Kelso Genetics

01/09/2026

Set stocking underway at Kelso. Seven twin ewes to the hectare, spread across the hills, with one late calving cow per mob - timed to calve as the grass starts to grow through the ewes.

We use foetal aging to estimate birth dates and DNA for parentage, which allows us to set stock ewes based on their lambing window and keep the later lambers in rotation for as long as possible. From here it’s twice weekly checks for cast ewes and to keep look at how the girls are going.

All Kelso ewes lamb unassisted on hill country. What comes in at docking is what has made it, giving us a true representation of ewe and lamb wastage without interference. The ewes and lambs then re-enter rotation at docking.

Bred for Balance. Bred to Outperform.

28/08/2026

HUNTERVILLE - we are coming for you!

Whether you’re a Kelso client or just curious to know more about Kelso, come along and have a beer with us at The Argyle in Hunterville on Wednesday 2nd September from 5.30pm.

Flick us a message with your RSVP!

26/08/2026

TAIHAPE - we are coming for you!

Whether you’re a Kelso client or just curious to know more about Kelso, come along and have a beer with us at The Gretna Hotel in Taihape on Tuesday 1st September from 5.30pm.

Flick us a message with your RSVP!

24/08/2026

When Hamish sent this through yesterday I was also outside in the strong winds and couldn’t hear a thing he said 😂

Gale force winds at Lunesdale is a common occurrence. They’re so strong the school bus run gets cancelled. Hamish and Kelly have even lost the roof off their house due to wind a couple of years ago!

This is the reality of hill country farming on the Blackburn Ridge, and exactly why we breed sheep that can handle these conditions.

Bred for Balance. Bred to Outperform.

17/08/2026

Kelso goes global! 🇳🇿🇬🇧

Two of our four Kelso ram hoggets have touched down at Heathrow after 36+ hours of travelling, arriving into a British heatwave and looking pretty pleased to have left a snowy New Zealand behind. If you ask us, they travelled in style. Leg room that would make a first class passenger jealous 😂

A huge thank you to Tararua Breeding Centre for taking such great care of them during their 60 days in quarantine in NZ. Their two Kelso pals won’t be far behind on the next pallet.

George Ellis collected them from the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre before heading to Grafton Stud in the West Midlands, the start of an exciting international genetic linkage between Kelso and Grafton. All the best with them George!

13/08/2026

CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY - we are coming for you!

Whether you’re a Kelso client or just curious to know more about Kelso, come along and have a beer with us at The Leopard Hotel in Waipukurau on Wednesday 19th August from 5pm.

Flick us a message with your RSVP!

10/08/2026

Maternal ewes getting drafted for set stocking today.

Our 2THs are being boxed back in to lamb alongside the mixed age ewes, only pulled out again for their pre-lamb crutch. The old ewes and B ewes came back around for a second draft to lamb separately. B ewes being those who have been culled since mating or have lost condition over the winter rotation, with their lambs to be culled at weaning.

A nice easy job when your ewes run on their own, you can just stand back and watch the Pratley autodrafter do its thing drafting 5 ways. 😍

05/08/2026

“I inherited Kelso sheep eight years ago and I’ve stuck with them ever since, they’ve just performed.”

Gus Spence at Stockerau Station in Bay of Plenty, has been particularly impressed with the investment Kelso has made in facial eczema tolerance and worm resistance. “I just leave them to it and don’t have to worry about it.”

Facial eczema has been the standout winner for Stockerau. Gus hardly sees it anymore, and it’s no longer showing up on the kill sheets like it used to so Gus has stopped chasing spore counts too.

When it comes to picking rams, Gus knows exactly what he wants: facial eczema tolerance, growth, reproduction and a uniform, open fleece. That fleece focus has paid off, with Stockerau topping wool sales for the last three years running from second shear. Gus also said his rams have been holding up really well “making old bones”.

“It basically comes down to genetics, we aren’t doing too much different other than genetics.”

02/08/2026

Grab your mates and get your tickets! 🎉

The Bitches’ Box Shed Shenanigans is coming to the shearing shed at the Waipukurau A&P Showgrounds on Saturday 10 October, 6pm. Big laughs, live action, great food and a cash bar…sounds like our kind of night!

This is a fundraiser for our local CHB A&P Spring Show. These shows are a great way to bring the country to town and keep our local agricultural community alive.

Get your tickets here:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/shed-shenanigans-the-bitches-box-live/waipukurau.amp

30/07/2026

Our Winter Newsletter is out now!
Performance recording, client wins, the inaugural Roger Marshall Scholarship winner, and Kelso rams flying abroad.
Read it here…

We hope you are keeping warm out there. All the best for lambing and we look forward to seeing you in the Spring. Kind regards, Olivia & Hamish