70 | In the past, rams have been supplied to flocks from Wellsford to Gore, and prospective buyers can trust that the rams they’re buying are tried and tested. Twenty years of selecting for worm testing has had a dramatic reduction in the amount of drench that is used. “Our Romneys are one of the top Wormfec Gold flocks and this year’s crop has a high percentage of 5 Star rams, meaning the rams are above average for New Zealand maternal worth and in the top fifteen percent for FEC.” MEAT & WOOL » Moutere Downs • from page 68 Peter says twenty years of selecting for worm testing has had a dramatic reduction in the amount of drench that is used – something their clients are reaping the benefits from. “This year’s sale rams have only been drenched twice in their lifetime. They now have nearly half a century of selective breeding behind them. The Poll Dorsets are selected to be long and thick with good feet being a must. All sires are in the top 1% – 5% on SIL for growth and meat.” Moutere Downs’ ram sales usually begins around the 20th of November. In the past, rams have been supplied to flocks from Wellsford to Gore, and prospective buyers can trust that the rams they’re buying are tried and tested and of the highest quality not only genetically but structurally as well. The farm also runs 40 beef cows, and Peter and Cathy buy in and fatten 200 prime cattle a year. Farm succession planning has been another major focus for Peter and Cathy. “The thought of leaving the farm to another generation is what drives us,” says Peter. “We’ve been on a project for many years to make sure that the succession plan is in place for our five children, with Reuben our second youngest eventually taking over the farm.” The plan included purchasing a small block of land with a house on it, and then relocating two unused titles from the farm to that site creating sections. Another section was created on farm for another child. “A tiny house was purchased for one child and my mother transferred most of her shares to Reuben. The end result is that by thirty, the non-farming siblings have each received a section or land they can call their own and the farm’s productivity has not been compromised. “We just hope the Government’s current proposal for methane tax doesn’t cause us to lose the farm before that happens.” Peter is pleased to report that some of their animals passed the facial eczema test at 4.0 , which is a very exciting result! WOOL S I N C E 1 8 4 6 Segard Masurel is a global company that exports New Zealand wool to markets worldwide. Talk to our team DON KARS Nelson/Canterbury 027 450 0769 ANDREW CURTIS Nelson/Marlborough 027 239 3115 GRANT HARRIS Southland 027 689 1866 NICK REDDING Southland 027 289 1866 BRIAN SHAW Gore 027 435 2096
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