Talk drawcard for Texel breeders’ club field day

The Southern Texel Breeders’ Club was delighted with the turnout to its autumn field day at the Blackdale stud at Ermedale in Southland.

A drawcard was AgResearch scientist Suzanne Rowe’s talk about proposed changes to methane rules.

Dr Rowe led a 10-year research programme funded by Beef + Lamb New Zealand levy payers through the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGGRC) and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

AgResearch senior scientist Patricia Johnson also presented the findings of a trial into low-input sheep farming.

A presentation was made by New Zealand Texels to retiring Texel breeders Peter and Marion Black, who were described as having made the single-largest contribution to the improvement and promotion of the breed in New Zealand.

Inter-generational team work, knowledge and "sheer hard work" was what had made the Blackdale stud so successful, breeders heard.