Quality Feed Crucial to Stud Performance
Words by Luisa Wood
Farmlands-owned feed brand NRM has been a leading manufacturer of equine breeding feeds for many years. Find out how it has played a part in the success of one of New Zealand’s best stud farms: Nevele R Stud.
NRM pride themselves on producing high quality breeding feeds to support optimum health in broodmares, breeding stallions and growth in young horses. Designed in conjunction with their technical partners, Kentucky Equine Research, all NRM feeds have the latest research to support their formulations and are constantly evolving to remain relevant to consistently supply optimum nutrition.
Started by Wayne Francis and Bob McArdle around 30 years ago, and named after their first stallion Nevele Romeo, Nevele R Stud is a highly established Standardbred stud in Canterbury. Previously 1,000 acres, Nevele R is now separated across three different properties including the main 500 acre property in Springs Rd, Prebbleton.
With a successful history, Nevele R began by importing sought-after stallions and mares from the USA to start their breeding herd. The stud has previously stood eleven stallions and accommodated for up to 500 horses at a time, from broodmares to young stock and spelling racehorses. In the last breeding season they bred over 300 mares, including clients’ and up to 50 of their own.
The stud works in conjunction with the racing stable Spreydon Lodge, who train any young stock not sold at the annual yearling sales. As a highly commercial operation, the goal is to keep the current mare band updated and commercially viable. Decisions on breeding crosses for the in house mares and around which yearlings are kept or sold are carefully made by General Manager Ged Mooar.
The best colts on type and breeding are sold at sale and the lower quality colts are broken in and sold as race horses. Most fillies are kept to race at Spreydon also, but then return to the broodmare herd upon retiring. This strategy ensures the mare herd is constantly evolving and being refined by selecting specifically for racing performance.
Stallions are also a significant part of stud life, with Marcoola currently the only one in residence. Stallions often shuttle between northern and southern hemisphere breeding seasons and the ever popular Lazarus and possibly Creatine will be returning this year. Standardbred breeding also allows frozen semen to be used, which opens up access to stallions worldwide. As well as live services, frozen semen is collected from the Nevele R stallions regularly.