Newsletter
NEWSLETTER March 2012
15/3/2012
Dear Colleagues
For 2012 I will reiterate the message that "whole merino" flocks with white 21-23 micron merino wool coming from your cross bred sheep is possible. First cross SAMM/Mo ewes from Jeancourt will, if selected with your average micron in mind, mean you can add to your bottom line with significant added wool income in contrast to traditional British style Merino cross bred ewes. Maintain your merino base flock and have your first cross SAMM/Mo ewes assist in supplying to the prime lamb market and retain your wool income as well as enabling you to class your merino flock with positive results to the bottom line.
2012 will also see continued underlying price rises in the cost of young breeding ewes in spite of the financial market uncertainty - we have all noted the occasional price spikes for pens of exceptional ewes at Naracoorte, Hamilton, Bendigo and Mildura in 2011. These are signs of underlying scarcity as many graziers who turned to cropping and cattle have not returned to sheep. Glen Kier, an former Stock Journal Livestock commentator once said "nothing stays too dear or too cheap for too long" - nevertheless it must be said that DIY ewe breeding and retention for the prime lamb market must make sense. Pure SAMM ewe lambs can be mated early, depending on liveweight, and provided critical nutrition for both the growing ewe lamb and her lamb are well managed, can economically replace ewe market costs. Traditional users of bought in BL/Mo cross bred sheep may also face this replacement financial crunch - with Jeancourt SAMM genetics used the quality of the BL/Mo x SAMM ewe is excellent with white 23-26 micron CK wool. Allan and I did the experiments a number of years with these crosses a number of years ago and had the wool tested so we could honestly answer the wool side outcome of this cross.
We look forward to catching up at the SE Field days at Lucindale this weekend.
Regards and all the best for the rest of 2012
Drive Safely
Megan Heddle
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AFRINO
www.jeancourtafrino.com.au and www.afrino.com
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Pastoral notes
Graziers who may have had recent rain may care to consider using SAMMs . Our SAMMs will deliver increased lamb survival, white merino wool on F1 ewes, if retained in the pastoral flock, which wool merchants have no difficulty with, and significantly, increased growth rates and lambing percentages in the pastoral situation. The reality is that the traditional 80/90% weaning rate in pastoral situations is no longer acceptable if graziers add meat into the sales equation - our SAMM genetics will, with quality management, see increases in weaning rates from F1 ewes to 130%* and higher (see note below regarding our base stud fertility rate)
Graziers in the traditional wheat/sheep zones now know of the SAMMs quality fertility and maternal characteristics - if not -please tap into the bush telegraph and ask questions! Please note that we do not Mulse and most F1 Merino/SAMM cross lambs will not need this procedure.
Jeancourt Prime SAMM Stud is MN3 (rating 9) plus Brucellosis Accredited so our stock is therefore able to be sent to all states
Contacts - please note the mobile telephone number 0427 713 115 - Landline: 08 82717080, Fax: 08 8357 7793 or email: hedsamm@bigpond.com - as reasonable methods of contact.
Should any NZ or Falkland Island graziers be looking for SAMM semen we currently have 267 export rated doses in storage at Brecon Breeders - Our stud is open for inspection and we would welcome enquiries should you be in the Naracoorte region of SA.
Bill and Megan Heddle - Principals 08 271 7080 mobile 0417 848 922
Allan Haggett - Studmaster 0427 713 115
* figure quoted by colleagues in pastoral conditions/ Jeancourt rams used/ note Jeancourt Prime SAMM Stud fertility weaning rate is 150 to 165%. We significantly attend to predator control.
** The Dohne Merino is a stabilised Peppin Merino/SAMM breed devised by the South African Dept of Agriculture: traditionally used as a 'stand alone 'breed in a similar manner to Corriedale and Polwarth breeds
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