| 49 RURAL PEOPLE » Wilfield Sheep Stud Profits and premiums with Corriedale sheep Wilfield uses a combination of objective measurement and genetic technologies to identify and enhance desirable traits. Anne Boswell Canterbury’s Wilfield Sheep Stud has become one of New Zealand’s leading names in dual-purpose sheep breeding. Having established a sheep breeding programme in 1985, Robin and Pip Wilson founded Wilfield in 1992 to work on ‘Corriedale 2.0’ - a ‘new’ and improved version of the celebrated breed. Located at West Melton, near Christchurch, Robin and Pip have dedicated decades to refining the Corriedale breed, producing animals that excel in both meat and wool. And alongside their main Corriedale stud, Wilfield also runs a Suftex meat stud, further expanding their contribution to New Zealand’s sheep industry. The Corriedale breed, first developed in New Zealand more than a century ago, is known for its versatility, efficiency and profitability - and Wilfield’s modern breeding programme brings together traditional stockmanship and modern science. “Our main focus is the breeding of Corriedale 2.0, a breed based on 130 years of development for both meat and wool production,” Robin says. “These sheep are more open headed, more fertile, more maternal, better milking, meatier and finer-woolled sheep.” Wilfield uses a combination of objective measurement and genetic technologies to identify and enhance desirable traits. All stud sheep are recorded through Sheep Improvement Ltd (SIL) and analysed against other flocks nationwide. The use of gene marker technology allows them to target characteristics such as footrot resistance, extra muscling and worm resistance - ensuring their animals are robust and profitable across a range of farming systems. The results speak for themselves. Fertility at Wilfield is now well above average for the national flock across all breeds, with lambing percentages around 160%. One of their homebred rams is ranked in the top 2% for fertility of all sheep in New Zealand. Robin says the mothering ability of their ewes today is “significantly better than they used to be 20 years ago.” Wool quality remains another point of pride. With a mid-micron range of 22–28 microns, Corriedale wool has multiple end uses, from clothing to carpets. It also currently offers strong returns, up 40% on last year due to global access challenges. Currently, 23-micron hogget wool is $14.90/kg clean, and 25-micron hogget wool is $12.20/kg clean. Wilfield Corriedale ram hoggets averaged 24-micron wool as shorn yearlings in August. The breed’s meat is equally prized for its intramuscular fat and eating quality, earning premiums through supply programmes such as Silere Alpine. Wilfield’s Suftex stud, established a decade ago, adds another dimension to the business. Developed in New Zealand some 20 years ago, the Suftex - a Suffolk-Texel cross - combines “the high growth of the Suffolk with the improved muscling of the Texel.” The result is a fast-growing, muscular sheep increasingly popular with commercial farmers nationwide. With a history rooted in innovation and improvement, Wilfield continues to source elite genetics from both New Zealand and Australia. They have recently imported a Corriedale ram from Tasmania, who is in the top 5% for production in Australia. “The Corriedale breed is the most efficient breed when utilising kilograms of drymatter; it has the most flexible end use of wool; the meat companies are prepared to pay a premium for its meat; and the wool is considerably finer than crossbreed wool, so that also fetches a significant premium,” Robin says. “Because of these reasons, I believe Corriedale are the most profitable breed of sheep in the country.” Dar f ield Oxford 03 318 8516 03 312 4016 www.frewstransport.co.nz • GENERAL FREIGHT • STOCK• LIME & FERTILISER • GRAIN • LOG CARTAGE • BLOWER TRUCK WILFIELD CORRIEDALES 1213 West Coast Rd, West Melton RD1 Christchurch 7671 021 158 3866 • Open headed upstanding sheep • High Fertility – 5 year average 160% • Fine Wool Corriedales – 24 micron shorn ram hogget average • Top ram hoggets CT scanned at Lincoln University t i i tilit i l i l i t t t i l i it • Footrot Resistant – ALL rams tested • SIL recorded • Drought Resistant, Long Living and Fence Friendly • Proven Genetics and Quality Assured t t i t t t t I t i t t, i i i l ti lit
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