Couple thrilled by sought-after win

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

The Mid Canterbury couple emerged ahead of eight entries in the Canterbury Merino Association’s Two Tooth Ewe Flock competition

This is the first success for Mr Ensor, who took over the farm in 2004, after finishing third three times and fourth in the event twice.

Mr Ensor said they were chuffed to get their hands on the trophy and be named winners among so many good sheep.

‘‘I think our sheep have evolved over the years to a top sheep that is more dual purpose so they’ve got a good carcass and have still been able to maintain good quality wool.’’

When he took on Glenaan the overall flock averaged 15.5 microns with a lambing percentage of about 95%. Despite the breeding changes, they have lambed up to 121% with the micron lifting only to 16.5.

‘‘That’s been driven by introducing some more carcass genetics and selecting sheep that have good muscle and fat and good reproductive abilities. A lot of people have to have what they call the modern Merino which is more a dual-purpose sheep.’’

The Ensors typically finish about two-thirds of their lambs on the dryland property with the terminally mated lambs going to the store market, unlike 20 years ago when surplus stock were sold as store lambs.

Runner-up was Grampians Station, followed by Glenthorne in third, Lake Heron fourth and Lake Coleridge Station fifth.

More than 50 farmers and supporters turned up on the second day with nearly the same numbers taking to the road on the first day to see flocks ranging from 16.5 to 21 microns.

Drought and its extra workload meant a handful of stations had to pull out with some of them shifting flocks to the rear of their properties.

Logistically, this meant visitors would struggle to get around them. A couple of stud visits were added to fill in the first day.

This took nothing away from the Ensor win.

‘‘I’ve got a long list of people who say they will enter next time so I will have to hold them to it. A couple of them still turned up and a few people were busy feeding out because it was dry. Our numbers were probably lower than they had been in the past. Every year people seem to get busier and I know of people who would have loved to come to get away from the farm.’’

Mr Ensor used a tank of diesel to cover the 600 kilometres getting around the properties

He said the competition was about more than bragging rights.

‘‘I always say all my good ideas come from other farmers. There were some good reminders about the basics of sheep breeding, but also see some guys do...