North Islander takes top title in 2011 Mint Lamb Competition

14 November 2011

North Islander takes top title

Hastings farmer William Feetham has taken the top title with his Romney X lamb named the country’s best, from paddock to plate, in the 2011 Mint Lamb Competition.

Farmers from throughout New Zealand were invited to showcase their quality lamb and compete in the competition that celebrates the quality and variety of lamb available in New Zealand with a focus on increasing consumption of one of the country’s largest export earners.

Lambs were judged on the hook at an Alliance plant for Best Overall Yield with the best from each class (dual purpose, dual purpose/cross terminal, composite/crossbred cross terminal and terminal) from the North Island and the South Island plus the next ten highest yielding lambs taste tested at last Wednesday’s Canterbury A&P Show in Christchurch.

The cuts of meat were cooked by leading Christchurch chef Gary Miller and taste tested in front of Show crowds. Judges included Ross Thomson (Alliance New Zealand), David Hazlett (Hazlett Rural Ltd), Boyd MacDonald (Lone Star Farms) and Amy Adams (MP, Selwyn).

“This is my third year entering the competition. I initially ran a small mob of 30 ewes and lambs, mulled over the pick for some time and eventually selected two lambs to enter. We’ve had a good season in the Hawkes Bay with plenty of grass so I was worried that some of the lambs may be over the weight limit. I was very pleased with one of the lambs and had a gut feeling that it would do well. It goes to show that if stock are feed well and with good genetics you can win regardless of the breed” commented Feetham.

The overall winner received a trophy, Show ribbon, cash prize of $1000 plus a $700 Zolvix product voucher. Second ($500 cash, $350 Zolvix voucher) went to Sarah Rodie from Amberley and third ($300 cash, $150 Novartis voucher) went to Dave and Rosie Clark from Rangiora. Drafters also had the chance to win with the Drafter of the winning lamb receiving a case of wine. The wine went to Ross Dyer.

There was no entry fee for the competition; proceeds from the gift lambs will be credited to the Canterbury A&P Association to support the development of the Canterbury A&P Show.

ENDS

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