Episode 15 – Are Wiltshire’s sunrise strong wool’s sunset?
Shearing & animal health costs outstrip the income from strong wool and one academic believes it’s a no brainer to lean into Wiltshires (shedding sheep).
But when one former shearer-turned-Wiltshire-farmer goes against his passion for wool for profit you get curious!
Rebecca uncovers the benefits of the breed from the research trial at Massey University along with the inspirational story of one East Coast farmer who had his capital stock wiped out from a drought and a cyclone.
Guests include:
- Prof. Steve Morris, Massey University
- Joseph Kyle, Hawkes Bay Wiltshire farmer
Hosts:
- Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
- Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media
Professor Steve Morris has been doing trials since the 80’s on Wiltshires at Massey University and he’s always advocated for the breed due to its lean meat carcase along with less labour costs. The breed, he says, is succeeding with hybrid vigour over traditional breeds.
The 2020 drought losing 2,000 of his ewes and replacements, Joseph Kyle who brought his farm from working hard shearing turned against his passion for the fibre for financial reasons.
Read the article “Breeding the wool off the sheep’s back” in the Country-Wide Autumn 2024.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Mates of Mates for Mates – Tarawhiti – Gisborne A&P Showgrounds – 19th April 2024
#MATESofMATESforMATES was born in Lockdown 2020, thanks to a great bunch of mates who shared their stories. Now it’s time to give #MOM4M some wings and help our rural mates and raise some funds for the Rural Support Trust Hawke’s Bay.
Now #MOM4M is heading to Tairawhiti on the 19th April, with an event at the Woolshed in the Gisborne A&P Society Showgrounds.
An event like this is seriously needed in a region like Tairawhiti, that has been continually bombarded with weather events going well beyond five years ago. The region is in a state of total disruption across roading, infrastructure and general well-being. People’s resilience is being tested far greater than before, to give them something to look forward to I believe will be good for their wellbeing.
The event is going to be free and starts at 3pm with an hours workshop on well being and some tools that people can take home with them, followed by some complementary hospitality courtesy of Silver Fern Farms and will finish at 5.00pm – gates closing at 5.30pm. There will be two complimentary drinks per person as well as non-alcoholic beverages, so everyone can enjoy the social side of the afternoon chatting with friends and the guest speakers. It’s often in these relaxed social occasions that people will open up to a friend or work cohort – that is priceless, we just need people to feel it’s ok to not be ok, a problem shared is a problem halved.
Matt Chisholm, Ian Kirkpatrick, Cam McLeay, Wanda Douglas and Matt Holden have been confirmed as speakers. This line up will inspire, educate and entertain the audience, along with sharing some personal struggles that might help people in the audience realise that they are not the only one feeling down.
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