Tamlet Farm is a family-run sheep and beef operation tucked away in the rolling to rugged hills of Mimihau, Eastern Southland.

History of the Stud

The Tamlet Coopworth flock was founded back in 1974 by George Smith who built the flock from scratch by pairing Border Leicester, Romney, and Coopworth genetics, later adding East Friesian for better lamb weaning weights and Texel for high meat yields. Today, the flock sits at about 67% Coopworth, 28% Texel, and 5% East Friesian.

Top-Tier Performance

George prioritised performance recording from the very beginning. This has resulted in Coopworth ewes which now outperform the New Zealand average by $23 a year in overall maternal worth and meat indexes, boasting faster lamb growth, higher meat yields, and strong natural worm resistance. George’s decades of dedication even earned him Life Membership and the title of Patron with the Coopworth Society.

The day-to-day reins have officially been handed over to George’s son Hamish and his wife Karen. But George hasn't gone far—he’s still on board as the official "Genetic Consultant."

What Drives Them Today

As proud members of the science-focused Alpha Sheep Genetics group, the team keeps their goals simple and effective:

• Ewe Efficiency - Raising top-notch mothers with great maternal instincts.

• Fast Growth - Producing high meat yield lambs that grow quickly.

• Resilience - Breeding stock built to handle parasite challenges with ease.