| 49 RURAL PEOPLE » Orari Gorge Station Drench and worm resistance top of mind Worm resistance has become an increasingly prominent consideration. Russell Fredric Rising drench resistance is increasing demand for sheep with natural worm resistance, putting Orari Gorge Romney Stud’s WormFEC Gold status firmly in the spotlight. About 180 Romney, 60 RomTex and 50 SufTex rams will be available on-farm by private treaty from late November to early December, giving commercial farmers access to genetics selected under a demanding low-input system. Based at Orari Gorge Station in the South Canterbury foothills, the stud was established in 1982 and is part of a farming business that has been in the same family for nearly 170 years. Fifth-generation farmer Robert Peacock says last season brought several new clients and an increase in ram sales. Worm resistance has become an increasingly prominent consideration as drench resistance spreads, with farmers looking for genetics that can reduce reliance on chemical treatments without sacrificing production. “The low input trial was displaying clearly the power of the genetics when it comes to trying to fight the worms without costing you production,” Robert says. The trial was the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Low Input Sheep Progeny Test, a research initiative hosted at Orari Gorge Station. The station has been selecting for worm resistance for many years and holds WormFEC Gold recognition, with faecal egg count testing forming part of the wider selection process. Its approach is to combine worm resistance with the production traits required in a commercial ewe. “There’s no point buying resistant sheep if you’re going to keep drenching them every three weeks,” Robert says, noting that genetics are one part of a broader management toolbox. The progeny test provided a practical demonstration of that principle. About 1100 commercial ewes were artificially inseminated to 17 stud rams from around New Zealand each year, with progeny measured for a wide range of traits and the first-year lambs going from weaning until late May without a drench. Robert says weaning weight is the key performance measure, with the ability of the ewe to winter well, maintain condition and milk strongly working alongside growth genetics; fertility cannot be sacrificed for heavier individual lambs, “but lambs need to keep going after weaning, even under a worm burden.” Consequently, the breeding programme avoids chasing a single standout trait. SIL data is considered across the range of breeding values, with structure, fertility, constitution, growth, maternal performance and worm resistance all contributing to ram selection for the coming season. “We haven’t made any right-angle turns with our breeding programme. We’re pretty happy with the direction we’re going; just trying to improve all traits steadily. We’re not chasing any one trait at the cost of other traits.” The Romney’s dual-purpose role is another consideration as sheep meat schedules strengthen and wool values improve. Robert sees value in a breed that can produce meat while retaining a wool income, particularly for farmers wary of changing systems and taking on the ongoing shearing costs during the transition years of shedding breeds without a wool cheque. “Our selection against dags really helps keep the costs down.” “The Romney is, first of all, a true dual purpose. They’re proven and they have improved drastically since the boom of composites 30 years ago.” The stud’s RomTex provides another maternal option, bringing some Texel influence and extra meat while retaining the survival characteristics sought in the Orari Gorge system. “The RomTex just have that little bit more. The RomTex are very good at survival.”
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