| 35 Strong rams from Upton Dorset Down Stud The breeding programme focuses on continuous improvement through careful selection. Karen Phelps For farmers seeking good meaty, well-muscled rams with high growth rates, Upton Dorset Down Stud is offering a strong selection of rams and stud sires from December through to March by private treaty. Located a few kilometres north of Amberley in Canterbury, the Ellis family continues to build on six decades of breeding excellence. “Our genetics are very popular and some clients have been having weaning drafts at 19kgs off medium to hard hill country,” says Steven Ellis. “We have good return customers year after year. Two clients have been coming back for over 30 years so our genetics are obviously doing the job for them.” Now in its 61st year, the stud’s success stems from a commitment to breeding fundamentally sound, structurally correct rams that perform across diverse farming conditions throughout the country. “Our rams are run in a commercial environment so they transition well to different farming topo - graphies,” says Steven, who is Chairperson of both the Central Canterbury Dorset Down Breeders Club and the New Zealand Dorset Down Breed Society. Customers hail from Southland to the Central North Island. “Rams must be fundamentally sound, structurally well put together to last the distance and have the ability to handle all manner of farming terrain,” says Steven. Performance figures support the reputation. The stud’s Dorset Down ewes achieve 150% lambing rates, with 45% of lambs weaned at the end of November weighing over 50kg. The Ellis family drafts lambs at 17-18kg in early November, taking the balance through to 19-20kg by February. “Dorset Down is a proven breed for heavy meaty lamb production,” says Steven. “We have always loved seeing clients come back each year and hearing about the results they are getting in their flocks from the purchase of Upton Dorset Down rams.” The breeding programme focuses on continuous improvement through careful selection and data collection. Ram sires and females are chosen for their conformation to the breed, as well as good meaty carcasses, with data collected at weaning and eye muscle scanning at 200 days to identify top performers. Recent scanning results show ram lambs averaging 71-72kg, with eye muscle area measurements improving from 19.8 to 29. “We work with good genetics,” says Di. “Steven’s parents, Tony and Lois, have done an excellent job and the stud has been around a long time. We are now in the position where we cull good stock that don’t meet our rigorous selection criteria.” This attentive and particular culling policy recently saw cull Dorset Down ram hoggets achieve the highest price for prime lamb at Colgate Sale Yards, demonstrating the quality throughout the flock, she says. The operation comprises around 200 Dorset Down ewes on the family’s 150-hectare farm, MEAT & WOOL » Upton Dorset Downs where they also fatten 120 cattle annually. Steven owns an additional 160-hectare block near Waipara, running 1,500 Corriedale ewes bred to Dorset Down and South Dorset Down rams for early November lamb production. Central to the stud’s success is the accumulated knowledge of Lois, who remains actively involved despite the next generation taking increasing responsibility. “Lois is a fountain of irreplaceable knowledge,” says Di. “She really knows her stock and can look at a ewe in the paddock and will know its number, mother, father, how many lambs it’s had and how the progeny did. Upton Dorset Down ENQUIRIES TO: STEVE ELLIS: 027 634 2549 | 03 3146 970 steveanddi1965@icloud.com • Quality flock meat breed rams • Natural farming conditions • Early maturing, growthy, well muscled sheep • Sound constitution • SIL Recorded • EMA Scanned • High scanning sires used 6 Blake St, Rangiora PH: 03 313 7824 team@prosser-quirke.co.nz www.prosser-quirke.co.nz Proud to be associated with Upton Dorset Downs Personal & Professional Service, Farm, Commercial & Business Accountancy, Taxation Advice, Financial Returns That comes from working really closely with and knowing the animals.” The stud sells approximately 60 two-tooth rams and 12 ram lambs annually, with many buyers appreciating that twin black face rams help increase lambing percentages and financial returns. “We’re passionate about the breed,” says Di. “The breed has been in New Zealand for 75 years this year. They were brought out from England for the purpose of breeding well-muscled fast-growing lambs for the meat trade. The breed still today meets those requirements.”
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