself have both received life membership of merino breeding organisations, recognising their contribution to the industry. Malvern Downs has an annual ram sale, with SHEARING CONTRACTORS COVERING SOUTHLAND & OTAGO Jake Hume 027 748 6136 Scott Cameron 027 592 5824 swshearing@gmail.com GREEN TO GOLD LTD SPECIALISTS IN ARABLE CONTRACTING Silage & baleage | Hands-on arable farming experience | Minimum tillage, optimum cultivation, moisture retention, seeding, harvesting | Cutting edge, top-performance machinery Cereals, brassica & grass | Maximise your yield | Latest GPS technology 027 221 9501 230 Mt Barker Rd, Wanaka | greentogold@xtra.co.nz Proud to be associated with Malvern Downs. approximately 80 rams sold each January to regular customers. The stud’s genetics have reached international markets including the Falkland Islands, Argentina, Uruguay, China and Hungary. The Gibsons’ farming business also includes dairy support grazing around 600 heifers and cows in the winter of which 350 are destined for the ANZCO feedlot at 500kgs.
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