About us
Belfield Park is owned and farmed by Lindsay and Cristine Drummond. We are located 1.5kms north of Ashburton, Mid Canterbury, New Zealand. We farm stud Dorper, White Dorper and White Suffolk sheep along with commercial Boer goats. We have been on this 10 hectare borderdyke irrigated block since June 2008.
Dorpers
Belfield Park was established in July 2000 when the first purebred Dorpers (blackhead) were imported as embryos from the Bulbarli Stud in Western Australia making us one of the original importers of the breed. These embryos were implanted into recipient ewes with the first purebred lambs born in December 2000.
In February 2001 we imported 5 White Dorper ewes from South Australia as the foundation of our present flock, along with “Axis Spargo”, the 2000 Royal Adelaide Show Champion Ram. Spargo was used extensively through our flock and his genetics are spread throughout New Zealand.
Initially we undertook embryo transplant programmes to get numbers on the ground but for the last few years have been naturally mating only. Every second year we introduce new genetics into our flock, generally buying rams born here in New Zealand that are the type we like and we can see are performing well.
We continue to breed both Dorper and White Dorpers as there is a market for both types of the breed here in New Zealand. There is strong demand from commercial farmers for white dorper rams especially for hogget mating. Meanwhile lifestyle farmers are attracted more to the blackhead dorpers.
White Suffolks
In March 2001 we imported Australian White Suffolk ewes and rams from the Leachim, Galaxy, Allendale and Burwood studs in South Australia. The breed was doing great things in Australia and we felt there was a place for them in New Zealand. To progress our White Suffolks in 2007 we imported new genetics in the form of embryos and semen from the Burwood and Anden studs through their very successful joint Accelerator Stud.
We have found the White Suffolks in general to be exceptional performing sheep. They are able to handle the dry conditions experienced here through the dry summers and also the cold, wet and often snowy winters as well. They consistently lamb at 180+% and generally wean lambs ready to go to slaughter. They are easy lambing with very few problems encounted.
Our White Suffolk flock is currently down to 20 purebred ewes which we now mate to the White Dorper. The resulting lambs show excellent crossbred growth rates. We retain a number of the crossbred ewe lambs in our flock each year. These lambs often have good clean bellies and breaches keeping their maintenance costs low.
SalesWe welcome any enquiry for Dorper, White Dorper or White Suffolk cross rams and ewes. We sell individual rams or ewes as well as providing “job” lots, which can be a group of rams or ewes or a ram with ewes. Prices by negotiation.