| 43 RURAL PEOPLE » Mike McElrea Mike McElrea freshly shorn ram hoggets on swedes. CONTACT: MURRAY YOUNG (0274) 324 298 BLAIR YOUNG (0274) 334 822 OR A.H. (03) 204 2192 • Excavators • Grader • Roller • Rock Supplies • Root Raking • Post driver with auger • Gravel Supplies • Dairy Conversions & General Contracting “Our wool is good colour, high yielding and good character. We shear our mixed age ewes in march. The two tooth are shorn pre lamb in July and we got $6.50 clean this year. Our sheep are nine months shorn so shorn three times in two years to help with stock health and management and getting good quality wool.” With ewes not drenched for more than 30 years and a focus on animals capable of performing without being mollycoddled, Gowan Braes will offer about 150 to 160 of its best rams by private treaty in December, predominantly Perendale but also Romdale and Perendale-Texel available. “People who once swung away from wool breeds are now showing interest again,” says Mike. “Buyers are getting access to the top 30 per cent of what we produce.” The family’s approach is producing strong results with this season’s ewes scanning at 181 per cent, hoggets at 80 per cent and mixed-age cows at 100 per cent. All lambs were fattened apart from 200 lambs sold as store and the family is considering retaining more calves and adding value through finishing them itself. 2010 Ltd State Highway 90, Tapanui, Phone Geoff 03 204 8176 or 0274 786 919 Warrant of fitness issuing • Full vehicle servicing & maintenance • Repairs & replacement • 24 hr vehicle recovery
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