Rural round-up

Kiwi shearer makes history with 732 strong-wool ewes in nine hours
Last month champion shearer, from Whanganui, Simon Goss lifted the bar for the shearing industry, breaking the world nine-hour strong-wool speed-shearing record by shearing 732 ewes in nine hours. The previous record of 731, set in July 2016, was held by fellow New Zealander Matthew Smith and achieved in England. Goss’s performance saw him average one sheep every 44 seconds, a tally that included catching, shearing, releasing, as well as regular handpiece and cutter changes every quarter hour.

Nelson pet food processor enters liquidation amid wider ag export pressures
Nelson-based Silver Fern Petfoods Ltd (no link to Silver Fern Farms), producer of WildHQ raw pet food made from wild game, has been placed into voluntary liquidation. The company, founded in 2021, processed venison, goat and other wild game at its Stoke facility, supplying both domestic and export markets. It is the third South Island pet food company to fold in the past 18 months. The collapse comes amid wider challenges for the sector, with New Zealand pet food exports to China more than halving over the past two years due to weaker demand, increased competition and trade barriers. Industry observers say the liquidation highlights the growing pressure on niche protein processors and exporters reliant on premium overseas markets. While Silver Fern Petfoods was a niche operator, its collapse has flow-on implications for farmers, growers and hunters supplying alternative proteins and secondary products. Pet food processors provide an outlet for surplus animals, co-products and lower-value cuts, helping lift overall farm returns. Industry commentators say the loss of smaller processors reduces competition and resilience across the wider agri-food supply chain.

Strong start to year at first South Island wool sale
The first South Island wool sale of the year recorded a strong lift in prices, driven by firm buyer demand for new export business. Most crossbred fleece types moved above the $5/kg clean mark for the first time in nearly a decade. The Christchurch auction achieved a 99% clearance rate, with gains seen across all wool breeds and types. The South Island strong wool indicator rose by 38 cents, reflecting the improved market tone.

Nedap officially launches in NZ
Dutch agri-tech company Nedap has formally entered the New Zealand market, making its range of electronic tags, collars, locomotion technology and supporting software directly available to Kiwi farmers. Nedap brings significant global scale to the local sector, claiming a 40% share of the worldwide livestock management market, with more than seven million cows and 10,000 farmers using its technology. The company says that their technology has been available in NZ via business partners for more than 20 years and those relationships