Clint – Tumeke FE Coop
We’re committed to breeding easy to care for, tough, healthy and structurally sound sheep.
Tumeke Coopworth and Coop Rom X ram hoggets
When it comes to flock management, picking the right ram is like finding the perfect superhero for your farm!
A ram is like a woolly treasure chest packed with top-notch genetic goodies. While his façade might give you a glimpse of his charm—with traits like fabulous conformation and stunning wool—some of the most important traits, like how well his lambs perform or how tough they are against diseases, are hidden beneath all that fluff.
We’re on a mission to help you kickstart a successful farming adventure with the best genetics in the game! With over 50 years of ancestry tracking and impressive strides in structural soundness and stamina, we’re not just building a flock; we’re laying the groundwork for your farm’s success.
Our sheep get the VIP treatment! Raised in the rugged hill country, they thrive in tough conditions (think steep slopes and brisk chills). This ability to strut their stuff, no matter the weather, sets us apart from the crowd.
We believe farming should be a joyride! Our breeding programs embody that philosophy, all while soaking up the beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes. And guess what? Our clients are living proof that our genetics translate to real, profitable success on their farms!
We sweat the small stuff to produce robust, vibrant animals that stand out in any pasture. By keeping an eye on fertility rates, early weight gains, and survival stats, we ensure our stud animals check all the boxes. Plus, our rigorous selection process means we’re all about quality over quantity.
We’re all about clever critters! Our ram hoggets face worms head-on with minimal drenching—talk about tough love! They graze freely on the hills, and while we give them two drenches each year, our ewes have gone chemical-free for over 30 years. Talk about resilience!
We’re not tempted to cut corners when it comes to constitution and soundness. Each sheep goes through a snazzy structural confirmation audit with Guy Martin of Livestock Confirmation Ltd. It’s all about enhancing the essence, substance, and soundness of our flock through smart, careful selection. So let’s get ready to embark on this extraordinary farming journey together!
Where it all started
All our genetics flow from our original Coopworth (maternal) and Landcorp Lamb Supreme (terminal) animals.
All our sheep are fully recorded, with full ancestry information on both dams and sires going back to 1967 with Tumeke Coopworths, 1989 with Tumeke Lamb Supreme and 2002 with Tumeke Suftex.
MA Tumeke Coopworth ewes off the hills
Tumeke Coopworths
Based on the original Carthew Coopworth, these sheep are super fertile (consistently scanning over 200%), extremely good mums (consistently weaning around 200%), most productive and efficient sheep, especially on hill country… they multiply, survive and thrive!
Tumeke Coop Rom X
Over the last 10 years, we have introduced some Romney bloodlines into our Coopworth mix, resulting in a ½ Romney ½ Coopworth cross. We’ve been wrapt with our choice, this cross is solid and performs well with weaning results consistently over 180%.
Tumeke FE Coop
In the early 2000 we started breeding for Facial Eczema tolerant sheep. Knowing our genetics and our animals structural soundness, we decided to dose our own top Sires and are only using the ones who passed @ 0.6. Ten years on, we’re thrilled with the results and our own structurally sound FE Coop flock. The next step will be to find a more “tumeke” way of testing for FE tolerant sheep... watch this space!
Tumeke hogget lovers
Our white face terminal sheep … these guys are tough and grow fast! Created with a single focus in mind: lean meat -early growth - fast. We’ve been working with this breed since 1998.
Selecting for thicker skin, intramuscular fat and finer shoulders, makes the Tumeke Hoggest Lovers an ideal hogget mating sire choice!
Tumeke Suftex
With clients looking for a black face terminal sheep, we sourced the best Suffolk rams and put them over some of our top Landcorp Lamb Supreme ewes … resulting in our Suffolk Supreme flock. With the Suffolk component being a bit too “soft” for our liking, we introduced top Suftex genetics into the mix over the last 10 years and have been impressed with the results … we now have high performing, robust terminal sheep with good colour for easy marking.
Tumeke Romney
A new addition to the Tumeke Team!
In early 2022 we were presented with the opportunity to buy one of the largest, well established and fully SIL recorded (since 1984) Romney studs in NZ – Kiwitahi. After having Guy Martin, Livestock Confirmation Ltd., go through, assess and select all the ewes, ram & ewe hoggets, we’re now the proud owners of a 100% Romney Stud.
Kiwitahis philosophy of breeding easy care, high performing sheep who are structurally sound while being farmed at 700m above sea level fits in and lines up nicely with our Tumeke breeding operation.
With Romneys still being the most popular and widespread maternal sheep breed in New Zealand, we’re thrilled to be able to offer this breed to our clients from November 2022 onwards.
Tumeke Suftex ewe hoggets
Where we’re heading
Sustainability
The world demand for all meat is changing rapidly. “Happy meat” is now a recognised term, grass fed is a marketing advantage, and sustainable and organic farming practices expected.
Our industry is under threat if we don’t start creating “story lines” around our farming and meat production practices …
Crop, dairy and cattle demands continue to push sheep into hill country where our structural soundness, resilience and survival rates shine and contribute to your bottom line. Lean, naturally grown and juicy meat is going to be in high demand with our focus on early lamb growth and intramuscular fat. We will continue to lead the market in this area.
Romney’s doing the business
Environmental concerns
Genetics and a more holistic approach to farming will lead the way as chemicals, antibiotics and fertilisers will be under more pressure to be banned or alternatives developed. Here at Tumeke Farming we’re focusing on creating a happy and “as natural as possible” environment for all animals while achieving great results. By mixing and utilising different stock classes, we generate healthy soils and pastures and reduce the need for chemicals naturally.
We just don’t have “tail-enders” or sickly animals on our farms anymore, we have minimal deaths and our animal health bill is shrinking.
The genetic strength and resilience of animals alongside more balanced farming practices will become even more important and essential for our International marketing storyline.
We will continue to be at the forefront of these changes.
Why we and our sheep are awesome together
We are a family business and it is personal to us … our sheep are like family, we know where they have come from, their parents and how they have grown. We have muscle tested them, scanned them, SIL recorded them and looked at each of them critically several times a year.
We also know each of our sheep and cattle by name! Naming the animal was just another piece to bring it all together and has resulted in a greater connection and interaction … They live off the land and we live off them in a cycle of life. As we name each of them, they seem to respond … being treated as a part of our family and being seen individually , more than just a number, changes their stance and behaviour.
Tumeke Hogget Lover ewes with their brood
Tumeke Farming
Representing our values of gratitude, harmony and passion, while also being awesome!
So, if you are or would like to be part of our extended family and experience our genetics and quality, please make contact. We would love to continue being a part of your team or get to know you, your business and welcome you into our world.
Tumeke Suftex, Milos aka Poster Boy
Charm the dog on top of Tumeke Coop ram hoggets
