Breeding Stud Sheep

BREEDING

STUD SHEEP

MURRAY LONG

© Murray Long 2008

All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact Landlinks Press for all permission requests.

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

Long, Murray.

Breeding stud sheep / author, Murray Long.

Collingwood, Vic. : Landlinks Press, 2008.

9780643094802 (pbk.)

Includes index.

Sheep – Breeding – Australia.

Sheep breeds – Australia.

636.30820994

Published by

Landlinks Press

150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139)

Collingwood VIC 3066

Australia

Landlinks Press is an imprint of CSIRO PUBLISHING

Front cover

A group of White Suffolk sale and show rams ready for exhibition and promotion.

Photo courtesy Australian White Suffolk Association.

Back cover

What a spectacle! The ‘Pair of rams’ class at the 21st anniversary of the White Suffolk breed at the 2006 Royal Adelaide Show. A great promotion for all associated with showing: sponsors, exhibitors and the breed. Photo courtesy Australian White Suffolk Association.

Set in Minion

Cover and text design by James Kelly

Typeset by J&M Typesetting

Printed in Australia by Ligare

Contents

Acknowledgements

Author’s note

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Getting started

Setting up

The sheep

Dispersal sales

Reduction sales

Mated ewe sales

Embryo transfer

Cast for age ewes

Young cull ewes

Summary

Chapter 3 Breeding

Chapter 4 Selecting a sire

Return on investment

Chapter 5 Joining strategies

Chapter 6 Performance recording

Benchmarking

Chapter 7 Sheep selection

Selecting the right sheep

Genetic defects and sheep structure

Response to selection pressure

Chapter 8 Flock management

Disease

Nutrition

Determining fat score

What to watch for during pregnancy

Lambing

Lambing problems

Chapter 9 Showing

Chapter 10 Promotion and marketing

The challenge of marketing

Taking promotion to the next level

Chapter 11 Sale time

Ram sales

Elite sales

Surplus ewe sales

Follow up

Chapter 12 Endless possibilities

Chapter 13 Stud profiles

Cadell Border Leicester Stud

Illoura Poll Dorset, Dorset Horn and White Suffolk Stud

Leahcim White Suffolk and Poll Merino Stud

Belswick Merino Stud

Kurralea Poll Dorset and White Suffolk Stud

Appendix 1 Your role and responsibilities as a stud breeder

Appendix 2 Care of rams: Good practice for both commercial and stud breeders

Appendix 3 Glossary

Appendix 4 Breed societies and contact information

Breed societies within Australia

Internet information

General information

Performance recording

Index

Acknowledgements

To the many top sheep breeders across all sheep breeds who gave freely of their experiences and knowledge over many years, this book is a collection of your expertise and knowledge. Many thanks to stud breeders Andrew and Rosemary Michael, Barry and Helen Harper, Peter and Terri L’Estrange, Jim and Kim Prentice and Allan and Sue Piggott who agreed to put together their stories and provide invaluable advice. For providing photos for this book many thanks to Ian Turner (Superior Selections), David Pipkorn (Detpa Grove), Australian White Suffolk Association, Brian Fischer (Ashmore), Livestock Breeding Services (Jerilderie, NSW), Nigel Parsons and Brett Tindall (The Land). To all involved in the sheep industry who have published articles of interest in rural press, on the web and in technical reports from which much information has been gained and implemented over many years of reading and is represented through my own experiences in many parts of this book.

Special thanks to the members and breeders within the Australian White Suffolk Association who, through their willingness to encourage and assist new stud breeders, have provided the opportunity for many new sheep breeders to develop outstanding and profitable stud breeding operations.

Finally to my Dad who always gave me the opportunity and confidence to follow my dream. I only wish he could have been here with us to be a part of the journey.

Author’s note

The decision to undertake or develop a stud breeding enterprise is either a natural progression of a family tradition or, alternatively, a passion to become involved in a sheep breeding enterprise that is much more challenging than simply producing commercial stock.

For many stud breeders, especially those that are well established within the sheep industry, the tradition of stud breeding has been going on for many generations and the younger generations within these studs have always been surrounded by the terminology and decisions that are an integral part of stud breeding. The development of a specific type, the use and fine-tuning of your eye to detect faults, as well as the good breeding traits, and using different mating strategies to achieve your ideal sheep become second nature to the young stud breeder who has grown up with the day-to-day workings of a long-established stud breeding operation.

Many of the most recognised studs within Australia have been operating for many generations. How then does a ‘new kid on the block’ break into this industry that is saturated with years of tradition and time honoured history? This was just the situation I faced when I made the decision to develop a sheep stud around 10 years ago.

Author Murray Long with one of the many ‘Pendarra’ White Suffolk sires that have made stud breeding such a rewarding experience.

Being a third generation farmer on a property that was traditionally a mixed farming enterprise consisting of cereal grains and sheep, I recall how the yearly trip to a sheep stud to purchase replacement rams was the only contact we had with the operations of a stud breeding operation. Our sheep enterprise was breeding crossbred lambs from Merino ewes so the prime objective was to get as many lambs on the ground and off the property to the saleyards as quickly and efficiently as possible. The selection of rams was usually a task best left to the stud breeder or an agent who we trusted to select the best rams for our situation from an on farm, set price selection. When we altered our operation to a self-replacing Merino flock, we inherited the task of selecting our rams at auction which became a little more challenging, and then subsequently we faced the new task of classing young ewe lambs for retention within the self-replacing flock. It was probably at this stage that an interest in developing a sheep stud began and it was by chance that the opportunity to start a sheep stud emerged. However, it was not to be within the Merino industry but a terminal sire breed, the White Suffolk.

Having had no previous experience with this relatively new breed, let alone any experience in stud breeding, there was plenty to learn. Apart from what could be gained from fellow stud breeders, there was very little information on how to develop a stud or the best methods of ensuring our initial efforts would guarantee we were breeding quality sheep, and that we could hope to reap the rewards sooner rather than later. Without a comprehensive guide on the best method of establishing a sheep stud, plenty of time was spent listening and asking questions of those who had been involved in the industry for many years and had become successful themselves. Since establishing our stud, much has been learned from associating with fellow breeders from all sheep breeds, through trial and error, reading available information at both the stud and commercial level, and generally becoming involved in all facets of the industry.

This book is intended to give those who are contemplating starting a sheep stud some of the information that will assist them in developing a solid base from which a successful and profitable enterprise can develop. It will not take the place of the information you will learn from talking to established breeders or mixing with those who have been successful in the industry for many years, but it may give you some idea of the level of commitment and just what is involved in the development of a successful stud breeding operation.

Many of the principles outlined in this book can also be applied to commercial sheep production. There are many commercial sheep operations that are as professionally run as any stud operation and the simple fact that you are running stud sheep does not automatically put you at a different level as a sheep producer. Flock management, ewe and sire selection and some degree of benchmarking or performance recording are vital to ensure the long-term viability of all commercial sheep production systems – just as they will be in your stud breeding enterprise. As a stud breeder, chances are you will not be running the number of ewes that would normally be the case in commercial production, but you will have the opportunity to make a significant difference to the industry you are about to become involved in.

1

Introduction

Stud breeding or the seedstock industry has long been looked upon as the yardstick by which a breed’s success is initially judged. We have all seen the photos of ribbon-clad sheep around show time and our image of particular breeds is influenced by these photos. And why not, after all, it is these sheep that are predominantly used to produce the next generation of genetics that will ultimately find their way onto commercial properties around the sheep districts of our farming areas. It is also true that these sheep in show condition tend to give their particular breed exposure and appeal to a wide range of potential users and this can often create an image that does not exactly fit what really happens in the commercial world. We have all seen the majestic photos of Merino rams in full show condition, or the maternal or terminal sires with washed faces, immaculately trimmed and not a sign of dirt anywhere, and have been impressed with their size and conformation. However, after the initial impression, we justify our amazement by saying ‘but they are show sheep, nothing like we have in the paddock at home’. This image of sheep in show condition is, however, one of the reasons why many breeders are attracted to breeding stud livestock. It is not the only reason and is probably one of the least important reasons why prospective breeders should become involved in the seedstock industry. The stud industry and agricultural shows go hand in hand. It is the exposure that attracts new breeders and new ideas into what ultimately should be a commercially orientated industry, not one based on producing sheep for shows.

It is difficult to determine what possesses those involved in the livestock industry to make the decision to take the extra step and breed stud animals in preference to the relative security of a commercial breeding operation. For many it is the continuation of a family tradition that had its origins many years ago. For these studs it is not difficult to justify the continuation of what is usually a well-established and respected stud operation. For those who are new to the seedstock industry, the reasons for becoming involved at this more specialised level are varied. Some stud breeders begin with very small flocks, breeding a few rams for their own use and perhaps selling a few to a relative or neighbour and they are satisfied to continue at this level. Others, having been involved at a commercial level for a period of time, make a decision to expand or diversify their operation and look at a seedstock breeding operation as adding diversity and, potentially, some financial gains to their operation. Many agricultural schools today have livestock studs as part of their practical skills programs so the students that come through these schools have already had exposure to stud breeding and are often keen to develop these skills once they leave school. Some breeders just have the urge to do something different either through the introduction of a new breed or because they have identified a need in their area that is currently not being catered for.

Whatever the reason for deciding to initiate a stud breeding program, you will already have some preconceived ideas on what you want to achieve and how you are going to realise them. Perhaps now is the time to sit down, take a deep breath and ensure that the ‘dreaming’ phase has passed and you are being realistic about what you want to gain from your efforts. There are plenty of stud breeding operations in all livestock industries and not all are as successful as those you may be modelling your decision upon. Ensure that your expectations are realistic and you are aware of just what is required to guarantee your efforts are successful, not only from a breed perspective, but also from an environmental or regional aspect. It is pointless producing more of a product that is already oversupplied in your area simply because it looks nice and appeals to you – this will end up being a hobby, and an expensive one.

Now you have convinced yourself that you want to develop a stud breeding enterprise. Let’s get started then.

Perhaps the first and potentially the best decision you can make is to contact the breed society governing your selected breed. There are breed societies for virtually every sheep breed, some large, some with only a few members, but all are an integral part of the development and success of the breed they administer. The cost of joining a breed society is relatively small when compared to the benefits that will be gained from your membership of a cohesive breed society.

The breed society is much more than just a facility that governs registration and the transfer and recording of registered stock between individuals. Most breed societies provide members with plenty of background material, as well as brochures and regular newsletters that inform members of developments in areas such as breed promotion, recent highlights and amendments to breed direction. They also provide a good avenue of promotion for members. If you are a new stud breeder, just reading the newsletters and material available from your breed society will provide you with a good understanding of how the breed has developed and what is required to establish a quality sheep stud. Through the breed society and its activities, you will become familiar with many of the established breeders within the breed and consequently gain some insight into the leading sires that are currently being well used. If you are intending to show sheep, you will need to be a financial member of your relevant breed society.

Breed societies are also responsible for setting breed standards and encouraging members to adhere to these standards for the overall benefit of the breed. They often undertake their own research and development or cooperate with authorities who are working to improve the standard of the products associated with individual breeds, and they also help develop new areas of marketing. By representing the collective interests of all members, they are able to both protect and promote the interests of all breeders and facilitate the expansion of the breed’s elite genetics both domestically and overseas.