Richmond Farm NZ

15/08/2026

Our in-lamb hoggets have made it through a very frosty Winter pretty well. They pregnancy scanned 108.9% which was good considering the dry Autumn and we look forward to seeing their lambs hit the ground in a little over a month.
MA ewes scanned 190% and 2-tooths were 173% (Average 181% across all ewes).

All hogget rams used had Maternal Worth + Meat (MW+M) indexes over 2600 with most over 3000. The top ram used, 4062/22 had an index of 4170 at mating with a Shed BV of 5.35!!

With several rams being 75% Exlana, this will hopefully improve our flock's base fertility, growth and parasite tolerance.
Most of the rams used also have a Carla BV in the top 5% of all rams across all breeds in the country.

Here's to easy-care, low-parasite, sheep farming!

15/08/2026

Our in-lamb hoggets have made it through a very frosty Winter pretty well. They pregnancy scanned 108.9% which was good considering the dry Autumn and we look forward to seeing their lambs hit the ground in a little over a month.
MA ewes scanned 190% and 2-tooths were 173% (Average 181% across all ewes).

All hogget rams used had Maternal Worth + Meat (MW+M) indexes over 2600 with most over 3000. The top ram used, 4062/22 had an index of 4170 at mating with a Shed BV of 5.35!!

With several rams being 75% Exlana, this will hopefully improve our flock's base fertility, growth and parasite tolerance.
Most of the rams used also have a Carla BV in the top 5% of all rams across all breeds in the country.

Here's to easy care, low-parasite sheep farming!

08/08/2026

Lovely feedback from one of our Orphan Lamb customers : )

Posted with her permission, thanks Bradley!

20/07/2026

ONLY 48 HOURS LEFT to sign the petition!

Please sign and share it widely to send a strong message to our decision makers that we don't want it and to drop their policies for the upcoming election

You can find the petition at petitions. parliament. nz and search the Amendment Bill petition via the filters or see comments below

This is a new video. If you wish to share it, try via my profile (Chris Ensor) if it doesn't work from here.

Petition Closes on 22 July at Midnight

Many thanks

NZ Farming

10/07/2026

Please sign (and share) this petition to Halt the HSNO Amendment Bill, the complementary Bill for the Gene Tech Bill.
This will drastically Liberalise Genetic Engineering Regulation in NZ

Petition closes 22 July

You're welcome to share this video or just share the petition link below.
https://petitions.parliament.nz/30945f77-8479-452e-bef4-08deca8724c5/sign?lang=en&fbclid=IwVERDUASrICpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR6EZhtlSgtz4a4Y9SdyTLDsnhp4LEP_yie4-C0vcpLw1Aghu3q7qhYONY4uXg_aem_sCxiAZrL3FWexuk7gIroQA

Lets try to get tens of 1000s of signatures to send a strong message to politicians before the election that we don't want it!

Thanks for your help

NZ Farming

02/07/2026

We had Kelvin from Shedding Sheep NZ visit for a well timed chat a month ago.

The ewes have since had our best pregnancy scanning result with the mixed aged ewes at 190%, the 2 tooths scanned 173% with the overall tally being 181%.

Pretty happy with that result after a tough, dry spring, a good summer and dry autumn!
It looks like the investments in great genetics are really starting to pay off!

Thanks heaps for the great video Kelvin!

I have always enjoyed working with sheep, even as a teenager I was ...

13/06/2026

Good Morning Everyone,

ONE DAY TO GO!!

Submissions Close Monday 15th June

Please make a submission on the HSNO Amendment Bill- The bill to Liberalise NZ’s current Genetic Engineering regulations. There is also the ACVM Bill relating to relating Agricultural and Veterinary Compounds. Both will lead to contamination of our food!

-- Submissions close at midnight on Monday 15th of June for both Bills --

Please visit the NZ government website to have your say.
HSNO - https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/committees-press-releases/have-your-say-on-the-hazardous-substances-and-new-organisms-amendment-bill/

ACVM - https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCPRIP_SCF_18501611-43A3-4ECB-DD17-08DEAEFC95CF/agricultural-compounds-and-veterinary-medicines-amendment

For those of you that don’t know, we have another Bill that has been formed to try to push through Genetic Engineering Reform in NZ, the HSNO Amendment Bill. This will be paired with the ACVM Amendment Bill for agricultural and veterinary compounds.
Please make a submission on the HSNO Amendment Bill- The bill to Liberalise NZ’s current Genetic Engineering regulations. The Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill (ACVM) will act as a pathway for the introduction of GE compounds and Biological Treatments that have been approved overseas, potentially without thorough assessment of the impacts on NZ’s Food Systems, Trade, Ecosystems and Environment.

This message is intended as guidance on places you can go to find out more about the Bills. It also has some things to consider/include when writing your submission.
There is more detailed information here - https://www.gefree.org.nz/action-templates/

Some of the vital aspects that future legislation should include are:

- Protection – Of Non-GMO Production and NZ’s GE Free export advantage
- Choice – For Consumers and Farmers to have and grow food that is not Gene Edited and having GE Food labeled so people know
- Precaution – To prevent irreversible harm to NZ’s people, trade, environment and future generations.
- Ethics – To prevent misuse of Gene Editing on people and animals
- Control – Of decisions in New Zealand in the public interest. No mandatory approval of GE products approved overseas.
- Liability – On users of Gene Editing for contamination or harm
-
You can find more information and submission suggestions on GE Free NZs website under ‘Action Templates’ https://www.gefree.org.nz/action-templates/

Also visit GE Honesty, NO GMO Action NZ and GE Free NZ here for more info [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EKyZn2zzS/]

There is also an official Parliamentary Petition waiting to be approved, so keep an eye out for that.

Please share and repost this information within your networks.

Also, contact all your MPs, from all parties, and the local council.

Many thanks!

01/02/2026

Wilthshire/Exlana Rams

Exlana are the new generation full sheeding sheep with higher meat yield and earlier shedding as well as higher fertility.

TOP SIL sires used, maternal worth + meat of 4344 (second highest shedding ram in the country on SIL, 3865 & 3575 (performance value). Tested through tough pre-xmas drought and looking great.

The boys have been well tested this past season with the wet autumn and winter, the very cold, dry spring followed by a very hot early summer. Many didn't make the cut but these lads did.

They've now picked up well and are ready for the

*sale on Wednesday Feb 4th*

If you're after a sound, early shedding ram, please visit the advert below and get in touch.

Many thanks,
Chris

*evening collection available

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/business-farming-industry/farming-forestry/livestock/sheep/listing/5476668110

22/01/2026

Exlana X Wiltshire Ewe Lambs:

Richmond Farm NZ have a handful of 3/8ths Exlana (X Wiltshire) ewe lambs heading to the Harwarden Shedding Sale tomorrow.
Exlanas are early shedding, high fertility, high growth composites.
They were all raised organically by hoggets.

Check them out on Bidr if you're interested (link in comments).