Sheep researcher looks into methane reduction
How breeding sheep for intestinal parasite resistance or resilience affects their methane emissions is the focus of research currently being completed by a Lincoln University scholarship winner.
Reeves, who farmed in Canterbury for 40 years before he passed away in March, was awarded NZPork’s Outstanding Contribution Award.
Reeves was also a founder of the New Zealand Pork Corporation wholesaling company, which then became Porkcorp. The company went on to purchase the National Pig Breeding Company to maintain genetic diversity.
“John played a very significant part in initiatives which shaped local markets and led to the improvement of the genetic profile of the commercial pork herd throughout New Zealand,” says NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss.
“He cared deeply for the health of the industry, he was not afraid to have the challenging conversations and is remembered and respected as someone people could always call to discuss the sector,” Kleiss says.
Reeves grew up in Wellington and began his working life as an electrician before inheriting some family land at Saltwater Creek, near Kaiapoi, which included an old piggery.
He and his wife Carol went on to develop the farm and were joined in the business by son Darin, before developing their second pig farm at Sefton.
The award was announced at the NZPork annual conference in Wellington on 30 July.
