Sheep industry celebrates excellence

More than 300 people attended a dinner in Invercargill where 10 genetics-based awards and five sector excellence awards were presented. Results of the genetics-based awards were calculated based on ram breeders' performance in SIL-ACE (Advanced Central Evaluation) – the large-scale, across flock and breed genetic evaluation of more than 300 ram breeding flocks.

The Blackdale Sheep Industry Supplier of the Year Award was presented to Hugh and Judy Akers of Broadlands Station, suppliers to ANZCO. Dr George Davis is recipient of the Silver Fern Farms Sheep Industry Science Award. The AgITO Sheep Industry Trainer of the Year Award goes to Kevin Smith of Middlemarch, while Animal Breeding Trust general manager Clare Callow was presented with the Allflex Individual or Business Making a Significant Contribution to the New Zealand Sheep Industry Award. Finally, Alliance Group Ltd takes home the B+LNZ Sheep Industry Innovation Award for 2013.

Within the genetics-based categories, two gold awards were presented. George and Kathryn Smith of Tamlet stud receive the Alliance Group Limited Terminal Sire Overall Award for their Texel stud, near Wyndham. While the Telford – A Division of Lincoln University Dual Purpose Overall Award goes north, to Edward Dinger and his Cambridge-based MNCC Coopworth stud.

B+LNZ chairman Mike Petersen says it is great to see the sector embrace the awards so enthusiastically. "Last year's awards were the result of a great idea from within the Southern South Island Farmer Council. We thought it was important to carry on celebrating the outstanding progress by breeders and commercial farmers in pursuit of sector excellence in the sheep industry.

"However, we didn't predict just how popular the awards would be. The awards have been calculated using the results from B+LNZ's SIL-ACE evaluation. SIL-ACE is all about breeding for profitable traits and this work is the envy of sheep breeders around the world. It is fantastic to see so many of our top breeders jostling for these awards."

GENETICS-BASED AWARDS – FULL RESULTS

GOLD AWARD: Alliance Group Limited Terminal Sire Overall

Recipient Tamlet, Texel – George and Kathryn Smith
Second Mount Linton, Suftex – Hamish Bielski
Third Kepler Farm, Lamb Supreme – Focus Genetics

GOLD AWARD: Telford – A Division of Lincoln University Dual Purpose Overall

Recipient MNCC, Coopworth – Edward Dinger
Second Blackdale, Coopworth – Peter and Marion Black
Third Waihora, Romney – Focus Genetics

SIL-ACE Terminal Sire for Lamb Growth

Recipient Mount Linton, Suftex – Hamish Bielski
Finalists Kepler Farm, Lamb Supreme – Focus Genetics
Waikite Texel, Texel – Focus Genetics

SIL-ACE Terminal Sire for Meat Yield

Recipient Kepler Farm, Lamb Supreme – Focus Genetics
Finalists Glengarry, Poll Dorset – Ross and Ben Pratt
Tamlet, Texel – George and Kathryn Smith

SIL-ACE Dual Purpose for Reproduction

Recipient Nithdale, Romney – Andrew and Heather Tripp
Finalists Hinenui, Coopworth – Brett and Lucy Teutenberg
MNCC, Coopworth – Edward Dinger

SIL-ACE Dual Purpose for Growth (Lamb Growth and Adult Size)

Recipient Twin Farm, TEFRom – Russell and Pam Welsh
Finalists MNCC, Coopworth – Edward Dinger
Waihora, Romney – Focus Genetics

SIL-ACE Dual Purpose for Wool

Recipient Blackdale, Coopworth – Peter and Marion Black
Finalists Nikau, Coopworth – Emily Welch, Sam Welch & Kate Broadbent
Tamlet, Composite – George and Kathryn Smith

SIL-ACE Dual Purpose for Meat Yield

Recipient Orari Gorge Romneys, Romney – Robert Peacock
Finalists Rosemains, Perendale – Howie Gardner
Waihora, Romney – Focus Genetics

SIL-ACE Dual Purpose for Internal Parasite Resistance

Recipient Nithdale, Romney – Andrew and Heather Tripp
Finalists ARDG – Makino, Romney – Ross and Gilly Alexander
Hinerua, Perendale – Peter Christie

SIL-ACE Dual Purpose for Facial Eczema Tolerance

Recipient ARDG – Makino, Romney – Ross and Gilly Alexander
Finalists Marlow, Coopworth – Steve Wyn-Harris
Waihora, Romney – Focus Genetics

INDUSTRY AWARDS

Blackdale Sheep Industry Supplier of the Year

Recipient Broadlands Station Hugh and Judy Akers – supplying ANZCO

Finalists Bill and Sue Garland – supplying Te Kuiti Meat Processors
Brent and Bernadette Hodgkinson – supplying Alliance
Horizon Farming Ltd – supplying Progressive Meats
Barry and Julie Crawford – supplying Silver Fern Farms

Silver Fern Farms Sheep Industry Science Award

Recipient Dr George Davis

Finalists Drs Chris Morris and Neale Towers
Dr Neville Jopson

AGITO Sheep Industry Trainer of the Year

Recipient Kevin Smith

Finalists Telford – A Division of Lincoln University
Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Training Trust

Allflex Individual or Business Making a Significant Contribution to the New Zealand Sheep Industry

Recipient Clare Callow

Finalists RJ Alexander & Co
Dr Geoff Nicoll
AbacusBio

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Sheep Industry Innovation Award

Recipient Alliance Group Ltd

Finalists Chris and Jo Johns
Marcus Taylor and Leanne Broadhurst