Decision to move on presents unique opportunity to obtain highly admired sheep genetics producing fast growth and high yield.

A prominent South Otago stud, offering its final annual ram sale, provides farmers a unique opportunity to acquire some of New Zealand’s most admired sheep genetics.

Garth and Chris Shaw farm on 413 hectares at Wharetoa in South Otago, where they have built up Wharetoa Genetics, one of the country’s most renowned studs. Having put their farm on the market, their annual ram sale on 13th December will be their last one, offering some 300 rams across four classes: Wharetoa maternals, a Coopworth-Texel cross; Suffolk-Texel terminals; Meatmakers, a stabilised Poll Dorset-Texel cross; and straight Texels.

PGG Wrightson Livestock Genetics Otago and Southland representative Callum McDonald is assisting the Shaws with their final ram auction. He says their passion for genetics drives their success.

“They aim to breed strong meat qualities into both the maternal and terminal breeds, while maintaining fertility, survival and resistance to internal parasites."

“They are always willing to embrace the cutting edge of technology to improve their sheep. Their expertise in and dedication to genetics rests on the standards they maintain on the farm. Developed over two generations on a property they took over from Garth’s parents, the performance and productivity of their stock comes from the combination of high-quality genetics, proven on an outstanding farm."

“This sale is a great opportunity to purchase some top quality studstock, developed over years of expert breeding with meticulous attention to detail,” says Callum.

Only the top 25 per cent of the Shaws’ rams are offered.

“They produce rams capable of breeding fast growing lambs with high meat yield. From their commercial ewes they consistently send 50 per cent of their lambs away at weaning weighing between 18.5 and 20 kilograms,” says Callum.

Each year 200 to 300 people from throughout the country attend the Wharetoa Genetics annual ram sale, one of the largest events of its kind. The sale will also feature on bidr.

Sales of the Wharetoa Genetics ewes are scheduled for February.