Waikite farm takes prize at NZ Sheep Industry Awards

Waikite FocusPrime team. Jake Hohaia, (left) Sarah Blank, Niki Ferguson and farm manager Peter Strawbridge. Photo/Supplied

Commitment to quality, excellent on-farm practices, and the use of cutting edge science has cemented Waikite Stud and Focus Genetics as sector leading sheep breeders.

The Waikite FocusPrime took out the Terminal Worth Category of the Beef and Lamb New Zealand Sheep Industry Awards in Invercargill on Wednesday, recognising excellence in lamb survival, lamb growth, and meat yield.

The Waikite Texel was also a finalist in the same category, demonstrating the dominance of the Waikite Stud.

It is the second Beef and Lamb award in as many years for the Waikite Valley based stud.

Last year it claimed the Terminal Trait Leader for Lamb Survival category with the Waikite Texel and across both studs has been a five time awards finalist.

Focus Genetics chief executive Gavin Foulsham said this year's award, and the strong
Waikite showing year after year, demonstrated the partnership between Focus Genetics and the Waikite Stud was at the leading edge of where the sheep breeding sector needed to be in order to be sustainable and profitable long-term.

"Waikite is a challenging hill country farming environment so it has taken a combination of good science and excellent farm and stock management to get these results.

Waikite FocusPrime and Texel Rams.

"It's very satisfying to see the work we've done on the FocusPrime and Texel breeding programmes with Waikite be recognised for turning genetic potential into tangible results," he said.

Waikite farm manager Peter Strawbridge has been running the 1000ha Landcorp farm between Taupo and Rotorua since 2012 and is responsible for the entire commercial and breeding operation, which includes three studs.

"We have a real emphasis on diversity with the Texel and FocusPrime sheep flocks and Simmental cattle stud - but the primary focus of our on-farm work is genetic development," Mr Strawbridge said.

"This award really backs the approach we are taking in having an open mind to the gains that technology can offer combined with the hard work we put in to ensuring the genetics fully express themselves.

"Seeing excellent stock leave the farm and knowing that our genetics are being used elsewhere is reward in itself, but national recognition like this is the icing on the cake."

2017 has been a strong showing for Focus Genetics at the Beef and Lamb awards - also winning the Beef and Lamb genetics award for Terminal Trait Leader for Lamb Growth with the Rosebank FocusPrime in partnership with Gore Farmers Julie and Barry Crawford.