Established in 1970 the Wairarapa Romney Improvement Group (WRIG) now has a breeding base of 32,000 fully recorded females.
The group has the largest and most robust database in the country, with strong linkages between members’ flocks. The value of these linkages is invaluable when WRIG data is analysed within Sheep Improvement Ltd (SIL).
The original aim of WRIG was to breed the most profitable sheep for the commercial sheep farmer and this aim is just as relevant more than 40 years on.
WRIG provides the nine individual breeder members with the opportunity to learn and share information, taking advantage of genetic trends and new technology. As a group, WRIG is supplying about 6000 Romney rams annually. Our best estimate is that in excess of 30,000 WRIG rams will be used annually across New Zealand flocks.
WRIG breeding for the last 40 years been focused on:
- - Performance (both individual and whole flock)
- - Structural Soundness
- - Repeatable lambing performance
- - Easy care animals
- - Wool volume and quality
- - Animal growth rates
- - Carcase conformation, meat value and grading
- - Internal parasite resilience