What does being part of Headwaters actually involve? Let's break it down.
Headwaters sits at the start of the lamb value chain, delivering the genetics that underpin on-farm performance and exceptional eating quality. What makes it unique is the team effort that follows - bringing together genetics, on farm husbandry and technology through a fully integrated value chain to deliver an uber-premium product.
1. Invest in Headwaters genetics
Start by investing in Headwaters Maternal or Terminal rams. Our Headwaters breed is a stabilised composite, developed and refined for almost 20 years - therefore you can invest in your flock with confidence.
Our breeding focus is on:
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Body condition
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Reproductive performance
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Parasite resilience
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Intramuscular fat and polyunsaturated fatty acids
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Growth rates
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Structural soundness
Ram Selection days for our farmers are held in mid-November in the North Island and early December in the South Island.
2. Cross them with your flock
Headwaters rams can be crossed with any commercial strong wool ewe flock, fitting easily into your existing breeding programme. Start with as many or as few ewes as suits your farming system.
We understand genetics are a long-term investment, so you may choose to start with just a portion of your flock, see how our breed performs in your system, and build from there.
3. Arrival of your LUMINA lambs
Your Headwaters-sired lambs form your LUMINA supply, the beginning of their journey through our integrated value chain.
Through the purchasing of our Headwaters rams, you commit to supplying these lambs into the LUMINA lamb programme.
4. Traceability & Castration
LUMINA lambs are EID tagged for individual traceability and castrated as part of the programme requirements. This is often completed at tailing, but can be done at another suitable time within your farming system.
We castrate ram lambs to ensure carcasses maintain a low pH which is an important metric of meat quality that effects the eating experience.
5. LUMINA Finishing
Finish your LUMINA lambs on a chicory and clover mix for a minimum of 35 days.
This high-energy forage supports strong growth rates and combined with Headwaters genetics, helps elevate intramuscular fat and beneficial polyunsaturated fats - contributing to LUMINA’s unique eating quality. Through research alongside Agricom, we’ve established that 35 days is the minimum required to bring out the distinctive eating profile LUMINA is known for.
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6. Measure performance
Lambs are regularly weighed and monitored to track their on-farm performance and ensure they reach processing within the required weight range.
Lambs need to be supplied to plant within the weight range of 17kg - 23kg to ensure LUMINA product consistency. These are the lambs that make specification and receive the premium.
7. Supply to Alliance Group
Once at target weight, LUMINA lambs are supplied exclusively through Alliance Group processing plants to ensure consistency across the programme. Our Territory Managers work with you and Alliance to coordinate supply and timing, giving your lambs the best chance of meeting programme requirements.
During processing, LUMINA lambs are run separately on a cleared line, protecting traceability and the integrity of the product.
8. Premium & Feedback
For every qualifying LUMINA lamb, the farmer receives the current Alliance Group schedule price plus the LUMINA premium. But the value goes beyond the premium - feedback from chefs and customers is shared back with our farmers, connecting what you produce on farm with the people experiencing LUMINA on the plate.
Of the 212,000 LUMINA lambs processed in the 2025/26 season, 97% met supply requirements and earned the premium - highlighting just how achievable it is.
2024/25 Farmer Return:
Alliance Schedule + $23.50/lamb LUMINA Premium
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