The Zinos exceeded the strict criteria for this award, which included at least 93% of their lambs meeting processor specifications and those lambs being bred and finished on their property.
Judges were impressed by their exceptional focus on quality, supplying to specification and seasonal supply. They demonstrated a good understanding of market requirements and communicated well with their processor.
The family also put a high priority on animal welfare and whole farm quality assurance. A farm system based on shelter, shade, clean water, quality legume pasture, and top genetics has been developed.
Mark and Sam’s parents – their mother Penny and late father John – bought the original 260ha farm at Hawarden, North Canterbury, in 1966.
Mark returned to the farm in 1999 and formed Zino Holdings with brother Sam in 2003.
Now 1010ha effective, the property is made up of three neighbouring properties and a fourth farm 5km away.
The 320ha of rolling downs to steep tussock country runs a 730-hind and 140-beef cow breeding block. Their progeny are wintered on the flats and sold as yearlings before Christmas.
The 730ha area of terraced river flats runs 3150 composite breeding ewes and 1050 mated hoggets.
Dairy cow grazers are also wintered on the farm and dairy heifers grazed under an 18-month contract.
Rams are sourced from Chris Earl at Longdown Stud, whose stabilised composite rams were bred from a Coopworth composite. Terminal sires, Southdown and White Suffolk-Southdown, are sourced from John Macaulay.
When Mark returned to the family farm, it was running Merino and Corriedales, breeds traditionally suited to the harsh dry land environment.
“We’ve figured out a better way to farm in this environment, which has allowed us to run high fertility ewes,” Mark said.
“An award on a national scale is something we are very proud of.”
He said the sheep industry awards injected some positivity into sheep farming, a nice change to the pessimism that so often surrounded it.
