Our main focus is on classing the 2024 drop rams to identify those who will be in the sale team. In the last few years we have found that using the MLA visual Scores booklet for conformation leads to objective records on each sheep and helps us with lotting order. Our sale catalogue has been […]
Above average rains in July have given us some hope of a much better year than 2024, June rainfall was also above average. Once seeding was finalised, we turned our attention back to livestock matters, though supplementary feeding continued until our supplies were almost exhausted. Allen and Joy attended the South East Stud Merino Field
Good rains with long fine breaks between them enabled us to plant most of our grain crops. Lamb marking took place on days that were not suitable for cropping operations and becomes the first time in their individual records that we make visual observations, in this case it is of breech traits. We have been
Our Stud ewes have been lambing and we have kept up to date with recording birth date and type along with full pedigree. All breeding values are built on the foundation of these critical pieces of information and are of significantly lesser value if they are not known. Hand feeding of the lambing ewes has
This is the best month for us to shear the previous year’s drop rams and ewes. The dry year meant that any young sheep grazing bean stubbles showed some dust. We had taken all the wool visual observations and found variation in dust penetration. After shearing we measured the scrotal circumference of all the young
Early this month, Lauren and Allen participated in the Australian Dohne Breeders forum in Adelaide. The Manager of Sheep Genetics was a key speaker, so this was an opportunity to hear when the long-awaited merging of the Dohne and MerinoSelect analyses would occur and for us to share our experiences of Sire Evaluation participation. Joy
Preg-scanning for multiples provides useful indications of reproduction, we cut short the December mating after weather effects were likely. Back up mating was planned following scanning which maximises the use of the best rams. Shearing the ewe hoggets led us to believe that their fleece wool would have good staple strength, and it also had
Our wonderful shearing shed is almost 60 years old. Wwe replaced some of the battens in the pens with new lengths of hardwood. Our 2024 drop lambs were scanned for eye muscle and fat depth. We need to know early carcase measurements as they are most relevant for early finishing lambs.
Harvest was started and finished with mixed results, but generally good quality grain. Later sown crops were able to benefit from the big rain in October. Drought and frost affected most of our earlier sown crops. Rams were removed from ewes after they had been in for a month.
Careful selection of sires for the mating groups of ewes was carried out. Rams were added near the end of the month and will be active while we are busy with harvest.
