The 2017 Glammies Grand Champions, former Weber farmers Forbes and Christine Cameron, with James Parsons (Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman (left), Iron Maiden Sarah Walker, Christine and Forbes Cameron and Sam McIvor (Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive.
The 2017 Glammies Grand Champions, former Weber farmers Forbes and Christine Cameron, with James Parsons (Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman (left), Iron Maiden Sarah Walker, Christine and Forbes Cameron and Sam McIvor (Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive.
Former Weber farmers Forbes and Christine Cameron, who farm in partnership with their son Angus at Pohangina, have outshone 166 other entrants to become the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards 2017 grand champions.
The Camerons, who farm in the Pohangina Valley at Ashhurst, won with their Growbulk,which was processed at Alliance Dannevirke.
"This is a remarkable achievement for Forbes and Angus who also won the beef equivalent competition, the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin, in 2015," Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor said.
The Camerons, who also won the Glammie award in 2008 and were runners-up in 2011, made history as the first to take out both the Glammies and Steak of Origin titles.
"The Glammies competition is a platform to showcase the country's farmers who produce the best lamb in the world," Mr McIvor said.
"Our industry has made dramatic progress over the last 20 years with higher lambing percentages, up 25 per cent, an increase of 93 per cent of lamb weight sold per ewe wintered and it's been done on two million less hectares.
And even though sheep numbers have gone from 70m to 30m, we're still selling similar amounts of sheepmeat through increased productivity.
"This competition recognises the quality aspects that are so important to the customer. The excellent results are a reflection of the work farmers, processors, and scientists have put into driving these aspects of lamb production."
