Poll Merino Stud 2007 and beyond

There are many changes within the Australian Sheep industry which will impact on all our future breeding goals and management decisions.

 

Mulesing (is one of these changes)

Leahcim has not mulesed a lamb for 3 years, with many positive spin offs. The selection for sheep with the right carcase shape, positive muscle ASBV’s, rounded butt shape; right type of soft, even skin, no wrinkles running down the back leg has made the non mulesing transition very easy.

The advantages of not mulesing are enormous and can be done without clips, intradermal injection and selecting for bare breach is not essential. Genetics are the best, cheapest and most sustainable long term future for our sheep industry in regard to non mulesing.

 

Non Mulesing Positives

• Increase weaning and post weaning weights
• Increase value of skins
• Less tearing of skins on the processing chains at abattoirs
• Less animal stress
• Improve the relationship with animal lovers (we are)
• Ease of management after tailing
• Reduced animal losses at lamb marking.
• Reduce cost at lamb marking
• Who wants to mules anyway

 

Leahcim believes that not having to mules is achievable and encourages all sheep breeders to seriously look at their options as 2010 is not that far away in breeding terms and you need to start your breeding program now to meet these deadlines.

Excitement of Breeding Poll Merinos

It is the most exciting time I have seen in the sheep industry with good wool prices, excellent red meat prices, very good skin values, excellent prospects for surplus sheep sales and the availability of accurate genetic breeding tools through Sheep Genetics Australia, called Merino Select. Being able to understand and measure the genes how sheep produce high value red meat and with superior fibre (that is clean and green) make what we are doing *BREEDING FOR THE FUTURE*, profitable and rewarding. Leahcims’ last run on merino select on the 21st of June identified more outstanding genetics and some proven sires with outstanding ASBV’s. Leahcim 030218 is now one of the highest dual purpose 7% index rams in Autralia.

YWt	8.75
Yfat	0.64
YEmd	1.29
Micron	-1.24
Ycfw	126.40
Yss (stable strength)	2.53
Ysl(staple length)	12.33
7% dual purpose index 193.7	(breed average 126.1)

 

Progeny from sons like 050154 and 050174 that have primary fibres measuring as low 12 micron, and excellent carcase ASBV’s, the future looks so exciting.

JIVET

In August 2006 Leahcim undertook a JIVET program using 10 of our best ET breed poll merino ewe lambs these lambs were selected and used at 12 weeks of age with remarkable results. With help from ELMS (Elders Livestock Management System) on the feeding, Brecon Breeders and Turretfield (Simon Walker), we collected 720 eggs, fertilised 650 eggs and transferred 574 embryos. The lambs were born in January in 40 degree heat. The harsh conditions are shown in the photo below. These lambs will be on display at our inspection day and when we venture to Bendigo and Hamilton. A small draft of these lambs will be made available for sale as a special feature at our on property sale on the 18th of September.

 

                                           

                                                          JIVET lambs being born on the 6th January 2007 in harsh conditions   

 

Read more about the Merino Validation Program

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