TOP SIRE 2022–2023 Annual Publication of NSW Stud Merino Breeders’ Association – 100th EDITION –
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Welcome – NSW President’s Message 3 New Members 6 2022 Merino Calendar Updates 8 Industry News 10 Hall of Fame 29 Vale 39 Show and Sale Results 45 Flock Ewe Competitions 75 NSW SMBA Trust 86 NSW Stud Directory 88 NSW Contact Index 100 Advertisers Directory 104 CONTENTS NSW STUD MERINO BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION LTD Executive Officer: Megan Giannini A: Locked Bag 4317 Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127 P: 02 9763 2744 M: 0431 876 485 E: office@merinonsw.com.au W: merinonsw.com.au President: Hamish McLaren P: 02 6777 5881 M: 0429 772 778 Snr Vice President: Justin Campbell Vice President: Malcolm Cox Treasurer: Tony Gall Councillors: G.J. Alcock H. Armstrong J.R. Barron M. Bazeley J.M. Bensley A.D. Beveridge J.A. Campbell R.T. Chalker D. Chapman M.J. Coddington M. Corkhill J.A. Cox M.B. Cox P. Davis Life Governors: W.T. Armstrong S.D. Beveridge OAM L.R. Blanch W.J. Ferguson K.W.N. Henderson P.J.R. Hughes R.J. Lindsay J.G. McLaren R.D.M. McCully The opinions expressed in contributed copy in this publication are those of the contributor, not necessarily the Association. All information contained in this publication was correct at time of printing. The publisher takes no responsibility for any errors that may occur. For additional copies, contact NSW SMBA – 02 9763 2744. Cover Image: Elena Chalker. J.R. Derrick A.D. Gall A. Granger R. Jones R.E. Kent G.K. Kopp P.A. Lette Y.G. McKenzie A. Maclean H. McLaren A. Merriman G. Merriman A.M. Rayner O.M. Rayner I.G. Marwedel C.T. Merriman W.B. Merriman T.J. Moxham G.J. Privett P.S. Vickery G. Wells R.W. Wells OAM
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 NSWPRESIDENT’S MESSAGE WELCOME TO THE 2022–2023 NSWSMBA TOP SIRE Being that this is my first report since being elected as president, I would like to thank my fellow directors for entrusting me in this position. It is truly an honour to represent such a passionate and driven group of people that want to better our industry in many different ways. I’d like to give special mention to well respected Merino identities who have sadly passed throughout the past year. The first being John “Sam” Williams from the famous Koonwarra Stud. Sam will be missed by many, as will Neville Kopp of Towalba, along with Bill Mildren. In industry news, the weather this year across most of New South Wales has been unbelievably wet for a good few months now. There have been some big problems facing producers, particularly relating to flystrike, worms and feet. While better than the feed bills of 2018/19, this current year is certainly an example of ‘one extreme to the other’. The wool market is staying reasonably strong, especially for the finer end of the market. At the time of writing, the indicator was at 1474c which is very good compared to years gone by. Anything finer than 18.5 micron at this stage is in the 90th percentile or better, with some good clips averaging close to $100 per head. In the lead up to writing this letter, the 21 micron quote has risen over 100c and we hope this trend continues for all the broader types. In Association news, NSWSMBA continues to pivot and progress. We have kept you across the board’s major decisions and the new board will continue to keep you updated while operating in the best interests of you and the Association. Change is positive and we will continue to focus on advocacy for our wonderful Merino. The Dubbo School Wether Challenge, coming up in August this year, has 63 teams entered and we are expecting over 700 students to be attending and participating. This is a great time to show these young people how the Merino is the true dual purpose animal. The New South Wales Flock Ewe Competitions have been going strongly this year with some reports and placings in later articles in this edition. Our Association continues to support these events. The NSW SMBA Trust continues to offer Wool Classer Scholarships, PhD and University Scholarships as well as support through the RAS Foundation. Chelsea Reeves, who is currently undertaking an honours project based around ram performance and the impact it has on farms and the wider industry, is the RASF recipient for 2022. The Trust is also working with BackTrack on a youth pilot program, which is looking to have a positive effect on communities. You can read more about this program within this publication – 3 –
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 NSWPRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I would like to thank my outgoing president, Drew Chapman. If I can be as enthusiastic and committed as he was to this position, I will be very proud. Drew had a trying three years but continued to act under the board’s direction and in the best interests of you as members and our Association. I am very confident our new executives can and will be just as strong. With that, I would like to welcome Justin Campbell as Senior Vice President and Malcolm Cox as our new Vice President. We also welcome and thank Tony Gall, who will continue to do a terrific job as our trusty Treasurer. Last and not least, I would like to thank our Executive Officer, Megan Giannini. Megan is a great support, not only to our members but the Executives and wider director group. Megan continues to develop the new flock register to streamline processes and provide essential information in a central portal and welcomes any suggestions for phase two. In closing, I would like to thank our advertisers and sponsors that continue to support The Top Sire Annual. Once again, I thank all our Board who give up their precious time for you, our members. You are our members and this is your Association. We are here to listen, so if you have any ideas for our committees, please let one of our Board members know. Best regards, Hamish McLaren President After two years of postponement due to Covid, there was much anticipation for the President’s Dinner when it was held on Captain Cook Cruises on Sydney Harbour on 11 May 2022, following the AGM. PRESIDENT’S DINNER Drew Chapman, outgoing President, presenting Hamish McLaren with the Presidents pin. – 4 –
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TOP SIRE 2022–2023 NEWMEMBERS NEWMEMBERS In the past year there have been nine studs registered with the NSW Stud Merino Breeders’ Association. Contact details for these studs are contained in the NSWMerino Stud Directory 2022–2023 on the pages 88 to 99 of this journal. Boudjah Poll F. No. PN6010 – Nimmitabel This stud was founded in October 2018 and registered in February 2022 by Michael J. Green with the purchase of one ram from One Oak Poll, F. No. 408, one ram from Merryville Poll, F. No. 223, and 100 ewes transferred from their own Boudjah, F. No. 5049. Demondrille Poll F. No. PN6011 – Harden This stud was founded in September 2020 and registered in May 2022 by Andrew, Patrick and Leanne Davis, trading as Demondrille Partnership, with the purchase of two rams and eight ewes from Merryville Poll, F.N. 223, two rams from Yarrawonga Poll, F.N. 1356, and the transfer of 150 ewes from their own Demondrille, F.N. 3994. Fullerton Poll Merino Stud F. No. PN6008 – Laggan This stud was founded in October 2017 by Kim and Robyn Cartwright, trading as K.D. and R.A. Cartwright, with the purchase of one ram from West Plains Poll, F. No. 1236, and 400 ewes transferred from their own Fullerton Merino Stud, F. No. 5008. Miramar Poll F. No. PN6007 – Tenterden This stud was founded July 2020 and registered in January 2022 by Jane Mactier, trading as Regional Veterinary Services, with the purchase of two rams and 139 ewes from Well Gully, F. No. 1006. Thompson Poll F. No. PN6002 – Girilambone This stud was founded in June 2021 and registered in January 2022 by Stewart and Melain Thompson with the purchase of two rams from Pooginook Poll, F. No. 1442, and 150 ewes transferred from their own commercial flock upgraded by inspection. Queenlee Poll F. No. PN6005 – Uralla This stud was founded in July 2021 and registered in November 2021 by Queenlee Pastoral with the purchase of one ram from Wurrook Poll, F. No. 1439, 50 doses of semen from Laraben Poll, F. No. 1251, and the transfer of 200 ewes from Queenlee, F. No. 2471. Wantana Hills Poll F. No. PN6004 – Boorowa This stud was founded in February 2020 by James Darmody with the purchase of one ram from Merryville Poll, F. No. 223, and 60 ewes transferred from their own Wantana Hills Merino Stud, F. No. 3801. – 6 –
Windee Poll Merinos F. No. PN6012 – Uralla This stud was registered in February 2022 by Joseph and Stephanie van Eyk, trading as van Eyk Family Farming, with the purchase of one ram and 26 ewes from Alfoxton Poll Merino Stud, F. No. 1333, 24 ewes from Miramoona Merinos, F. No. 3471, and 24 ewes from Nerstane Poll, F. No. 1433. YAHS (Yanco Agricultural High School) Poll F. No. PN6009 – Yanco This stud was founded in November 2020 and registered in January 2022 by Yanco Agricultural High School with the purchase of 30 ewes from Toland Poll, F. No. 1082, and 40 semen doses from Anderson, F. No. 1576. – 7 – Merino Flock No. 232 | Poll Flock No. 9 Mullengudgery Station, Nyngan NSW Station Manager: Manning Doughty | 0499196934 Stud Principals: Bomber & TomMoxham | 0403 721 866 Big frame, big yields, hardy, dual purpose medium wool Merinos RAM SELECTION FIELD DAY 7 OCTOBER 2022
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 CALENDAR UPDATES 2022MERINO CALENDAR UPDATES EVENT NEW DATE PREVIOUS DATE CONTACT NAME PHONE DETAILS BOGO Cootamundra, on-property sale Monday 26 September Change of location Mal Peak 0408 426 103 bogomerinos.com.au TALLAWONG MERINOS Yass, on-property sale Tuesday 11 October – Frank Kaveney 02 6227 5701 / 0427 275 701 tallawong.merinos@bigpond.com HAZELDEAN Cooma, on-property sale Friday 21 October Thursday 27 October Bea Litchfield Ed Bradley 0427 933 103 0412 298 546 HILLCRESTON PARK Bigga, on-property sale Monday 24 October Thursday 13 October Danny Picker 02 4836 2220 hillcrestonpark.com.au The 2022 Merino Calendar is proudly sponsored by 2023 Elders Merino Calendar – Entries close Friday 16 September 2022 – 8 – C.T. MERRIMAN & SON LITTLE RANGE (PO BOX 29), BOOROWA NSW 2586 JONO 0427 272 238 | CHARLIE 0467 853 396 | OFFICE 02 6385 3396 www.koonwarrastud.com.au | merino@koonwarrastud.com.au | www.merrignee.com.au | merriman@merrignee.com.au FLOCK RAM SALES COMMENCE MID OCTOBER, BY APPOINTMENT 45th ANNUAL ON-PROPERTY RAM SALE Wednesday 21st September 2022, 1pm 120 Fine/Medium and Medium May/June 2021 drop unhoused horn and poll rams OPEN DAY · FRIDAY 16th SEPTEMBER, 10am–4pm 32nd ANNUAL ON-PROPERTY RAM SALE Friday 7th October 2022, 1pm 90 Superfine, Fine and Fine/Medium Aug/Sept 2021 drop unhoused horn and poll rams OPEN DAY · FRIDAY 30th SEPTEMBER, 10am–4pm
WANGANELLA & POLL BOONOKE Productive • Balanced • Measured Justin Campbell 0427 262 956 • Angus Munro 0437 929 195 • Boonoke Office 1800 675 729 www.austfood.com.au • admin@austfood.com.au • Instagram wanganella.pollboonoke Proven Genetics | Predictable Breeding | Performance Merinos | Profitable Flocks Auction at Boonoke on Wednesday 14 September Private Selections of Grade Rams from Thursday 15 September 2022 RAM SELLING
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS WATER (SALT) INTOXICATION IN FEEDLOT LAMBS Water (salt) intoxication, also known as water deprivation sodium ion toxicosis, is caused by either an excessive intake of salt due to feed mismanagement/misadventure or due to the excessive intake of water following a period of water deprivation. This can occur due to feed/mineral supplement mismanagement, long periods off water during transport, failure to introduce stock to water in new/large paddocks or failure of water supply systems. Dehydration due to water deprivation causes hypernatraemia (increased sodium in the blood). This causes water to move out of cells and into the extracellular space, which includes the bloodstream. If water is then suddenly reintroduced it rapidly moves from the animal’s bloodstream into the cells, including red blood cells and the brain/spinal cord, causing red blood cells to burst and swelling of the brain and spinal cord. In severe cases multiple animals may be found dead and surviving animals may be found to have dull mentation, recumbency, muscle weakness, hindlimb paralysis and/or panting/laboured breathing. A case of water (salt) intoxication occurred in a lamb feedlot of approximately 1000 head in the New South Wales Riverina region following a short period of water deprivation. This occurred due to a mechanical failure of the watering system in early February with relatively mild temperatures recorded in the preceding days. In this case the owners identified that an electric pump hadmalfunctioned on a Friday afternoon. They were unable to fix the pump over the weekend and had town water trucked in on Saturday. On Sunday morning the owners returned to find approximately 30 dead lambs throughout the feedlot pens and a number of surviving lambs with varying levels of muscle weakness, paralysis and mental incapacitation. In this case an investigation was able to rule out other potential causes of mass sudden death common to feedlot lambs, with antemortem and post-mortem examinations, along with clinical history, strongly supporting a diagnosis of water (salt) intoxication. Water (salt) intoxication is difficult to successfully manage because it requires the prior recognition of the potential for intoxication followed by a careful reintroduction to fresh water in order to prevent further, potentially catastrophic, losses. If severe dehydration due to water deprivation is suspected the following steps should be taken: • Separate animals into as many small groups as possible to allow plenty of water trough head space and prevent deaths due to trampling when water is reintroduced. • Using a total dissolved solids metre (if available), identify a water source with the highest level of total dissolved solids. Bore water and/or dam water are probably the highest in most cases. These metres measure the level of dissolved minerals in water. If you do not have one they are relatively inexpensive to buy prior to a potential water deprivation event or your local LLS/Government vet might have one that you can borrow in such an event. SYMPTOMS: • Dull mental activity • Recumbency • Muscle weakness • Paralysis • Panting or laboured breathing • Intense thirst – 10 –
• A level of 1100mS/m for lambs, weaners and breeding ewes and 1600 to 1700mS/m for dry adult sheep is a desirable starting point. • If a water source cannot be found with such levels, or if it is not possible to supply this water, then pool salt should be added to water troughs to achieve these levels. • If a total dissolved solids meter is not available approximately 9g/L of pool salt added to fresh water will achieve the same level as normal intravenous saline. This is a safe level of salt that should not cause further dehydration or water intoxication when consumed. • Gradually mix this water with fresh water over three to four days. This should have the effect of slowly rehydrating the animals and limiting the shock to their system, but further losses should be expected. In cases wherewater has been inappropriately reintroduced, it may be too late to implement any control strategies. Acutely affected animals with mild signs may be treated with fluid/electrolyte therapy and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs under veterinary advice/supervision, but this may be unrewarding depending on the specific situation and degree of pathological changes. In this specific case individual animals were not treated as it was deemed potentially pointless considering the amount of time that had lapsed since water reintroduction. If animals fail to recover in the days following such an event it is unlikely they will ever recover and humane destruction is advised on welfare grounds. By Toby Phelps BVSc, Coolac Veterinary Services – 11 –
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS MERINOS ARE AT THE CENTRE OF SOME OF PATRICK DAVIS’ EARLIESTMEMORIES He recalls long days spent in the shearing shed with his grandfather, Bede, where his love of the Merino developed. Patrick comes from a long line of Merino breeders, with family history in the industry spanning more than half a century. The Davis family’s stud, Demondrille Merino Stud, west of Harden, was established in 1983, however the family has been breeding Merinos since 1942. It’s the mentorship of his father, Patrick Senior, and uncle, Andrew, who both run the stud, that Patrick credits for his recent win at the Sydney Royal Show, where he was sashed RAS/ASC Merino Sheep Young Judge Champion for New South Wales and 2022 ASA National Merino Sheep Young Judge Champion on the same day. At only 17-years-old, Patrick is thought to be one of the youngest competitors to win the National title. “I wouldn’t have the knowledge of sheep if it wasn’t for my dad and uncles, and what I’ve learnt from helping out around the farm,” he said. Patrick’s father encouraged him to compete at local shows, before moving on to higher levels of competition as his skills progressed. At last year’s Great Southern Supreme Merino Show, in Canberra, Patrick won the young judging competition which gave him the confidence he needed to go to the next level. Patrick is currently completing his HSC at St Gregory’s College and hopes to go on to study agriculture at university. “I’d like to focus on genetics, sheep and wool before I go back to the farm,” he said. Abby, Leanne, Patrick and Pat Davis, Demondrille Merino Stud, Harden, and Hamish McLaren, representing NSW Stud Merino Breeders’ Association. (photo: Stephen Burns, The Land Newspaper) Tim Capp, President – Ag Shows NSW, Patrick Davis, Demondrille, Harden, and over-judge Sam Picker, Hillcreston Park, Bigga. (photo: Stephen Burns, The Land Newspaper) – 12 –
As winner of the RAS/ASC Merino Sheep Young Judges Competition State Final, Patrick Davis received the coveted Hugh Lydiard Memorial Trophy. The trophy was donated to the Sydney Royal Easter Show by past employees of Egelabra Merino Stud in memory of Mr Hugh Lydiard who was renowned in the Merino industry from his time as a jackaroo and overseer on Uardry, Hay, and as manager at Egelabra, Warren. Mr Lydiard also provided many years of service as a judge and steward at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The bronze sculpture, which features a drover on horseback mustering sheep, pays tribute to Mr Lydiard and his reputation for encouraging young people to pursue careers within the Merino industry. THEHUGHLYDIARDMEMORIAL TROPHY During his time at Uardry and Egelabra, Mr Lydiardmentoredmany jackaroos who went on to establish considerable careers in theMerino industry. – 13 –
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS FROMSHEDDERS TO SUPERFINES Until four years ago, “Mountain Run” was home to almost 3000 Dorpers which had free run of the entire Trunkey Creek property. Now, it is home to a productive Merino operation under the management of Brett Meldrum, who has built it from the ground up. Brett took over the management of “Mountain Run” almost four years ago, after overseeing a Merino operation just down the road, “The place had been managed pretty poorly in the 10 years before. It was an open gate management system basically and the rams were running in with the ewes continuously”. Brett has literally built the operation from the ground up. He sold all the Dorpers and started implementing pasture improvement programs and rotational grazing set ups across the 3400-acre property. As the name suggests, “Mountain Run” is hilly country, “About 30% is grass and the rest is scrub – good wether growing country”. The Merino operation was started from scratch, with the purchase of four rams, 177 maiden Merino ewes and 249 weaner wether lambs from a local stud. Brett said wool was one of the main characteristics he looked at when selecting rams to use at “Mountain Run”. “We wanted heavy wool cutters with a good square body. We also looked at how they presented on paper with things like CV scores,” he said. “Mountain Run” ewes on display at this year’s Bathurst Merino Association Maiden Ewe Competition in March, where they placed second. – 14 –
All lambs from the first joining were retained. “We went back (to the stud) the following year and bought more rams, more ewes and more wethers,” Brett said. “Mountain Run” now runs 900 ewes and 600 wethers with the aim of getting up to 1500 ewes and 2000 wethers. “When you start from scratch like we have, you start with someone else’s culls,” Brett said. “We are only just getting to the point where we can start culling, now that we have the numbers up.” Any ewes that don’t meet the standard for frame, wool type, wool cut, feet or overall type, are culled from the Merino flock. “We want to cut wool and we want ewes that rear lambs,” Brett said. Ewes are joined in April for a September lambing, at a rate of 2%. Any ewes that are empty following the Merino joining are put out with a Border Leicester ram for the first cross operation, which lamb down in June. Any first cross ewe lambs are retained until they are one-yearold, before being sold on AuctionsPlus. Crossbred wethers are turned off as sucker lambs, sold through the Carcoar saleyards when they are about four-months-old. All Merino wethers are retained and run on the scrub country until they are about fiveyears-old, when they are also sold through Carcoar. Sheep at “Mountain Run” are shorn in April, however Brett said he was looking at implementing a second shearing at 9-month intervals. “The maiden ewes had over 100mm staple at last shearing – they’re heavywool cutters.” Brett said the maiden ewes cut 5.5kg average with 18.5 micron wool at their April shearing. “We are looking to get down to the high 17 to low 18 micron.” Michael Rutherford and Hugh Webb looking at the “Mountain Run” flock during the Bathurst Maiden Ewe competition in March. “Mountain Run” ewes in full wool in March. Peter Moore from Blink Bonnie and Brett Meldrum. (photo: Emma Grabham) Judges Michael Corkhill, Grassy Creek, and Hamish McLaren, Nerstane, at “Mountain Run” during the Bathurst Maiden Ewe Competition. (photo: Emma Grabham) – 15 –
70 65 60 55 TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS EWE TRIAL SHOWS BENEFITS OF REAL-TIMEMONITORING Factors influencing sheep body weight patterns are important to manage and increase productivity. There are many factors that influence the intrinsic variability of animal growth which limit its understanding and management. Sydney University researchers have been working with sheep producers and discussing what data they would like to obtain from their breeding flocks since 2017. Producers are seeking precision livestock management equipment to quantify the effects of management practices on individual animal production, health and welfare. A key measuring tool is the use of remote monitoring platforms to measure liveweight (LW) in real time. Due to the extensive nature of sheep production, LW is not normally measured regularly and, as a result, variations in growth rate go undetected. A ewe trial, started in the drought of 2019 and concluded in the wet year of 2021, provided involved producers with information about the influence of climate, pregnancy and lactation on LW changes of ewes in real-time. Rainfall totals during the trials between May and September were 160, 325 and 375mm for 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. In their first lambing season in the 2019 drought year, maiden Merino ewes were approximately 55kg and lost only 1 to 2kg after lambing. However, the same ewes arrived at the 2020 lambing season weighing 69kg, putting on 200grams per day (g/d) in late pregnancy and losing approximately 4kg throughout lactation. Interestingly, these ewes, which started lambing at 66kg, lost 8kg of body weight during lactation in the very wet year of 2021. In addition, the maiden ewes showed the largest daily weight loss in 2019 with up to 204g/d at the end of lactation in this dry year, whereas they gained the fastest weight of 275g/d in late gestation before lambing started in 2020 (Table 1). It is important to note GRAPH 1: LIVEWEIGHT AND GROWTHRATES OF A GROUP OFMAIDEN EWES USING A REMOTE WEIGHING SYSTEMTHROUGHTHREE CONSECUTIVE LAMBING SEASONS FROM2019–2021 Live Weight (kg/hd) 2019–07 2020–01 2020–07 2021–01 2021–07 Growth Rate (g/d) 2019–07 2020–01 2020–07 2021–01 2021–07 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 – 16 –
that the maiden ewes used the remote automatic weighing system for only 81 days in 2019 (only from lambing to weaning) whereas the system was used for 176 days in 2021, from late gestation until weaning. The lambs of these ewes also showed large differences in performance between years (Graph 2) with average growth rates of 154, 166, and 269g/d in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively (Table 2). It is important to note that lambs were tagged at a lighter weight, stayed in the paddock for longer and had the lowest weaning weight in 2019 (dry year) compared to 2020 and 2021 (wet years). The influence of climate and age on Merino ewes’ and lambs’ LW changes has been successfully demonstrated with remote automatic weighing systems throughout dry and wet years. The automatic weighing stations showed great value to remotely monitor LW changes due to many factors including lactation and gestation, age, weather and feed supplementation. By Gregory Sawyer University of Sydney – Ph.D. Candidate GRAPH 2: LIVEWEIGHT AND GROWTH RATE OF MERINO LAMBS AT FOOTMEASURED USINGWALK-OVER-WEIGHING FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS FROM 2019–2021 10 -0.1 -0.2 Live Weight (kg/hd) 25 20 15 2019–07 2020–01 2020–07 2021–01 2021–07 Growth Rate (g/d) 0.2 0.1 0.0 2019–07 2020–01 2020–07 2021–01 2021–07 TABLE 1: NUMBER OF DAYS IN TRIAL, PRE-LAMBING AND POST-LAMBING LIVE WEIGHT AND GROWTH RATES OF MERINO EWES MEASURED USINGWALK-OVERWEIGHING Ewes No. Days PreLamb Weight PostLamb Weight Avg Growth Rate Min Growth Rate Max Growth Rate 2019 82 56.2 54.3 0.014 -0.204 0.210 2020 120 69.4 63.8 -0.001 -0.125 0.275 2021 176 65.5 58.2 0.004 -0.126 0.145 TABLE 2: NUMBER OF DAYSWEARING EID, STARTING AND FINAL BODYWEIGHT AND GROWTH RATE OF MERINO LAMBS AT FOOT MEASURED USINGWALK-OVER-WEIGHING STATIONS Year No. Days Start Weight Final Weight Growth Rate 2019 82 7.537 17.338 0.154 2020 44 16.653 22.837 0.166 2021 33 16.902 25.682 0.269 – 17 –
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS MERINO RAMBODY WEIGHT ASSESSMENT Real-time data straight from the paddock to assist with decisions about breeding, nutritional management and marketing. Smart sensors (i.e. EID’s, walk over weighing) are useful within a suite of tools for a livestock grazing enterprise. Productivity gains via the use of digital technology are providing producers with more opportunities to remotelymonitor individual and mob-based traits that are of relevance to businesses. Within sheep seedstock enterprises, producers are increasingly recognising the importance of understanding sire behaviours via the use of data capture and analysis to identify genetic gains to their own flock as well as their clients’ commercial flocks. Since 2017, the University of Sydney has been monitoring live weight (LW) changes remotely of a variety of sheep breeds, ages, sexes and physiological status in the Central West and Central Tablelands regions of New South Wales. Research work in 2021 examined young Merino rams for body weight changes from February to August (just prior to ram sale season) to compare different sires. Results from the ongoing research have provided producers involved in the trial in-depth, near-real time measurements of sheep performance that are key to enhance management in livestock systems. This work continues investigating the associations between desirable growth rates for dual purpose and predominatewool production in rams and ewes’ reproductive outcomes and lamb survival. Live Weight (kg/hd) 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 2021–02 2021–03 2021–04 2021–05 2021–06 2021–07 2021–08 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 Growth Rate (g/d) FIGURE 1: CHANGES IN LIVEWEIGHT AND GROWTH RATE OVER TIME AFFECTED BY SIRE Sire 1 Sire 2 – 18 –
RESULTS The sire × date interaction demonstrated that the changes in LW over time was affected by sire (Figure 1). Sire 1 (blue line) had an average growth rate of +56g/d but ranged from -56 to +167g/d. The progeny from sire 2 (green line) had lower growth rate on average (+28g/d) and more variable ranging from -282 to +288g/d (Figure 1; Table 1). CONCLUSIONS For seedstock producers, data collected remotely in the paddock via a walk-over weighing platform provides measurements of LW and growth rate in real-time. This information can facilitate and improve breeding, nutritional management and marketing decisions in a timely and accurate manner. In addition, this information could be used to monitor or remove the effects of the environment, parasites and diseases. The implementation of these new technologies will allow a more precise management approaches to enhance animal productivity and welfare. By Gregory Sawyer University of Sydney – Ph.D. Candidate This research was funded by Meat and Livestock Australia Donor Company, the Commonwealth Government of Australia and The University of Sydney (project number P.PSH.0817). TABLE 1: GROWTH RATE (G/D) AND LIVE WEIGHT (KG) OF THE RAM PROGENY OF A DUAL-PURPOSE (SIRE 1) AND AWOOL (SIRE 2) RAMOVER 175 DAYS MEASUREDWITH A REMOTEWEIGHING SYSTEM Growth Rate (g/d) Live Weight (kg) Sire 1 Sire 2 Sire 1 Sire 2 Minimum -0.056 -0.282 83.2 80.2 Average 0.056 0.028 88.6 86.5 Maximum 0.167 0.288 97.9 93.9 – 19 – C o n d o b o l i n
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS PARKES SOLAR FARM WETHER TRIAL A wether trial conducted on a solar farm in Central West New South Wales is showing sheep can perform under panels. Wethers grazing under the panels of a solar farm in the Central West of New South Wales are proving to be productive – not only for maintaining growth under the panels but also showing they can grow plenty of wool while they do it. Under the panels of the Parkes Solar Farm, a group of more than 100 wethers from local producers are being run as part of the Parkes Show Society’s wether trial. The trial started amidst the drought in 2019 and has had surprising results according to one of the trial’s coordinators and local wool broker, Graeme Ostini. “We had massive success in the first year, which was a very dry year,” he said. “What little rain we had would run off the panels in a line, so we ended up with little rows of grass where it fell. I was surprised to see how well it sustained the wethers through that first year.” Graeme said the trial was a small one, but was performing very well so far, “We are staggered at how much wool they’re cutting – they’ve outperformed others in the district.” Sheep of all different bloodlines and types have been used in the trial, sourced from 12 local producers. “Theywere in varying conditionswhen they entered – all drought hungry,” Graeme said. “Now, they all look incredible.” Sheep producer and Parkes Mayor, Ken Keith, has also been heavily involved in the trial. His property is next door to the solar farm, with shearing being conducted at his shed each year. Sheep are crutched at eight to nine-months-old then run at Ken’s property for three to four months, giving the solar farm a break and allowing any necessary spraying to be carried out. “The solar farm is lightly stocked for the area. It hasn’t cut out chemical spraying all together, but it’s drastically reduced how much it’s relied on”, he said. The wethers are shorn around July each year, where data is collected on the wool and body weights of each animal. Data was unable to be collated in 2021, however the 2020 results showed a top body weight of 76.9kgs, a micron range of 16.8 to 20 micron and a top wool value of $66.48. The greasy fleece weight ranged from 7.9kg to 9.9kg while the clean fleece weight ranged from 4.8 to 6.8kg. The wethers are now going into their third shearing. All wool from the trial wethers is sold, raising vital funds for the Parkes Show Society. “We’re showing that there is a lot of success running sheep under the panels and we’re raising vital funds for the show, which has had two consecutive shows cancelled due to Covid-19,” Graeme said. While there were some hiccups in the early days of the trial, Ken Keith said the trial had shown sheep could be run under the panels with little trouble. “We’ve had a few occurrences of wool getting caught in the solar panel mechanisms and horns getting caught in the wiring under the panels. The sheep weren’t doing damage to themselves, but to the panels.” Mustering has been difficult according to Ken, with more than 205,000 solar panels across 210 hectares of land at the solar farm. Liz Brown, Parkes Show Society, and Cooper Byrnes, Langlands Hanlon, weighing the wethers in the yards for the solar farm wether trial, which will run for four years. (all article photos: Parkes Champion Post) – 20 –
To get around visibility issues, Ken said they’ve been mustering in the middle of the day, when the panels are flat and facing upward, “We’ve learnt that sheep could run comfortably under the panels, if they were about a foot higher”. Ken said he had given feedback on this and believed the ability to run stock should be part of development applications for energy projects like solar farms. “This type of thing shouldn’t be an after thought (for future projects),” he said. “We understand the reasoning behind where they’re built but if we can have the energy and not sterilise the land for agriculture, it’s a win-win.” Trial wethers had their third shearing at the end of June with some of the best results so far, according to wool broker Graeme Ostini. While the wool is yet to be sold (at the time of printing), Mr Ostini said the heaviest wool weighed more than 9kgs skirted and heaviest wethers weighed in excess of 80kg shorn. Mr Ostini said almost 100 sheep were shorn, filling four bales of wool. “They had 11monthswool on themand thewool is above average style for the district,” he said. “We expect it to yield well into the 70s. From a wool broker’s perspective, it’s the best shearing yet.” 2022 SHEARING – 21 –
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS PRODUCTIVITY GAINS VIA RAMSELECT PROVIDE FLOCK SUCCESS By using RamSelect to align his production aims through the purchase of superior Merino rams, Tim Hufton, Naranghi, Harden, has seen an exponential lift in key traits like fat and muscle across his Bundilla-blood flock, leading to increased scanning percentages. Mr Hufton is a partner in the family business with his brother Charlie and their parents, Mal and Louise Hufton, in their aggregation of landholdings based at Glen Ayr, Harden. “Before we started using RamSelect our production was just flat,” he said. “We weren’t going anywhere and we had thought we were buying the better rams.” Tim still applies the visual selection of his maiden ewes, engaging Orange- based sheep breeding consultant, Jason Southwell, to keep the Merino flock on course for conformation traits. But he is convinced that productivity gains since 2018 can be attributed to his selection of Merino rams at Bundilla, Young, based upon their Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV’s) ranking in RamSelect. “With RamSelect, our ram team data would come from the stud,” Mr Hufton said. “I enter the tag number each time I buy or cull a ram and it tracks all the data for you.” Mr Hufton said that to gain access to the information entered by the stud costs $25 a year for RamSelect and $800 for the DNA test. I test a draft of ewes to see where they are at and the rams are already tested by Bundilla because the data is in the catalogue.” Prior to 2018 he was buying rams based on visual selection and his interpretation of the data in the catalogue. But in 2018 he started using RamSelect to determine his ram purchases and Tim Hufton in the yards at Naranghi, Harden. – 22 –
in the following five years he has seen an exponential increase in the productive capability of his Merino ewe flock. “We have learnt to pay the extra money for the rams we want,” he said. “We can see for our Dual Purpose Plus Index we have moved it up 30 points.” Running dual-purpose Merinos and selecting the higher rated rams for Merino Production Plus and Dual Purpose Plus has proved to be the right decision for Mr Hufton. “The only influence you can really have on your flock is the rams you buy and once we started using RamSelect it just showed we had been going nowhere,” he said. “The DNA test tells you where you are and you just can’t buy rams under the average for those traits – otherwise you are going backwards. We’re in the top 10% for the Index but that’s because we have focused on buying those better rams,” he said. Mr Hufton won’t buy a ram with figures which are lower than the average and that is how he has kept his flock moving forward. “The productivity has been increasing each year,” he said. Having a split joining has meant better use of the top rams as they get to cover more of the 6000 Merino ewes in the season. “It tightens your genetic pool which is lifting genetics over the whole flock and the results are in the paddocks,” he said. “The number of lambs we are getting now is amazing.” His latest scanning showed 173% in lamb. “We’ve never done that before,” he said. By Stephen Burns, The Land Newspaper – 23 – For further details contact: Alistair Wells: 0427 867 117 1340 Liddles Lane, Jerilderie oneoakpoll@gmail.com www.oneoakpoll.com.au A Balanced Poll Merino with Proven Commercial Productivity One Oak Poll Top NSW price at auction - 2021 Ram Sale top price of $28,000 and a second top price of $18,000. Ewe Comp Success! One Oak Poll clients - Darren & Gale Clarke, Greenlands, win the West Wyalong Maiden Ewe Competition. Justin and Natalie McCarten, Glen Echo, place second in Lake Cargelligo Maiden Ewe Competition. Stud Advisor: Michael Elmes: 0429 847 552 On-property auction Friday 30th September
Addressing the 2022 MerinoLink Conference in Wagga Wagga, Mrs Lugsdin said the average lambing rates on Warrendale have been anywhere from 50 to 75%. “During the 2017–2019 drought lambing percentages were devastating; we lost over 1000 lambs in 2018 through illness due to mulesing,” she said. “And we only achieved 11% scanned in lamb in 2019.” Traditionally, Merino ewes have been viewed as having poor fertility and being poor mothers, but Mrs Lugsdin set out to disprove that long held myth. “I believe that with the right selection pressures, Merino ewes can achieve high lambing and weaning rates and produce an exceptional fleece,” she said. “As a sheep breeder, being enabled with a ‘bag full of tools’ is moving us forward to achieving these results, and it shows that Merinos can give you a dual income. The number of lambs weaned is a huge profit driver for our self replacing Merino enterprise.” The Lugsdin’s have not mulesed their lambs since 2019 and to ensure their flock has been on an upward trajectory, they use EIDs, ASBVs and genomic flock profiling to meet their breeding objectives. To increase their lambing percentage and, ultimately, their weaning percentage, they are one of the core participants in the pregnancy scanning in extensive sheep flocks program as a MLA Producer Demonstration Site. The three year program will run from April 2021 to April 2024 and aims to increase the reproduction rate of extensive Merino sheep flocks in Central and Western New South Wales. TheWarrendale ewes were joined for 6.5 weeks from 31 October to 16 December 2021, with an average condition score of 3. They were pregnancy-scanned on 28 January 2022 with 117% in the trial mob and 124% in the trial and control mobs. “Unexpectedly, the Warrendale scanning results showed that the relationship between scanning rate and condition score at the time of joining was negative,” Mrs Lugsdin said. To investigate the possible reasons, Mrs Lugsdin said the ewes were categorised into three groups – pregnant both years, once dry and twice dry. “The twice dry ewes had a higher average prejoining condition score compared to the pre-joining condition score of the ewes that were pregnant both years,” she said. “By removing the proportion of twice dry ewes from the mob, the scanning rate increased from 117 to 124%.” “The date set highlights the importance of collecting individual data to identify opportunities to improve flock performance or potential issues within the flock.” Mrs Lugsdin said, “The project has been very good for us”. By Stephen Burns, The Land Newspaper Stacey Lugsdin at the Hay Sheep Show. TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS MERINOS PROVIDE A DUAL INCOME Stacey and Ian Lugsdin run a self-replacing Merino flock at Warrendale, north-east of Hay, and during the 75 years of ownership by the Lugsdin family, they have only achieved close to 100% lambing twice, and that was through a double joining in a couple of good years. – 24 –
TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS TARRANGOWERWINS FIFTH ZEGNA TROPHY Superfine wool growers David and Angie Waters have secured their fifth Ermenegildo Zegna Superfine Wool Trophy. The Waters family, Tarrangower Merino Stud, Hillgrove, first won the prestigious trophy in 2014. They then went on to win it for three years running in 2017, 2018 and 2019. This year’s winning entry from the Waters’ was a bale of 15 micron wool, which scored 89.5 points out of a possible 100. At the 2022 awards held in May, the Waters also secured wins in the Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association (ASWGA) fleece competition in the 80s class, first place in the New England region and grand champion fleece for 2021/22. The two ASWGA fleece competition entries scored 93 and 92.7 out of 100, respectively. “It’s a terrific reward for sticking with the type of sheep that we have,”MrWaters said. – 25 – Proud to Support the Merino Breeders Association 100% Australian Owned www.schutebell.com.au sbbl@schutebell.com SCHUTE BELL Schute Bell Badgery Lumby Professional & Personalised Wool Brokers Livestock Marketing Stock & Station Agents Rural Property Marketing Real Estate Agents Finance Providers Insurance Agents Merchandise Providers Clearing Sales Flock and clip preparation advice Tailoring selling methods to suit producer needs auction, private, reclassing & rehandle facilities Assistance in risk management Interest free shearing advance Weekly wool market reports Local and overseas market information Sheep classing and ram selection service Personalised livestock marketing and sales Stud stock sales and advice We offer a variety of services with convenient Wool Store locations across Eastern Australia. Yennora Head Office Ph 02 9892 0700 Fax 02 98920721 Wool Office Ph 02 9892 0712 Armidale Ph 02 6771 4080 Bourke Ph 02 6872 2766 Brewarrina Ph 02 6839 2020 Brisbane QLD Ph 07 3275 1277 Cooma Ph 02 6452 4994 Fairfield Ph 02 9892 0800 Goulburn Ph 02 4822 4200 Guyra Ph 02 6779 1888 Inverell Ph 02 6722 1888 Narromine Ph 02 6889 2956
David runs “Bellevue” with wife Melissa, daughters Evelyn and Lila, and parents George and Margaret. In recent years, the Greig family has nearly doubled their lambing percentages through changing their ram source and sticking to a strict joining schedule. They have also started joining seven-month-old ewe lambs in recent years. “This is the third year we’ve joined ewe lambs but only the second time we’ve joined the Merino lambs,” David said. The Greig’s first started in 2020 when an opportunity to hire terminal sires was available to them. First cross ewe lambs had returned from agistment in western New South Wales and were put into a confinement paddock at “Bellevue”. David said they put the borrowed rams in for a five-week joining to trial. “We ended up with a 90% conception rate from that first joining with the first cross ewe lambs,” he said. “It didn’t suit our first cross ewe buyer, who preferred to use his choice of performance recorded rams over our ewes, so we decided to focus on joining our Merino lambs.” They now have a strict joining schedule in place, with two five-week joinings running concurrently over a seven-week period. Around 1100 ewes were joined to Border Leicester rams for the first cross operation, broken up into three age groups of 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5-yearold ewes. The remaining breeders were joined to Merinos, running in mobs of ewe lambs through to 5.5-year-old age groups. “In the Merino ewe lambs, we use teasers for the first two weeks, then use 0.5% of rams for the next three weeks hoping to catch the early cycling ewes and in the final two weeks, we use all the rams once they’ve finished the mature joining.” The rams come straight out of the mature ewes and into the confinement pens with the ewe lambs for two weeks to reduce the need for two ram teams. David said they’re budgeting to build two teams of rams for joining, but will be doing this over a five-year period. “Ideally we’d like 3 to 4% rams for the ewe lambs but it’s a big outlay,” he said. “The ewe lambs are the single biggest mob we join at about 1300 ewes.” David said having two full teams of rams will allow them to join all ewes at the same time and give the ewe lambs longer exposure to the rams. With 2000 hectares of cropping at “Bellevue”, David said he needed to keep the joining period tight in order to properly manage resources. “We are taking a bit of a hit on conception rate with the current staggered joining, but I don’t feel we could manage them fairly otherwise.” In 2021, conception rate was 82% for the ewe lambs, however it was lower this year at 63%. “The mature age ewes are getting five weeks at a full team of rams but the ewe lambs are only getting two weeks, for an animal that is only on heat for a matter of hours.” David said he has put the reduction in conception rate down to the season. “They’re in confinement so nothing has changed with their diet from year-to-year and we found a reduction in conception rates for all joinings this year.” This year, mature age ewes at “Bellevue” scanned at 155% while the year before it was 173%. David said last year’s ewe lambs, after marking 70% of lambs, had joined up well this year with only 6.5% dry. “We’d love to get it down below 4%. We still need to get our management right and we will continue to get better at it again next year.” Any dry ewe lambs are put on to grass until the next joining period the following year, while mature age ewes are not given any leeway and sold on. “We sell any culls at two times through the year. The first is pre-joining where any lambed and lost ewes or any with structural, or other issues are culled.” David said the second occasion was after scanning, where dry ewes were sold and potentially scanned-in-lamb ewes, depending on the season and overall numbers. “Our business is focused on fertility – as long as a ewe is rearing a lamb, she will stay in the flock.” Ewes are shorn pre-joining, in early January and again around the end of June, pre-lambing. David said six-monthly shearing suited the farming system at “Bellevue”. “It’s been proven that shearing increases the appetite of ewes, and that they put on condition off-shears so we are trying to trick those ewes into eating more before those key points in their production cycle.” “Bellevue” ewes are producing 20 micron wool and cutting around 6.5kgs, greasy. “We’re happy with that – the optimum amount of wool TOP SIRE 2022–2023 INDUSTRY NEWS EWES THE HEART OF “BELLEVUE” David Greig considers himself a ewe breeder above all else. At “Bellevue”, between Tottenham and Nyngan, he runs a self-replacing flock of 4200 Merino ewes with a focus on producing a highly fertile ewe to supply the restocker market. – 26 –
on a sheep is around 10% of its bodyweight, which is where we are at,” he said. “If we chase a higher fleece weight, it will start to have an effect on our fertility.” At “Bellevue”, only 25% of income comes from wool while 75% comes from store sheep sales, despite an increase in overall wool production since changing bloodlines. David said the focus at “Bellevue” was to produce as many ewes as they could. At lambing, mobs are split into singles, twins and triplets. Any ewes carrying triplets are lambed down in mobs of 10, while the singles are run in larger mobs on the tougher country at “Bellevue”. “We are trying to focus on lamb survival, particularly in our multiples,” he said. “Survival rates in the twins last year was about 80% and 85.5% overall.” The goal is to move toward a 90% lamb survival rate. Ewes are left alone during the five-week lambing period, with David saying he is mindful of leaving the ewes to do their job. “Ewe mortality is the main reason we used to drive around our lambing paddocks,” he said. “But our mortality rate was 2% last year. If I tried to save that 2% by driving around them every day, I’d probably mismother more animals than I’d save.” He said ewes that didn’t bring a lamb to marking weren’t given a second chance. “We’re selecting for ewes that raise lambs.” Ten years ago, David said they switched from a heavily wool focused bloodline to plainer, more fertile sires fromMumblebone stud to better refine their operation and achieve that goal. “We went looking for a plainer skinned sheep to reduce flystrike and target the non-mulesed wool market, and what we got was so much more than just a premium for our wool!” The Greig’s are now utilising ASBV’s when selecting for rams. Early focus concentrated on FAT, EMD and PWWT while, most recently figures, for NLW have been prioritised along with the eating quality traits of intramuscular fat (IMF) and shear force in potential sires. “We’re beginning to focus on breeding a product that tastes better and eats better,” David said. “If we can measure for it, we can select for it and make a better product from it.” All wether lambs produced at “Bellevue” are sold on as unshorn weaners at 4-5 months of age, which have been averaging $145 a head in recent years. “We want our customers paying a premium for our lamb based on eating quality.” – 27 – Nerstane Merino Stud Woolbrook NSW Semen is available from our leading sires throughout the year. For further information or photos visit nerstane.com.au Nerstane Merino Stud John 0429 775 922 Hamish 0429 772 778 Jock 0429 775 891
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