New Zealand Meat Merino Group
The group was established as a joint venture between WRONZ Developments (later Canesis Network Limited) and two farming partners, John Booker and Winton Dalley.
In late 2000 the Group imported 23 SAMM ewes and three rams from Western Australia, and bought two ewes and a ram which were shown at the 2000 Canterbury A and P Show. It also bought SAMM/Corriedale ewes and rams bred from a 1999 importation of SAMM semen. In subsequent years embryos and semen were imported from several leading Australian studs. These stock formed the nucleus of the Hurunui SAMM Stud.
After five years of MOET and AI programs, in addition to natural breeding, the flock numbered 110 purebred SAMM and 26 7/8 and 3/4 SAMM/Corriedale breeding ewes and 66 SAMM ewe hoggets.
In 2006 the flock was split between the two farming partners and Terry and Loraine Reid. The three resulting studs (Braeburn, Longfield, and Elgin) now comprise members of the New Zealand Meat Merino Group. Importation of semen and embryos from Australia continues to ensure the studs benefits from the best genetics available. In early January each year the group holds a combined on-farm sale of two-tooth rams.
Semen, embryos and ewes can also be provided if required.
For enquiries, please contact:
John & Joanna Booker,
"Longfield",
Hawarden RD, North Canterbury 7385
Phone:03 314 4129,
Fax: 03 314 4125,
Email: j.booker@xtra.co.nz
John has been breeding stud Corriedales since 1983. He began introducing genetics from other breeds in 1996. The Booker family has been breeding rams at their Longfield stud since 1925. Their property Longfield is a 300 hectare dryland property, sited 300 m above sea level and with an annual rainfall of 600-750 mm. It is currently running 3,000 stock units. John and Joanne have been farming Longfield in partnership since 1997.
Winton & Jean Dalley,
Dalley Farms Ltd,
314 Fenwicks Rd, RD,
Waikari, North Canterbury 7491
Phone:03 314 4230,
Fax: 03 314 4276
Email: dalley@amuri.net
Winton and Jean farmed Braeburn as a partnership from 1978 until 2009. There they developed a fine to mid micron commercial quarterbred flock. They first became interested in Meat Merinos as a way to improve meat production without compromising on wool quality or the suitability of the flock to their environment. Recently they moved to a smaller property near Waikari where they are running the Braeburn Meat Merino stud.
Loraine & Terry Reid
31 Leinster Tce
Lincoln Canterbury 7608
New Zealand
Email:tandlreid@snap.net.nz
Terry is a retired animal scientist from AgResearch, Canesis, WRONZ and MAF. The Reids took one third of the stock from the NZMMG to form the Elgin stud.