Giving your ewes their due
Waikato farmers are invited to enter the New Zealand ewe hogget competition, including a contest for the title of national supreme champion hogget flock. Now in its 16th year, the annual competition identified top operators and rewarded excellence, organisers said.
Objectives include selecting flock replacements likely to be more productive and profitable over their lifetime.
National convenor Stephen Rabbidge said the competition gave farmers nationwide the opportunity to benchmark their flocks against others. It also gave farmers the chance to compare different farming systems and learn from other competitors as well as the judging panel, Mr Rabbidge said.
Entries close on March 21. After entering, competitors will be sent a more detailed entry form required by the judges.
Judging will take place next month and the national final is from April 27 in Christchurch.
The winners will be announced at a dinner at the Hotel Ashburton in June with the finalists viewed on screen along with their property. The overall winner will host a field day on their property.
Greg Burgess from the New Zealand Sheepbreeders’ Association said the success of the competition was partly due to the many volunteers who tapped farmers on the shoulder, encouraging them to enter.
The prizes overall are worth more than $20,000. Breed sections in the competition include perendale, coopworth, romney, crossbred, composite (three crosses or more) and fine wool (incorporating merino, corriedale and halfbred).
For more information contact NZ Sheepbreeders’ Association: Greg Burgess, phone 03 358 9412 or email greg@nzsheep.co.nz.