KERRY & KIT DUNLOP (STOCK MANAGER HAYDEN PETER)
THE GREE

PGG WRIGHTSON LAND AND LIFE AWARD
NEW ZEALAND FARM ENVIRONMENT TRUST LIVESTOCK AWARD

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The Gree, a 2851 SU Central Southland sheep breeding and finishing unit, has come a long way from being, as Kerry describes, “a farm of few paddocks and gorse hedges”.

These days the 271ha South Hillend property is undoubtedly a successful, sustainably operated farm, but equally importantly it is a base for the development of sheep genetics that benefit the entire industry now, and in the future.

With stock manager Hayden Peter in place taking care of the daily management, and committed both financially and personally to continuing the Greeline genetic legacy, Kerry and Kit are content, and the award judges appreciated why.

Noted the judges: “This is clearly an excellent example of the integration of an intensive pastoral system managed in a
profitable and sustainable manner within the constraints of the environment of the area. The development of the ‘Greeline’ composite and continuous goal of improving the productivity of the sheep industry through improved genetics has paved the way for producing top quality stock.”

The Dunlop involvement with this land began in 1933 when Kerry’s father and grandmother arrived from Dunedin. Kerry’s grandfather, a professor of theology, had died and “my grandmother wanted somewhere to live and she knew my
father wanted to go farming”, explains Kerry. The family’s connection with farming and improving genetics reaches further back however, as the farm name ‘The Gree’ suggests. Kerry’s father named the Southland property after a family farm in Scotland, where Shorthorn cows were successfully bred. The Gaelic name, Kerry has since discovered, alludes to “matters of the heart”. “It fits us Dunlops here in Southland,” says Kerry, “the people and the farm are in good heart.”

Matching feed requirement to natural pasture growth is a management goal. No winter-feed has been grown since 1970; pit silage provides flexibility to feed the sheep in the winter and if required in the summer. Efficient pasture control is achieved by the use of “semi-temporary” three wire electric fencing, subdividing the farm into four-hectare paddocks.

Kerry says Kit’s influence is responsible for the effective network of shelter on the farm. “This shelter has been worth thousands of dollars when triplet-bearing ewes have been able to have protection from snow and sleet while they are lambing.” After consulting a nurseryman the couple began planting in 1968 in belts fenced five metres wide. Thuyias and Nitan eucalypt were used, with a combination of flax and pampas grass on the leeward side.

Kerry joined his father in a farming partnership in 1964 and began flock recording that same year. “My aim has always been to farm in a profitable and sustainable manner,” says Kerry. “Highly productive sheep and management practises have made this possible.”

JUDGES COMMENTS

• Enormous passion & commitment to the sheep industry; dedicated a lifetime to the advancement of sheep genetics.
• Given young farmers opportunities; long-term community contribution in various areas like Rotary & the sheep industry.
• Efficient, well-organised immaculate farm with very good shelter plantings.
• Ensuring sustainability of Greeline genetics by involving stock manager Hayden Peter in the ownership.

Within four years, the national flock recording scheme began. “The timing was most convenient,” says Kerry, who also relished the opportunity to be involved with a recording scheme through the New Zealand Romney Development Group in 1969. “It was the first large scale sheep breeding programme in the world,” Kerry explains. He appreciated the chance

to communicate with like-minded people, learn from leaders like the then Massey professor Al Rae, and the access to top genetics that being part of the group afforded.

Kerry points out the Romney group scheme was significant because it began prior to the now-established practise of the
movement of sheep semen. Based in Hawkes Bay for 20 years, for every four top ewes that had reared two good sets of twins that the Dunlops contributed, they qualified for a ram from within the group.

“My first motive was I wanted sheep that could perform well under my own management, not just something that looked
pretty at a show,” says Kerry. In the past 10 years this early involvement has “crystallised” into the composite line known as Greeline, which combined those early improvements with top genetics from East Friesian, Texel and Coopworth breeds. “Across flock evaluation has shown that sheep from The Gree are genetically equal to the best in New Zealand,” says Kerry. “It has been satisfying to have exported ram semen to Western Australia for the last five years and there is an order to send livestock to Victoria this year.”

The competition for land use is a revolution that has surrounded the Dunlops on their flat, fertile country for the past 20 years. They are aware of the suitability of their land for dairying. Their desire to make the figures stack up for sheep farming, and the stark reality of wool becoming “basically a by-product” are big drivers in their pursuit for productivity.
Kerry believes wool prices point to the need to explore woolshedding sheep genetics and he and Hayden are currently “looking at the merits” of Wiltshire sheep. “Our work so far leads us to believe it is worth carrying on with, to develop a Wiltshire composite that we can offer as an option to our ram clients to help them with their profitability.”

On The Gree this season there has been a policy shift and 100ha has been leased out for dairy grazing. This is to allow Hayden time to place more emphasis on the sheep genetic programme and Kerry and Kit more time to make community
contributions and enjoy their grandchildren in Sydney and Auckland. Kerry has a long history of commitment to Rotary
and with sheep industry groups. Kerry and Kit have three children – Jeremy is in London, Rachel and Shona live in Sydney and Auckland respectively. The Dunlops appreciate the passion and commitment that Hayden shares with them; their collaboration with him is a direct result. “We looked around for a while for someone with Hayden’s qualities,” says Kerry. “I’d like to think a lifetime of work with genetics is not going to just disappear.”

JUDGES COMMENTS

• Fantastic stock performance and leading genetics.
• Impressive pioneering work around cross-breeding of sheep genetics.
• Excellent analysis and monitoring by both Kerry and Hayden of commercial and stud operations.
• Wise land use (all grass wintering system), excellent soil condition and early shelter plantings.

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