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"The Paki-iti Suffolk as a terminal sire option still offers the fastest growth in progeny, suiting the early premium lamb drafts or if sold store, commanding a 'black-faced' premium."

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543/07 Leading Suffolk Ram for Meat and Growth
With a high performing bloodline base and big numbers of recorded ewes, we have been able to breed moderate Suffolk's for hardiness.

2011 Stand out performers
G 275/04 - 2nd of all terminal breeds in NZ for Meat and Growth in CPT progeny trials 2007/08,2008/09 and 6th 2009/10 (used since 2006, 5 sons used)

543/07 - leading Suffolk in the August 2011 SILACE for Meat and Growth - Terminal Sire Summary.

Suffolk Breeding Traits
1. Fast Lamb Growth
2. High Lamb Meat Yields
3. Increased Lamb Survival
4. Increased Ram Longevity


1. Fast Lamb Growth            
            "The most profitable lamb is one that grows quickly, is on the truck, and away."
Therefore in our breeding programme growth is  the No.1 profit driver. Early growth being the most important, followed by autumn growth.

2. High Lamb Meat Yields
Due to the importance of dressing out percentages in a terminal system we see this trait as being very important, with every ram hogget being Eye Muscle Scanned.

3. Increased Lamb Survival 
In a trial at Poukawa over 5 years involving 49  sires of different breeds, the Suffolk X lambs had the lowest mortality rate of  3.2%, compared to an overall mortality rate of 4.9%.

4. Increased Ram Longevity
As any ram is an investment it has to do its job  for as many seasons as possible and with a high percentage of Suffolk rams being  used on hill country they are bred with this in mind. To help achieve ram longevity we are:
  • Concentrating on breeding a more medium framed hardier Suffolk, without compromising on growth. As always heavy muscling is a must.
  • Use of DNA footrot testing.  As with the Romney's, we do not use sires with a high susceptibility footrot reading.
  • Wintering all Suffolk, Suftex  ram hoggets on the hills at Paki-iti, culling poor performers.
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Wintering Ram Hoggets at Paki-iti