News from Mt Guardian Perendale Stud

Tim has just got back from the Christchurch Show where Mt Guardian again won the Pfizer Performance ram Hogget Pairs class. In fact we came 2nd as well! This class combines the SIL figures and “type”. We also got Reserve Champion Ewe and won the Ewe Hogget class.

The All Black flag is presently flying high at our gateway and like all New Zealanders we are happy that this time the AB's have triumphed!

In the world of the Perendale, our flag is also flying well. I now have the added responsibility of being the President of the Society, which is a privilege to lead a united group of sheep breeders with relatively similar aims.

We are into the 2nd year of our meat yield trial where interesting and exciting information on our breed is surfacing. A new initiative adopted at our last AGM was to rebrand and market the Perendale.

EXTENDING THE BOUNDARIES
The last decade has been very demanding for sheep farmers but has also seen big advances in the use of science and technology. At Mt Guardian in our quest to advance the productive performance of sheep, we have continued to use SIL to its maximum, but taken on board:

• CT scanning which is a great aid to help select for high yielding sires with meat in the right places.
• The CARLA® Saliva test which identifies animals with protective immunity to parasite larval challenge. Animals with a good CARLA® response allow less parasite larvae to establish. With fewer parasites establishing the animals require relatively less energy to fight adult worms and as a result tend to be more productive.
• Sheep 50K; the new Snipchip information (MBV's). When combined with EBV's from SIL, our accuracies are increased.
• The advantages of the Shepherd DNA parenting has enabled us to use our highest genetic rams over a large number of ewes which are lambed on breeding country that is totally relevant to commercial conditions. In fact in the cross flock analysis which compares most Perendale flocks, Mt Guardian rams are now at the very top.
• Cold tolerance and Footrot gene marker tests are also used on our sires.
• We have always strived to find and use the best genetics available. The X factor ram “Newhaven 2135/09” which we purchased last year for $20,000 is testament to this.

See the full newsletter (876Kb, PDF)

Best wishes and regards,
Tim and Sue Anderson