46 | Hampshire sheep deliver exceptionally well Hampshire lambs at weaning time Russell Fredrick When it comes to what counts, Mike Mouat believes Hampshire sheep deliver exceptionally well, but most New Zealand farmers are not aware of just how good they are, he says. As a terminal sire or for cross breeding, Hampshire are known for producing heavy, quality lambs, quickly and have been shown to convert grass into meat more efficiently than many other breeds, he says. Over time, Hampshire have been adapted by New Zealand stud farmers to meet changes in meat grading. No longer is a heavy shouldered, wool blind sire characteristic of the breed and an open face, fine shoulder animal has been developed. President of the New Zealand Hampshire Association for many years, Mike farms 174 hectares with his wife Janeann. The farm near Gore is a diversified sheep, arable and cattle grazing operation. Their stud, Colbion Downs, supports 110 stud breeding ewes, about 50 ram lambs and five sires, plus about 50 ewe hoggets. This season it bought a ram, in partnership with Geoff and Georgina McFarlane, from LaMac Stud, Canterbury, which was placed second in the all breeds category at this year’s Gore A & P show. This recognition builds on winning the new feature class, Carrfields Supreme All-breeds Ram Lamb at the 2020 Gore A & P show along with winning the Supreme Hampshire award. Although Hampshire’s tend to lack recognition in New Zealand, it is a very different story in some countries, with New Zealand breeders meeting demand from Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Mexico MEAT & WOOL » Colbion Downs Colbion Downs’ top sire Winner of the Carrfields Supreme All-Breeds Ram Lamb at the Gore A & P Show 2020 Winner of the Carrfields Supreme All-Breeds 2 Our Hampshires are known for... • Breed Quality • Excellent bone, excellent constitution & excellent length • Strong, fast growth rates • Longevity • Top eye muscle scanning • Being one of the only sheep breeds that has marbling in the meat i ... ll , ll i i ll l , i l i i l li i Now Scanning for IMF i I Rams & Ewes sold throughout New Zealand l l Live exporters of Hampshires to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico & Peru i t f i t ti , il, i Ram Semen and Ewe Embryos Available il l Exported Embryos and Semen have been sent to Australia and South America t t t t li t i Mike & Janeann Mouat 250 Collins Road, Knapdale RD3 Gore 027 480 9570 i 250 Collins Road, Knapdale RD3 Gore 027 480 9570
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