Thursday, 13 May 2021 09:30

Massey's Wiltshires on show

Written by  Peter Burke
Massey University will hold a Wiltshire field day on 1 June. Massey University will hold a Wiltshire field day on 1 June.

The interest in the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep has prompted Massey University to run a special field day at their Riverside farm near Masterton on 1 June.

Professor Steve Morris says Massey now has a flock of Romney x Wiltshire ewes which have been mated and are due to lamb in September and these will be three quarter Wiltshire/Romneys. He says the field day is designed to show farmers what they are doing and likely get some feedback from them as well.

He says the drop in wool prices has sparked greater interest in these self-shedding sheep.

"There is definitely a lot of farmers who have expressed interest and it's actually your articles in Rural News that has prompted this. It's probably one of the biggest responses we have had to a newspaper article," he says.

Other Massey scientists such as Professor Paul Kenyon, Drs Hugh Blair and Rene Corner-Thomas will speak along with Richard Morrison whose family has a long history in breeding Wiltshires.

Professor Morris says at the field day they hope to have scanning data about the lambs available and their arm is to hold further field days at Riverside in the future.

Details: Massey University, Riverside, SH 2, 10 kms north of Masterton, June 1, 9.30am - 1.00pm.

More like this

The power of the puggo stick

A Massey University lecturer has devised a simple No. 8 wire device to help shed some light on how to improve the persistence of plantain in dairy farm pastures.

Science supports NZ's reputation

Farmers, scientists, rural professionals and policy makers from around the country last week converged on Massey University in Palmerston North for the 36th annual workshop of the Farmed Landscape Research Centre.

Beware - FE is here!

A disease that costs the primary industry more than $200 million a year is potentially coming to a place near you soon.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter