Getting sheep shape at Pyramid Farm
The vineyards at Pyramid Farm in Marlborough’s Avon Valley have never been run of the mill, with plantings that follow the natural contours of the land, 250 metres above sea level.
About 300 people are expected to attend the awards dinner – which recognise top-performing New Zealand sheep breeders – on August 6 in Napier.
Five industry-related awards will be presented. In addition to the Sheep Industry Trainer of the Year, Individual or Business Making a Significant Contribution to the New Zealand Sheep Industry and the Sheep Industry Innovation Award, two new awards have been added. These are the Sheep Industry Science Award, recognising a project, business or person undertaking science that is having a positive impact on farming now, and the Sheep Industry Supplier Award, which recognises a farmer supplier nominated by processors for consistently meeting company specifications and other key performance indicators.
Alongside these awards are the highly anticipated genetics-related awards. These which are calculated based on breeders' performance in SIL-ACE (Advanced Central Evaluation) – the large-scale, across flock and breed genetic evaluation of about 300 ram breeding flocks.
Based purely on genetic merit, awards are presented to the top flocks in six categories: terminal, dual purpose, high performance, dual purpose plus meat, dual purpose plus worm FEC, and dual purpose plus facial eczema.
The 2014 finalists have just been announced. They are:
Blackdale sheep industry supplier of the year
• Dave & Kay Stanley (Rawiri Farm Trust)
• Mark & Rachel, Sam & Karl Zino (Zino Holdings Ltd)
• Horizon Farming Ltd
• Martina & Shaun Lawlor
• Bill & Sue Garland (Rahiri Farm)
• Landcorp Wairio (Grant McGhie, Manager)
Focus Genetics sheep industry science award
• Massey University
• Neville Jopson
• Paul Kenyon
PrimaryITO sheep industry trainer of the year
• Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre
• Waipaoa Station Training Trust
• Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm
Farmlands individual or business making a significant contribution to the New Zealand sheep industry
• Leon Black
• Steve Wyn-Harris
• Roger Marshall
Allflex sheep industry innovation award
• Matt & Lynley Wyeth
• Andy Ramsden
• AbacusBio Ltd
Alliance Group gold terminal sire award for lamb growth and meat yield
• Mount Linton Station, Mount Linton Suftex
• Focus Genetics, Kepler Supreme
• Kelso, Kelso Tutu Totara Ranger
Telford gold dual purpose award for reproduction, lamb growth plus adult size and wool production
• Twin Farm, Twin Farm TEFRom
• Nithdale Station, Nithdale Romney
• Blackdale Stud, Blackdale Coopworth
2014 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Sheep Industry Genetic Trait Awards – Finalists
SIL-ACE terminal sire for lamb growth
• A Clifton, Te Kawa Poll Dorset
• Mount Linton Station, Mount Linton Suftex
• Kelso, Kelso Tutu Totara Ranger
SIL-ACE terminal sire for meat yield
• Focus Genetics, Huirimu Supreme
• Focus Genetics, Kepler Supreme
• Focus Genetics, Waikite Texel
SIL-ACE dual purpose for reproduction
• Mount Guardian, Mount Guardian Perendale
• Edward Dinger, MNCC Coopworth
• Nithdale Station, Nithdale Romney
SIL-ACE dual purpose for growth (lamb growth & adult size)
• Blackdale Stud, Blackdale Coopworth
• Ashgrove, Ashgrove Coopworth
• Twin Farm, Twin Farm TEFRom
SIL-ACE dual purpose for internal parasite resistance
• Mike McElrea, Gowan Braes Perendale
• Nithdale Station, Nithdale Romney
SIL-ACE dual purpose for facial eczema tolerance
• Hinenui Genetics, Hinenui Coopworth
• Steve Wyn-Harris, Marlow Coopworth
• Focus Genetics, Waihora Romney
Primary Wool Cooperative dual purpose for wool
• Blackdale Stud, Blackdale Coopworth
• Edward Dinger, MNCC Coopworth
• Emily & Sam Welch & Kate Broadbent, Nikau Coopworth
Progressive Meat dual purpose for meat yield
• Newhaven Farms, Newhaven Perendale
• Mike McElrea, Gowan Braes Perendale
• Twin Farm, Twin Farm TEFRom
