INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER No. 118 January 2017

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Hester Marshall
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OSRS garden in spring. Vibrant colours were absent. OSRS Texel Suffolks ewes and lambs.

What s a red? Any make New Nissan, RAM4U. Puncture. Murchison, Jan 2017 Braden Cooper Dave Riddell s 3/8th Finn Texel ewes with triplet lambs.

As good a reason as any plus sheep are nicer Sally Sisson, Patea. Agree We farm in the Cannington district of South Canterbury.

time. We now have ewes that are ½, ¾ and almost 100% FinnTexel.

They have a much lower shepherding input at lambing time.

They have a condensed lambing period, very few dry ewes and a slightly shorter gestation period than the other breeds we have had.

Sorry to have missed you but we were finishing the last of the tailing. 164% this year, down 4%.

Quads would be ok if sheep had udders like cows. Denise and Bianca Burden, Five Rivers, Southland.

1 OSRS garden in spring. Vibrant colours were absent. OSRS Texel Suffolks ewes and lambs. Angus Mabin, Taniwha, CHB OSRS Quarter Finn Texels, Philip and Anne Munro. Wairewa Station. Fairlie, Oct I need a new, second-hand red. What s a red? Any make New Nissan, RAM4U. Puncture. Murchison, Jan 2017 Braden Cooper Dave Riddell s 3/8th Finn Texel ewes with triplet lambs. Winton, Southland, Oct 2016 OSRS Quarter Finn Texel ewes, David, Sam Meade. Beautiful Tadmor Nelson, Jan INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER No. 118 January 2017 They Said I always read the newsletters cover to cover and enjoy receiving them. Keep them coming. I am reducing my cattle numbers and increasing my sheep numbers this year as sheep yards are easier to maintain! As good a reason as any plus sheep are nicer Sally Sisson, Patea. Agree We farm in the Cannington district of South Canterbury. Robin recommended his OSRS FinnTexel rams to us in 2010, to reduce the animal health issues we were experiencing with the ewes we had at the time. We now have ewes that are ½, ¾ and almost 100% FinnTexel. These sheep are free moving, agile, more easy-care and self-reliant and are excellent mothers. They have a much lower shepherding input at lambing time. There are far fewer bearings, a much lower incidence of vitamin B1 deficiency, no feet problems at all and fewer cast ewes. They have a condensed lambing period, very few dry ewes and a slightly shorter gestation period than the other breeds we have had. Murray and Diane Davidson. Thanks for the lemons, much nicer than the ones from the supermarket. Sorry to have missed you but we were finishing the last of the tailing. 164% this year, down 4%. Some paddocks averaged over 200%, the best was 209%. Triplets are as common as twins and there are too many quads. Quads would be ok if sheep had udders like cows. Denise and Bianca Burden, Five Rivers, Southland. Denise s ewes respond to thoughtful, caring management. Rams; 3/8 Finn Texel and Texel Suffolk OSRS Finn Texels, Paul Crump.. Havelock, Jan OSRS Texels and Texel-Suffolks. Dosed upon arrival from The Glen. 9pm Jan. 10th, 2017 (OSRS) newsletters hit the table and are compulsory reading. You taught me about OPM, Other People s Money. Spending OPM is easy Allan Crosswell, Tokanui. Allan was one of many Southlanders who are upset by the Regional Water Management draft plan. Practical issues are huge. Can all waterways be double fenced? Fencing is costly. Wetlands will grow through fencing and become weed sanctuaries. CENTRAL DESIGN & PRINT

The season,2016-17 It has been really tough, starting way back at the beginning of 2016.

Ram hogget weights reflected the poor spring in HB. Surplus lambs, singles and those with dags, were sent to the works at weaning. Breeding ewes were checked and culling completed.

Visits to NI farms in September and the SI in October, December and January revealed all farms were struggling with gutless, sun deprived grass and little clover. Papers reported a great spring.

Farmers are price takers and felt there was little to take this year. Finn Texel, Texel, Dorper,Texel Suffolk rams sold out. Demand for surplus ewes from OSRS grows stronger each year.

Jeff and son Tom buzzed in and out when they could and socialised with the visiting farmers. It was most enjoyable spending time with Jeff and Sue.

The cold and wet made lamb finishing very difficult. No sun. Cultivation and crop seeding has been behind all season. Jeff and Sue have transformed the farm which was already attractive.

2 The season, It has been really tough, starting way back at the beginning of Holding condition on ewes has been difficult but Colin managed because Tarata stayed green and kept pressure off Paratu. Ewe lambs weaned at lower than usual weights but by April were thriving. Ram hogget weights reflected the poor spring in HB. Surplus lambs, singles and those with dags, were sent to the works at weaning. Breeding ewes were checked and culling completed. Few animals not wanted remained by Xmas when the first ram lambs arrived from OSRS flocks in other areas. A new grass pasture was drilled in November as was a summer brassica crop. Visits to NI farms in September and the SI in October, December and January revealed all farms were struggling with gutless, sun deprived grass and little clover. Papers reported a great spring. Ram selection started in November and ended in May. Sales were surprisingly buoyant. Visits had confirmed major frustrations with the sheep, dairy and cattle prospects. Farmers are price takers and felt there was little to take this year. Finn Texel, Texel, Dorper,Texel Suffolk rams sold out. Demand for surplus ewes from OSRS grows stronger each year. Colin and Robin worked a tight sale schedule at Paratu which allowed time to go south to Clinton to help Jeff. Three intense days of selling worked well. Jeff and son Tom buzzed in and out when they could and socialised with the visiting farmers. It was most enjoyable spending time with Jeff and Sue. A similar arrangement is planned for December 2017 at Clinton. The biggest negative was the extra travel involved because of the earthquake damage to SH1. While with Jeff, it blew and blew. The cold and wet made lamb finishing very difficult. No sun. Cultivation and crop seeding has been behind all season. Jeff and Sue have transformed the farm which was already attractive. Now it has very attractive tussock, verdant green pastures, a conical hill and 2 productive, alert sheep. Jeff and Sue are brilliant stock managers. Dave Riddell farmed OSRS Texel Suffolks since March Dave got the ewes scanning 200% through his outstanding management. Few NZ blackface flocks in NZ get within cooee of this result. Growth rates of weaned lambs reached 400gms/ day. The flock has returned to Paratu to lighten the Riddell workload. Another 200% scan would delight all at OSRS. We all learnt much from David s management of the Texel Suffolk flock at Winton and appreciate Jan and Dave s input to OSRS. Thank you both. Ideally there is a OSRS Texel Suffolk flock in Southland or Otago. Another Texel Suffolk flock at The Glen had to be moved due to the earthquake. Few stockproof paddocks remain. 300 ewes are farmed by Robert and Angie Malcolm, Waipukurau. Liveweights of ewes at Paratu in kilograms, February. Table, Page 3. These weights although not startling were for ewes and 2ths which had never seen much quality feed. Colin had put condition onto the ewes since weaning. Only 23 mms of rain had fallen and strong winds never abated. All ewes looked in great nick. OSRS sheep are tough, they have to be. Autumn came early. A chill was in the air in February. 107 mms of rain fell in the evenings. Brown paddocks became green then white, with mushrooms. The lush growth continued throughout March. 98mms of rain fell. Stock thrived and staff relaxed. Conditions for tupping on 10th March were ideal. Takapau is having the best autumn in decades. Colin weighing Finn-Texel ewes. March Stabilised Quarter Finn-Texel 2ths at Puponga Farm Park, Farewell Spit, Darryl Meaps. Nov 2017 Texel Suffolks at Tapawera. Peter Philip s new rams Mid Jan 2017 Texel Suffolk sired lambs. Thriving at Darfield. Ben Richards. Rockwood, 28 Oct 2016 Limestone Hills School flock. Lambs from OSRS rams. Happy, loved sheep. Oct 2016 Stabilised 3/8 Finn-Texel ewes before mating. March 2017

Predictions May 2017 Shortages of breeding ewes A mild, warm

CEOs of SFFs and Alliance group who give farmers hope Female

Ponta Grossa Quantity and quality haylage. Paratu.

Why don t ewes eat them every year? Plantain?

Feb 2017 Ram lambs. Medium weights. Hot sun, wind, no grass.

Green. Lambs and 2ths never lacked quality feed.

Lambs enjoy shelter from sun. March 2017 Perfect.

Liveweight gain in kgs Liveweight of MA Ewes in kgs 25.1.

2017 Breed Avg Range Avg Range kg Gain Avg Range Texel-Suffolk

Finn-Texel 58,62 44,5-70,5 64,90 52-77,5 6,29 68,59 57-83

3 Predictions May 2017 Shortages of breeding ewes A mild, warm winter Rising sheepmeat prices Satisfaction with the visible CEOs of SFFs and Alliance group who give farmers hope Female Brazilian students have similar height, long hair and clothes. Ponta Grossa Quantity and quality haylage. Paratu. Jan 2017 Thistles without seed heads. Why don t ewes eat them every year? Plantain? No moisture, zero growth. Drought in CHB. Damn Dry. Feb 2017 Ram lambs. Medium weights. Hot sun, wind, no grass. Jan 2017 Finn-Texel lambs on summer kale. Feb Tarata. Green. Lambs and 2ths never lacked quality feed. March 2017 Texel Suffolk ewes, grazing stalks, Thriving. Lambs enjoy shelter from sun. March 2017 Perfect. Clover, grass after late February rain. 2TH Ewes. Liveweight gain in kgs Liveweight of MA Ewes in kgs Breed Avg Range Avg Range kg Gain Avg Range Texel-Suffolk 64, ,5 69,50 55,5-82,5 5,43 79,56 64,5-95,5 3/8 Finn-Texel 58,62 44,5-70,5 64, ,5 6,29 68, Finn-Texel 59,85 49, , ,21 67, ,5 Dorper 54, ,5 59, ,68 63, Texel 62,54 54,5-69,5 70, ,92 68, Finn 50,83 49,5-51,5 55,83 54,5-57,5 5,00 58,91 53,5-65,5 3

The Kaikoura Earthquake; also Waiau, Culverden, Wellington, Kapiti and The Glen earthquake. Most news-worthy damage from the quake of November 14th was at Kaikoura and North Canterbury.

8 force, houses and infrastructure wrecked, often altered beyond repair. The Glen was one of these farms. Government assistance was immediately offered.

Each application for assistance was for the Kaikoura incident only. Pictures show some of the damage to Joy s farm. Kilometres of fencelines, tracks, boundary fences, ruined.

The Ohariu fault line is directly beneath the farm. Jamie Peryer, Land Management, Wellington Regional Council, visited November 17-18th.Abridged report.

.. many were small and shallow and displayed a concave slip surface with material deposited hundreds of metres down the slope suggesting rapid deposit.

,14th earthquake and subsequent heavy rain (110mms) was captured in these cracks and flowed down to the bedrock, lubricating it and creating failure.

it is a fair assumption to say that the earthquake had likely created cracking in the soil and had an influence on slip erosion during the subsequent rainstorm.

4 The Kaikoura Earthquake; also Waiau, Culverden, Wellington, Kapiti and The Glen earthquake. Most news-worthy damage from the quake of November 14th was at Kaikoura and North Canterbury. Huge damage occurred in the North Island but was reported only as it affected the business of Wellington. Farms along the fault lines were thrown about by the 7.8 force, houses and infrastructure wrecked, often altered beyond repair. The Glen was one of these farms. Government assistance was immediately offered. The extent of the damage area was not recognised. Road, rail and tourism disruption was obvious. Building, port and farm damage was most often not obvious. Each application for assistance was for the Kaikoura incident only. Pictures show some of the damage to Joy s farm. Kilometres of fencelines, tracks, boundary fences, ruined. Yards smashed, gateways twisted, fences buried, large mudslides from hill tops and uprooted gulley conservation planting. Protection planting along the lower Kakaho stream held. The Ohariu fault line is directly beneath the farm. Jamie Peryer, Land Management, Wellington Regional Council, visited November 17-18th.Abridged report. I observed numerous shallow slips causing significant damage to fences, tracks and general farm infrastructure... many were small and shallow and displayed a concave slip surface with material deposited hundreds of metres down the slope suggesting rapid deposit.the majority occurred high in the heads of catchments (unusual). The soil cracked in several places during the Nov.,14th earthquake and subsequent heavy rain (110mms) was captured in these cracks and flowed down to the bedrock, lubricating it and creating failure. Soil regolith gave way and travelled down the slope. it is a fair assumption to say that the earthquake had likely created cracking in the soil and had an influence on slip erosion during the subsequent rainstorm. MPI and Feds only wanted to know about the Kaikoura event. Joy and Ross Berry (Manager) were interviewed by Tom Hunt (Dom- Post) who knew the farm well. 4 No slips were showing in a 2016 photo; 2017 there are 29 fresh soil ruptures Water and soil erupted in front and travelled downhill without losing initial width. Cattle, ewes and lambs were killed. The subsequent newspaper article on December 6th got response from all over NZ, Australia, Iran, Brazil, Alaska and Finland. It seemed everyone knew well the huge environmental effort Joy and Ross had undertaken at The Glen. Spirits rose; a little. Next came geology reports in late March. Dr Kate Clark said quake damaged land is still moving. The rupture started at Culverden and travelled 180 kms to north of Kaikoura (Author; Quake damage is obvious from SH1 at Otaki, 295 kms north of Culverden). 21 faults ruptured across two fault zones; Marlborough, North Canterbury. The earthquake was complex, severe and exciting for geologists but costly for farmers who did not want to be battered during the busiest time of the year by major earthquakes or any other distractions. Two earthquakes and 110 mms of torrential rain in 24 hours pummelled The Glen. Estimated cost for repairs; $ A well-prepared claim Only earthquakes break open lateral faces. Water and soil flows were swift, dangerous. Ross Berry provides a scale to illustrate the huge volume of soil moved from the head of this small gully. Gates yards, fence lines, floodgates, pole plantings, tracks; wrecked. Earthquake instigated damage at The Glen. Even rats were killed. Nov 16-17th 2016 has been made to the Kaikoura Earthquake Relief Fund. Footnote; Xmas was not relaxing. After a few words from Joy about the messy task of getting the farm running again. A lawyer said to all I have no sympathy for farmers. Nobody was asking for sympathy. How would he feel if his office collapsed in the shake and he had to repair it himself before clients could come in. No clients, no business. At the farm until the sheep(clients) could get to the woolshed and yards (impossible) there is no business either.

5 Morgan Stevenson: Finns, 3/8 Finn-Texel. Wilden Runs, Otago John Williams family: Dorper, Quarter Finn Texel. Takapau Reid Taylor: Quarter Finn Texel, Texel Suffolk Whetakura, Southern HB Roger Byam: Texel Suffolk. Waitara Matthew Lawlor: Finn Texel. Balclutha, Otago Colin Bond: Dorper. Dannevirke Hamish and Phil Simpson: Marton First to use Texel Suffolk in NZ, 1991 Colin, Philip Holt (2), Silja: Texel Suffolk. Napier HB Terry Creswell: Quarter Finn Texel. Gisborne Peter Matthews: Texel Suffolk. Waipukurau Wayne Harriman: Quarter Finn Texel. Eketahuna Arthur Masters: 3/8th Finn Texel Mangapapa, Taranaki David Dalby: Quarter Finn Texel, Texel Suffolk. Porangahau Stephen Pound: Texel Suffolk. John Jolly, Dorper. North Wairarapa Lisa and Graham Richardson: Finn Texel. Tiraumea, North Wairarapa 5

Colin (OSRS HB) Robert, John Chapman: Quarter Finn Texel. Port Chalmers, Otago Gavin Landreth: 3/8th Finn Texel. Owaka, Otago Trevor and Enila Smith: Texel Suffolk.

Brazil s sheep culture is ready for change. This was not so on the previous visits in 2012 and 2014.

Good lamb will be eaten. People traditionally buy to price. Kill sheep at the right time and attitudes will change Supermarket sheepmeat, if present, was not easily found.

The ewe and lamb stay together for a week then each day the ewe joins the mob to feed outside. Lambs are weaned in forty days onto concentrates.

The recent use of Dorset, Dorper and Texel genetics has lifted the red-meat yield to 45-53% from the 38-40% yield from native, traditional sheep.

Clydevale, Balclutha, Otago is sought by buyers. The show ring rules. No genetic progress is being made in the national flock.

6 Colin (OSRS HB) Robert, John Chapman: Quarter Finn Texel. Port Chalmers, Otago Gavin Landreth: 3/8th Finn Texel. Owaka, Otago Trevor and Enila Smith: Texel Suffolk. Haldane, Southland Lyndsey Houliston: 3/8th Finn Texel. Mossburn, Southland One Stop Ram Shop in Brazil Sept-Oct Joy and Robin visited on business. A brief report; Rural Brazil has a good feel. Brazil s sheep culture is ready for change. This was not so on the previous visits in 2012 and Sheep farming needs to be a business not a hobby (many farms are owned by urban business-men for statis. Sheep farming is more efficient than cattle farming Prof Ciniero, Botucatu. Good lamb will be eaten. People traditionally buy to price. Kill sheep at the right time and attitudes will change Supermarket sheepmeat, if present, was not easily found. It was poorly presented, expensive and usually from Uruguay. Rams are with the ewes all year. Few lambs are produced. The ewe and lamb stay together for a week then each day the ewe joins the mob to feed outside. Lambs are weaned in forty days onto concentrates. After sixty more days inside the first are ready for slaughter. Many of the sire rams are unsound with obvious health issues. The recent use of Dorset, Dorper and Texel genetics has lifted the red-meat yield to 45-53% from the 38-40% yield from native, traditional sheep. Show ring success is the measure of merit used for pricing breeding sires. No information about family productivity or genetic performance 6 Geoff Sargent: Quarter Finn Texel. Clydevale, Balclutha, Otago is sought by buyers. The show ring rules. No genetic progress is being made in the national flock. Typically in restaurants patrons request beef, only 25% ask for sheepmeat. Better product, more available would change demand quickly. Meat is cooked well. The issues of quality and availability limits opportunity. Cooperatives geared to soya, coffee, sugar and cattle ignore sheep potential. The ingrained habits of the industry are proof that it has no credible structure. There is no direction. Sheep management is poor. An exception is in Southern Brazil where cooperatives are motivated and sheep performance is good. Considerable areas of land could be grazed using electric fencing. Cropping takes the easiest land. Arable country used for soya has a two-year rotation which must play havoc with soil structure. Many fragile soils are not coping: erosion and wash-outs are common. Dairy expansion is huge. Technically impressive most herds are reliant upon the harvested food being bought to cow barns. The bovine equivalent of pig/poultry factory farming. End-user displeasure with such practice will soon be a problem. Cows are huge, well fed and do not conceive at all well. Hoof problems are attended daily. Political cattle, sugar, coffee and cropping lobbies are powerful and grab all the available research funding. Jeff Moss cultivating. Jeff and Sue had everything ready for Colin and Robin for ram sales. Dec 2016 Research money to benefit small animals is scarce. Research evolves about feeding concentrates to penned animals. Nothing has been done to produce sheep pastures for Brazil. By law 5% of farmed land must have trees upon it. Lais s home farm has 20% in trees all grazed by cattle. Corridors along rivers and gullies become jungle; ideal wildlife refuges. Highways are full of trucks belting along. Crashes are frequent and the spilt produce is quickly pilfered by opportunists. Servicing Sao Paulo with 17 million people and the cities of the hinterland requires more trucking so more accidents happen. Roving dogs, often in packs, are a threat to people and livestock. They scavenge and need to be culled. They are found all over the country. Many are totally wild. Ice Cream in Brazil is very, very good. Summary; 1, There is a new breed of motived agricultural educationalists in Brazil 2, Brazil has 200 million people who like sheepmeat. The potential of the industry is secure 3, Brazil could have the world s largest sheep flock 4, On farm sheep management needs to change 5, Big business often foreign owned, squashes any small initiatives 6, Water issues are growing. Plenty of water in the wrong place, plenty saline, plenty polluted

7 Small, hygienic slaughter house. nothing to kill. Beno Zaterka. Sao Paulo (SP) State Modern packaging, attractive sheepmeat. Sells well to sellect customers. Uruguayan sheepmeat. Awful presentation. $NZ45/kg; rack Expensive. 3,000ha soya bean farm with sheep. Lambing, feeding shed. Pastures poor. Ponta Grossa Up close with lambs (40kg) ready for slaughter. Lambing shed. Lambs take every opportunity to feed. Research Farm. Plant breeding programmes are financed by private companies. No sheep pasture research. Rubbish is collected daily. Mobs of dogs scavenge and often attack people. Ponta Grossa Brazil s champion Dorper ewe; she has won every competition. Value $US90,000. She has never produced a lamb. Itapira, SP Best roads are privately owned with toll gates. Outside Sao Paulo State roads have huge potholes. Truck wreck. Meat being pilfered as police watch. Two more wrecks on a 400kms drive. Reddish soils erode. Cultivation harms soil structure. Large areas compulsorily retired. They purr, they smooge, they take your arm off. Pumas are sleek. SP reserve. Conservationists provide some protection. Native Brazilian bee, collecting honydew from aphids. Lais s farm garden, SP Cuttings expose friable soils. Large grass mats clothe raw earth. Droughts ruin mats. 7

Lecture at Ponta Grossa University for Prof. Pedrosa a enthusiastic students.

Sarita s students at Pirassununga University. An enquiring audience.

Facilpa, 9 Oct Research flock of Brazilian native ewes.

They are impressive. Fagundes Cunha loves his sheep. Prof.

Ponta Grossa Prof. Izaltino; fattening lambs. Robin and students.

Hostels and grounds are grand. Innovation is fostered by state funding.

Attractive, rolling land with superb facilities. 20% in trees. Joy, Lais and Robin.

Fine company and translator at meetings.

in the large building. Generous, hospitable hosts.

The invitation was declined, OSRS ram selling was underway.

OSRS has lost dozens of sheep clients to dairy conversion or dairy support.

These changes were not a surprise as farmers attracted to OSRS were always those

Happy waiter with a charcoal brazed shoulder.

8 Lecture at Ponta Grossa University for Prof. Pedrosa a enthusiastic students. UEPG, 28 Sept 2016 Evening lecture with Prof. Sarita s students at Pirassununga University. An enquiring audience. Meeting at Ponta Grossa Agriculture Centre. Meeting with farmers and scientists. Facilpa, 9 Oct Research flock of Brazilian native ewes. Embrapa, Pirassununga Ponta Grossa Champion Texels and Dorpers. They are impressive. Fagundes Cunha loves his sheep. Prof. Izaltino s Texel and Ilse de France teaching flock. Excellent sheep. Ponta Grossa Prof. Izaltino; fattening lambs. Robin and students. Embrapa is an agricultural research and teaching university. Hostels and grounds are grand. Innovation is fostered by state funding. Buffalo fattening. Lais s family farm. Attractive, rolling land with superb facilities. 20% in trees. Joy, Lais and Robin. A Family united. Lais is a very gentle, thoughtful person. Fine company and translator at meetings. 8 Each day, Lais s family, uncles and aunts joined the Kiwis for eating, talking in the large building. Generous, hospitable hosts. Robin was asked to join Minister McCully s Trade Mission to Iran in December The invitation was declined, OSRS ram selling was underway. Joy and Robin will be in Iran, August OSRS has lost dozens of sheep clients to dairy conversion or dairy support. Others went all arable and an appreciable number became grape growers. These changes were not a surprise as farmers attracted to OSRS were always those with initiative and curiosity. Casa Nova restaurant. Happy waiter with a charcoal brazed shoulder. Robin, Joy, Rafael, Marcia and Joseph. Inspiring parents. Itapira, SP Texel Suffolk rams achieved good results in the Maraetotara Next Generation Trial, just concluded. Breeding values for growth and yield produced a ranking of rams. The two test sires will be used extensively over the Texel Suffolk ewe flocks. How refreshing to have Dean Hamilton (CEO, SFF) and David Surveyor (CEO, Alliance) running the two major cooperatives. Both have extensive managerial experience. Both want to put more money in farmer s pockets.

Publication No Ram Profiles

Publication No Ram Profiles Publication No. 123 2018-2020 Ram Profiles ROBIN HILSON 3 State Highway 2 RD1 Waipukurau, Hawke s Bay, 4281 Ph: (06) 855-8335 Mob: 027 444-1806 robin@onestopramshop.co.nz DAVID MEADE Tadmor RD2, Wakefield