On farm ram sale at Te Anau Basin sheep stud Mararoa Downs offers survivability and fattening capability, heading to bidr with helmsman auction format

A Te Anau Basin sheep stud that has worked hard to develop its premium offering of Suftex and Perendale genetics is set to raise standards to a new level this year, with its ram sale going nationwide for the first time via bidr.

Mararoa Downs is a 2250-hectare flat to rolling hill-country farm, straddling 17 kilometres of the Mararoa River east of Te Anau. Hayden and Kate Slee have run their stud there since 2012. Previously known as Kinnear Heights, the stud has been re-branded to align with the property name. The Slees recently increased Mararoa Downs and will conduct their annual ram sale on 4 December this year at newly refurbished yards on the formerly neighbouring land that is now part of their farm.

Key acquisitions to augment the stud have included Perendale genetics from The Heights stud in Levin, ewes from Robert Gardyne in Central Otago and Suftex bloodlines from Peter and Caroline Clulee, Outram whose stud the Slees purchased.

PGG Wrightson Te Anau-based sheep and beef rep Murray Gilchrist says the Mararoa Downs sale always attracts a loyal local following, looking for survivability and fattening capability.

“Born and bred in a harsh environment, subject to long winters and regular snow, Mararoa Downs offspring will shift anywhere, as testified by the success of the people who come to buy their rams year on year.”

Adding a neighbouring property in 2024 increased the range of terrain the Mararoa Downs stock experiences.

“On the new property, harder native steep hill is a feature that we use to test our maternal stock, particularly the Perendales at lambing. Knowing they can thrive there sets them up well to shift elsewhere. Perendales prefer to be left to their own devices, so ours go un-shepherded, with DNA testing at tailing,” says Kate Slee.

Murray says the Slees have a keen eye for genetics that will improve their flock.

“They invest wisely at other dispersal sales, and the quality of their rams is improving each year,” he says.

Having run a helmsman auction format on farm at Mararoa Downs for the past ten years, with good cellphone reception at the refurbished yards, they are able to extend this year’s sale to bidr.

“While we gratefully acknowledge the support our local clients always give, we want to put our rams in front of a wider audience. Since bidr started offering a helmsman option, and with good cellphone coverage to that part of the farm, we can now do that with minimum disruption to our sale,” says Kate. 

Links to: 
https://bidr.co.nz