Glenbrook Farms
Stuart and Joy Williams family became members of the ARDG in 1971 with a small flock of Romney's, this quickly grew as the farm developed. Situated just north of Auckland the farm is a comfortable mix of hill country and rolling contours. Jenny Savannah, Stuart and Joys daughter, along with her husband Adrian and two children Ashton and Shanae, joined the farm in 2009 and have managed the farm since 2014. Stuart and Joy have sadly now passed away. The farm now totals 440 hectares following the purchase of a neighbouring lease property.
Passionate to continue developing the "Glenbrook" recorded flock, Adrian and Jenny are heavily committed to the rigorous screening, recording and research required to produce the highest quality rams. In 2020 the investment was made to DNA test every sheep in the recorded flock. The accuracy of data is very important to Adrian and Jenny and genomic testing along with multiple phenotypes recorded to create a sheep that doesn't just look on paper but is the total package.
We have the very best information on which to select our sires and those for our customers.
The "Glenbrook" flock has now been intensively screened for 58 years, with only the highest performing animals selected. Only the best rams are interchanged between all ARDG members and other breeding partners. This distributes a broad band of genetic material from large numbers, these are indexed and ranked based on genetic testing and field analysis over a wide range of traits to be sure we are meeting the needs of commercial farmers. In addition our continued contribution to the Central Progeny Test, and sire sharing with other studs ensures our animals are exposed to a variety of climates and challenges.
Glenbrook's hero breeding trait is certainly FE tolerance, all rams are sired by New Zealand's most highly facial eczema tolerant rams. Facial eczema testing using Sporidesmin is carried out on a selection of the recorded ranked rams, with a range from each sire used. The ARDG are leaders in FE tolerance, using the highest dose rates, our animals continue to out perform in this area. Our other hero trait is worm resistance, this is our 23rd year of FEC testing. There are only 17 members of the elite WormFEC Gold status, all 5 members of ARDG are in this category. Dags are highly heritable, dag scoring on Glenbrook Farms is carried out on every animal, and this is now a requirement for WormFEC Gold accreditation. With drench resistance becoming the leading concern for commercial farmers, we are passionate about reducing drench requirements. A resent Beef and Lamb study on showed our MA ewes only had a EPG of 50, not drenched since hoggets.
Adrian and Jenny have also invested in FECPAC a worm FEC testing kit that can provide a FEC within an hour. This is used to monitor and reduce the frequency of drenching and monitor drench efficacy.
Improved genetic gains equating into real production gains for lamb growth, fertility, disease and parasite resistance and survival rates this combined with excellent meat eating quality ensures with Glenbrook Romney's, you are breeding the best genetics for your flock.
Adrian and Jenny look forward to helping you improve your flock and all enquires are welcomed.
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Adrian & Jenny Savannah
30 Broady Road RD1, Silverdale 0994 Woolshed address: 760 Tahekeroa Road, Kaupapakapa ph: 09 427 6393 or 0274816599 (Jenny) 021425254 (Adrian) Email: [email protected] |