Southdown Sheep Society, NZ

Alister Hall, left, and his brother Rob had a day to remember at the Winton A&P Show.

Alister Hall, his brother Rob and daughter Teegan had a special family moment at the Winton A&P Show on Saturday.

For the first time, the brothers each had a supreme winner at the same show. Alister’s Friesian cow won the Supreme Dairy Animal Award and Rob’s Southdown ram was judged Supreme Sheep. The day got better for Alister when the Friesian was named the show’s Supreme Exhibit.

Teegan added to the occasion by receiving a $1000 first year agricultural scholarship from the show organisation.

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Visitors from North Otago (from left) Martin Parsons and Ross Nimmo look at Romney and Southdown rams on sale at the Merrydowns stud.

Although it is only a couple of weeks into the Otago and Southland ram sales season, early indicators are the numbers are looking good for buyers and sellers.

Blair and Sally Robertson, of Merrydowns Romney and Southdown Stud, and the Otago Southland Coopworth sale in Gore were some of the first off the auction block last week.

PGG Wrightsons livestock genetics representative Callum McDonald said the ram sales season had just started.

‘‘However, indicators are showing it will be strong,’’ Mr McDonald said.

‘‘The rams are good quality, with good performance and are well sought after.

‘‘Merrydowns’ average was $1585 for Romney rams and $1167 for Southdown rams.’’

Fourth-generation stud sheep breeder Blair Robertson, from the Merrydowns stud at Waikoikoi, enjoyed a strong on-farm sale in West Otago last week for a catalogue of 229 Romney and Southdown rams.

The top priced Coopworth ram at the Gore sale last week was sold by George and Fraser Fletcher for $2300 and the average price was $1425.

‘‘They are good rams that ticked the boxes and people have the confidence to pay the money.’’

Carrfields livestock agent Roger Keach said while it was early in the ram sale season for Southland and Otago, a record was set for a Dorset Down ram in Cheviot last week.

‘‘It was offered by Colin Smith, of Bankhead Stud, Rangiora, and bought by Ian Stevenson, of The Gums Partnership, of Cheviot, for $17,500,’’ Mr Keach said.

He said the record price for selling a ram was $41,000, set more than 25 years ago.

A top price of $8500 was achieved at the Merrydowns Romney and Southdown ram sale last week.

Jack Robertson (left), of Merrydowns stud, chats with Trevor McCall, of Charlton.

Mr Robertson was pleased with the prices at the 11th on-farm sale at Waikoikoi last Tuesday.

‘‘It was a successful sale.

‘‘The average prices was $1425 overall, and the top ram, a Romney, was $8500, which went to Dean and Fiona Addenbrooke, of Ruakiwi, Tuatapere,’’ he said.

‘‘He was a very good quality ram, well balanced, with beautiful wool and good performance data.’’

The price received compared favourably with last year’s top selling ram, a Southdown, which sold for $7000.

There were 70-80 buyers registered, which was on par with previous years, and 85 Southdown rams and 144 Romney rams offered.

The Gore Ram Fair will be held at the Gore showgrounds on January 21 and 22.

PGG Wrightson upper South Island genetics rep Simon Eddington

“Good rams”‘ remain unsold after last Friday’s Canterbury A&P Association elite ram and ewe sale.

PGG Wrightson upper South Island genetics rep Simon Eddington said while the sheep industry had been enjoying a resurgence, quality rams were proving hard to sell.

“Everybody’s positive at the moment, with the lift in lamb prices, but it just doesn’t translate into sales of rams” Eddington said.

“It will take a couple of years before we start to see a lift in ewe numbers and more demand for rams”.

More than 200 rams went under the hammer at Canterbury Agricultural Park on Friday, down slightly on last year, and about one-third remained unsold.

The day’s top price of $12,500 went to a Suffolk ram from Collie Hills Partnership, of South Canterbury, while Chris Medlicott, of Clifton Downs Stud, of Hook, near Waimate, received $11,000 for a Southdown ram.

A Romney ram from Irvine Farms, at Brightwater, near Nelson, received $5800.

“It was hard going. Really good rams sold well, as they always do” Eddington said.

“But there were some good rams which didn’t get a bid, which is disappointing because the farmers put a lot of work into preparing them and then end up taking their rams home”.

He said on-farm ram sales were having an impact, but the biggest factor was the relatively low number of ewes around compared with an abundance of stud rams.

“Buyers are very selective in what they’re buying and they can afford to be because there’s still lots of rams coming forward.

“Farmers are having a good season, but you don’t just get one or two seasons out of a ram, you usually get four to five years”.

Southdown

3740 Ram, over 18 months, shorn.
1st Place Stuart W Brannigan
2nd Place A C & L K Christey
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan

3742 Ram, under 18 months, shorn – winner receives the CENTRAL
1st Place P G, F C Williams 
2nd Place Neville J Moorhead 
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan
Commended I M & C A Jordan
Highly Commended I M & C A Jordan
Very Highly Commended Stuart W Brannigan 

3744 Boehringer Ingelheim Quality Meat Yield Class, two Rams,
1st Place I M & C A Jordan 
2nd Place Stuart W Brannigan 
3rd Place A C & L K Christey 
4th Place P G, F C Williams 
5th Place Stuart W Brannigan 
6th Place Neville J Moorhead 

3748 Champion Southdown Ram
Awarded to: Stuart W Brannigan 

3749 JOHN DEANS SOUTHDOWN SHEEP TERRINE.
Awarded to: Stuart W Brannigan 

3750 Reserve Champion Southdown Ram
Awarded to: A C & L K Christey

3756 Ewe, over 30 months, shorn, and her suckling lamb(s).
1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place I M & C A Jordan
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3758 Ewe, 18 to 30 months, shorn and her suckling lamb(s).
1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place P G, F C Williams
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan

3760 Essential Nutrition Ewe Hogget under 18mth with or without lamb/s at foot -shorn on or after 1st September 2019.
1st Place A D Gillespie 
2nd Place A D Gillespie 
3rd Place J & A Burrows 
Commended I M & C A Jordan
Highly Commended Mr Sam E Hughes
Very Highly Commended P G, F C Williams 

3761 Allflex NZ Ltd Pair of Ewes, under 18 months, shorn.
1st Place A D Gillespie A D Gillespie
2nd Place P G, F C Williams PG, FC Williams
3rd Place A C & L K Christey A C & L K Christey

3764 Champion Southdown Ewe. Winner receives the Perpetual Trophy – JARMAN CUP.
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

3765 Reserve Champion Southdown Ewe
Awarded to: A D Gillespie A D Gillespie

3766 Supreme Champion Southdown
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

3770 Most Points Southdown Section – winner receives the JAMES DEANS CHALLENGE
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

3771 Allflex Best Carcase Southdown. Allflex kindly donate a $50 voucher.
Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan I M & C A Jordan

Judge Hugh Taylor congratulates Oxford farmer Dave Gillespie on winning all breeds champion meat breed with his Southdown ewe.

Cattle classes might have been cancelled, but all ages flocked to see the sheep at the Rangiora Show on Saturday, October 26.

Judge Hugh Taylor had the job of selecting the all breeds champions and said he was impressed with the sheep on display.

“I know the numbers are down a wee bit, but generally the standard is very high. A lot of these sheep will go through the Canterbury A&P Show and do very well.

“And even into the flock section there’s some very good sheep, which is good to see.”

Mr Taylor chose Oxford farmer Dave Gillespie’s Southdown ewe as all breeds champion meat breed, while the champion wool breed ribbon went to a Corriedale ram bred by TA & CM Beaton.

He said most farmers were in good spirits thanks to a very favourable season with plenty of rain.

SOUTHDOWN RESULTS.

Lot 26  Mt.Annan  474/17 $3300.00 Harding Farming

Lot 27 Mt.Annan 339/17 $4000.00 A.D.Gillespie and P.G.& F.C.Williams

Lot 28 Willowhaugh 244/17 $1800.00 D.F.& J.R.Gray and C.D.Prouting

Lot 29 Willowhaugh 54/17  Passed

Lot 30 Banbury 502/17 Passed

Lot 31 Banbury 601/17 Passed

Lot 32 Bellfield 65/17  $4000.00 A.& J.Tatham

Lot 33 Moor End 37/17  $2000.00 P.D.McCormick

Lot 34 Moor End 16/17 $2000.00  Harding Farming

Lot 35 Ashbourne 707/17 $1600.00 Glenhazard Holdings Ltd

Lot 36 Ashbourne 712/17 Passed

Lot 37 Te Mara 5/17 Passed

Lot 38 Te Mars 77/17 (Replacement) Passed

Lot 39 Wiri 5/17 Passed

Lot 40 Wiri 57/17 $2500.00 Murvale Farm & R.& J.Trousdale

Lot 41 Murvale A23/17 Passed

Lot 42 Murvale A19/17 Withdrawn

Lot 43 Glen Orrin 105/17 Withdrawn

Lot 44 Silverdale 12/17 Passed

Lot 45 Willowhaugh 140/17 $1500.00  C.Miller-Brown

Lot 46 Willowhaugh 1/17 (Replacement) $1100.00  A.H.Brown

Lot 47  Moor End 73/17   $900.00 Terry Bros.

Lot 48 Ashbourne 701/17 (Ewe) $400.00 Aniwaniwa Ltd, Gore

Lot 49 Ashbourne 713/17 (Ewe) $400.00 Aniwaniwa Ltd, Gore

Southdown Section

3740 Ram, over 18 months, shorn.

1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place I M & C A Jordan
3rd Place  Stuart Brannigan

4th Place  A C & L K Christey

3742 Alliance NZ Ltd Ram, under 18 months, shorn – winner receives the CENTRAL

1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place A D Gillespie
3rd Place Chris J Medlicott

4th Place  P G & F C Williams

5th Place  Stuart Brannigan

3744 Alliance NZ Ltd & Boehringer Ingelheim Quality Meat Yield Class, two Rams,

1st Place P G, F C Williams
2nd Place Chris J Medlicott
3rd Place Chris J Medlicott

3748 Champion Southdown Ram

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3749 JOHN DEANS SOUTHDOWN SHEEP TERRINE.

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3750 Reserve Champion Southdown Ram

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3756 Ewe, over 30 months, shorn, and her suckling lamb(s).

1st Place I M & C A Jordan
2nd Place I M & C A Jordan
3rd Place I M & C A Jordan

3758 Ewe, 18 to 30 months, shorn and her suckling lamb(s).

1st Place P G, F C Williams

2nd Place I M & C A Jordan

3rd Place I M & C A Jordan

3760 Essential Nutrition Ewe, under 18 months, shorn.

1st Place P G, F C Williams
2nd Place  I M & C A Jordan
3rd Place  A C & L K Christey

4th Place  Sam Hughes

3761 Allflex NZ Ltd Pair of Ewes, under 18 months, shorn.

1st Place Chris Medlicott
2nd Place  A C & L K Christey
3rd Place F G & F C Williams

3764 Champion Southdown Ewe. Winner receives the Perpetual Trophy – JARMAN CUP.

Awarded to: P C,  F C Williams

3765 Reserve Champion Southdown Ewe

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3766 Supreme Champion Southdown

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3770 Most Points Southdown Section – winner receives the JAMES DEANS CHALLENGE

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

3771 Allflex Best Carcase Southdown. Allflex kindly donate a $50 voucher.

Awarded to: I M & C A Jordan

Sheep Interbreeds Champion / Group Awards

To view results of the Inter-breed competitions click here

Doug McCall, a brother of the owner, and judge Eualie Thwaites, with the Southdown ram which won the Supreme Sheep Award at the Southland A&P Association’s 150th Show in Invercargill on Saturday.

A cricket game at Waikoikoi prevented Ross McCall from being on hand to receive the trophy for the Supreme Sheep Award at the Southland A&P Show in Invercargill on Saturday.

McCall, who along with his wife Tracey are sheep breeders at Waikoikoi, was playing for his local cricket club. However, the luck he had at the show didn’t stretch to Waikoikoi and the home team lost to Central Western.  

He and his brother Doug, of Benio, brought the family’s entries to the show on Saturday morning and then Ross returned home.

The Southdown ram, owned byMcCall, and Tracey and David Somerville, of Pine Bush, won four awards on Saturday – Supreme, Age Group, Champion Southdown and Meat Cup. 

“He was a point off winning the supreme award at the Wyndham show [in December],” said McCall, a fifth generation farmer.

Winning the top award on Saturday provided hi m with his fourth supreme title at shows.

“It’s a big honour winning at the 150th show.”  

His brother Doug said the ram had strong qualities. 

“He’s got good hindquarters, good loin, good bone and well balanced.” 

Saturday was the first Southland A&P Association Show McCall had entered sheep in since the annual event was moved from the Invercargill Showgrounds 10 years ago. The main reason for his absence was that it clashed with him playing cricket for the Waikoikoi club, of which he became a life member in January.

“I’ve been playing cricket for 33 years.”

Past presidents Noel Hamilton and Graham Calder are in a team setting up for the Southland A&P Association’s 150th Show at Donovan Park

A sheep stud breeder says one of the best things about A & P Shows is the camaraderie.

And, Graham Calder likes a bit of a challenge.

Like the time it took him 40 years to win a superior sheep title cup.

Calder who owns Southdown and South Suffolk Stud at Kennington has been entering stock at the Southland A & P Association show for at least 45 years.

“It’s a good opportunity to compare your sheep with other breeds and to see how your breed is going,” Calder said.

“There’s good camaraderie with the other breeders [at the shows].”

Calder had a memorable 2017 Southland show when winning the Meat and Wool Cup for the superior sheep title.

“It took me 40 odd years to win it.” 

Calder, who is also a show past president, will work alongside another past president Noel Hamilton as sheep marshalls at the association’s 150th show in Invercargill on Saturday.

One of the highlights for Hamilton during his time as president was the staging of a Royal Show in 1994. The association had to pay $5000 to the New Zealand Royal Agricultural Society for hosting rights.

Specially-made ribbons to mark a Royal Show were needed and accommodation for overseas judges required.

“There was a lot of extra cost to hold it … sponsorship [money] covered a lot of it,” Calder said.

Calder can remember leading his neighbour’s milk shorthorn heifer in the grand parade at the 100th Southland show at the Invercargill Showgrounds.

Saturday will be the sixth year the show has been held at Donovan Park after it was at the Invercargill racecourse for three years. Before that, the showgrounds was the longstanding venue.

Hamilton said Donovan Park was a “really nice setting” for the show.

The oldest piece of machinery owned by the association is a 1960s Massey Ferguson 135 tractor which is used for mowing.

The pets’ area at the show was always popular with children, Hamilton said.

Offenders doing community service are helping volunteers to set up for Saturday’s show.

“There’s a lot of manual labour needed and without their help, we’d struggle [to get everything done in time],” Hamilton said.

Community service workers had worked for the association for many decades, he added.

David Robertson of the Cordyline Southdown Stud sold this ram for $16,000 at Canterbury A&P Association elite ram and ewe sale 2017.

Top Ram sells for $16,000 at Elite Ram and Ewe Sale

The 2017 Canterbury A&P Association Elite Ram and Ewe Sale, held Friday 1 December, attracted a quality line up, with 223 Rams and 20 Ewes of all breeds entered into the sale. With 156 rams selling, the average sale price was $1721 and $353 for ewes with 19 selling.

The highest price was reached by a Cordyline (David Robertson, Oamaru), selling for $16,000 (purchased by AD Gillespie, Midlands Stud, Oxford). The $16,000 ram (Cordyline 15/16) was born a triplet and recently won Champion Southdown at the Southern Canterbury A&P Show. Mr Robertson has retained semen rights for the ram.

Dave Robertson (left) and David Gillespie of Midlands Southdowns who purchased the ram, Cordyline 15.16 for $16,000.

37 Southdown Rams sold at the fall of the hammer and 2 were passed in. A number of other rams sold for top prices including: $8500 (Chris J Medlicott, Waimate) Clifton Downs 462/16 purchased by Taffy Ltd and $7000 (Willowhaugh Enterprises Ltd, Blenheim) Willowhaugh 82/16 purchased by Dave Robertson & John Macaulay. Overall there was a good number of transfers and a good commercial buying power.

The ewes from Musburg (Stuart Brannigan) sold well averaging $530.