We’re committed to a continuous improvement model when it comes to animal management.
We implement best practice animal husbandry, using real data to make decisions on genetics,
and staying abreast of market realities.
Future Direction
- We continue to prioritise the improvement of growth rates along with fat and eye muscle and wool cut using ASBV’s.
- Fertility is also a high priority. Since 2014, we have been mating well grown ewes at 12 months of age and lambing successfully with over 100% lambs and no issues with ewes not growing out.
- For the past 30 years, ewes that fail to rear a lamb each year are culled (very cold/wet weather some are reprieved)
- Low worm egg count is a high priority as is low dag score, the aim being to reduce drench frequency and genetically breed for worm resistance
- Our intention is to AI at least 750 ewes again this season using proven rams.
- We are also in the process of DNA testing a large percentage of ewes with the aim to identify top breeders.
- We intend to embryo transfer the elite breeder’s which will speed up genetic improvement.
- We strive for a balanced sheep to meet current market signals – 19.5 micron adult ewes, 17.5 micron hoggets, fast early growth so clients can turn off wether lambs from 6 months of age.
Animal Health + Wellbeing
- Rams are paddock run at commercial stocking rates without ad-lib feeders to ensure successful acclimatisation to new environments.
- Supplementary feeding is standard practice when paddock feed is inadequate.
- A small number of top rams are shedded prior to attending Field Days or for occasional show preparation or sale.
- Bio-security is a high priority.
- We have been in the Market Assurance Program (MN3) for Ovine Johnes Disease since 2000
- We have been Brucellosis Accredited for over 35 years
Improving Genetics
- We’re advocates of Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV’s) and consult this data when making decisions on the direction of our stud genetics.
- Specifically, we use ASBV’s to assist with sire selection in the top 10%, where we identify potential sires with a combination of high Post Weaning Weight (PWWT) figures, Eye Muscle Depth (EMD), C Fat and Clean Fleece Weight (CFW).
- Confirmation, including good pasterns, a wide stance of back legs and good top line with a deep body are top priorities
- Majority of sires used are Double Copy Poll, with over 90% of rams tested in recent years identified as Double Copy.
- To enhance genetics, we invest in an annual strategic Artificial Insemination program, inseminating approximately 750 of our top ewes to mostly proven sires.
- With an average lambing percentage of 120%, we are able to speed up genetic progress, which allows us to deliver a greater number of quality rams for our On-Property Ram Sale
- In 2019, we created the infrastructure for a Maternity Ward for our AI ewes to lamb. Since then, we have been shedding our AI Ewes for a short period whilst they lamb, and are let back into paddock as soon as practical post lambing. This has allowed us to increase lambing rates in these ewes to consistently 135-140%.
