30 | Tenth birthday present sparks passion The coloured merino venture sits within a broader farming operation that includes white merino, Suffolk, and White Suffolk sheep studs, alongside Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cattle. Karen Phelps A birthday gift has blossomed into a thriving coloured merino stud operation, as Middlemarch-based Bluestone Coloured Merino Stud celebrates its 21st anniversary of breeding distinctive naturally coloured sheep. What began with four coloured merino ewes and one ram – a tenth birthday present – has grown into a significant breeding operation for Will Gibson, who now runs around 400 black and coloured merino ewes on Foulden Hill, a 472-hectare family farm run in partnership with his parents Anton and Liz Gibson, and his partner Bridget. “It’s a good achievement to reach 21 years but at the end of the day I still haven’t got to where I want to be with them,” says Will. “I’ve got some big goals around large-scale merino wool production. I’m hugely passionate about merino fibre and in particular coloured merino fibre due to its uniqueness.” The operation, which sells up to ten coloured merino rams annually through private treaty and at the South Island Black and Coloured Merino Sale in Waimate, has established itself as a significant player in the specialist wool market. Currently, it is exploring expansion opportunities, with Will working alongside The New Zealand Merino Company to supply a Japanese wool buyer. “The wool doesn’t have to be dyed so it’s in the most natural state while still having colour,” explains Will. “I produce enough to be commercial but could produce more if I got more solid contracts. My goal would be to be in a position of having buyers lining up to buy the wool year on year in large-scale quantities.” The success of the coloured merino venture sits within a broader farming operation that includes white merino, Suffolk, and White Suffolk sheep studs, alongside Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cattle studs. The diverse operation winters around 3,000 stock units, with a 60:40 split between sheep and cattle. Operating in Middlemarch’s challenging environment, with its drought-prone conditions, short growing seasons, and shallow soil depth, has shaped the stud’s breeding focus. The emphasis is on developing resilient animals that can maintain condition and produce well with limited resources. This approach has paid dividends, with the farm achieving consistent weaning rates of over 120% in recent years by focusing on self-sufficient ewes. The operation has also successfully reduced its drench usage to just once annually, demonstrating the success of its breeding programme for worm resistance. Will, who balances his farming responsibilities with a genetics consultancy role at neXtgen Agri, which brings a strong genetic focus to the operation. His background includes a degree in agricultural commerce from Lincoln University and valuable experience gained during his time with New Zealand Merino Company. “The door is always open and we’re always willing to talk to buyers wanting genetics.” MEAT & WOOL » Bluestone Coloured Merino Stud “The door is always open and we’re always willing to talk to buyers wanting genetics and to see how our sheep might be able to fit into their operations,” says Will, who recently attended the World Coloured Sheep Conference in Christchurch. The stud’s success story reflects broader industry trends, with land-use changes pushing traditional sheep and beef operations onto more challenging terrain as prime land is converted to dairy or forestry. This has heightened demand for hardy, efficient animals that can perform in tough conditions. While coloured merino wool commands higher prices per kilogram than its white counterpart, Will maintains a pragmatic approach by running both coloured and white flocks, creating diversity and flexibility in the farming operation. The white merino wool provides a more consistent and easily marketable product, while the coloured wool offers premium opportunities in specialist markets.
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