LAST week's Bredwell Fedwell Sheep production workshop at O'Connell was moderately attended and a valuable event for good listeners.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The day was funded by Meat and Livestock Australia with lots of support from Scott and Anna Brien and their Bella Lana Stud from Wellington.
I thought that the clearest points made on the day were:
- Restrict lambing mobs to maximum 100 to give privacy to individual ewes.
- Many of us are sheep producers rather than wool producers.
- Australian Sheep Breeding Values give a spreadsheet of a ram's ancestors.
- Many ewe deaths from twin lamb disease are triplet lamb carriers.
- Evaluation trials for ewes would be of much more value than wether trials as fertility is of great importance.
- Never fall in love with your studmaster; it's your money that is to be spent.
The price point
LAST week's stud stock sales again showed the confidence that comes from having paddocks full of green pastures.
Sales of bulls and terminal rams continued to be rewarding with breeders from our district being prominent at Merryville and Roseville Park sales.
The annual Adelaide ram sale saw the progeny of super sire NE 73 sell to a top of $70,000 to Minta Stud and a $46,000 son was bought by Brendan Ostini, Ravecchia Stud, Orange.
This is a really progressive merino stud and the new ram is the highest price ever paid by a local stud.
The ram was ET bred by Moorundie Poll Stud's NE 73 and sold by Glenlea Park, Pinnaroo.
A lot of breeders are seeing a non-mulesed future and are looking for plain, wrinkle-free merinos that give a lot of options for premature shearing and minimum crutching.
OTHER RECENT RURAL NOTEBOOK COLUMNS:
No place like home
COVID restrictions at the usual sale venue have caused the Treanor family to conduct their annual ram sale on-property at 1735 Turondale Road, Millah Murrah this Saturday, September 26 from 10am-1pm.
All rams will be available for private sale - Australian Whites, Poll Dorsets and Border Leicesters - and the stud motto "Where structure and carcase count" will be very obvious.
These sheep have earned a very good reputation and buyers should arrive early on the day.
Phone B and L Agents on 6331 5166 or owner Derek on 0428 377 601 or Tony on 0414 871 703.
Turnaround time
LONG-TIME farmers across our district are enjoying what they see as the best spring season since the 1970s.
No-one is silly enough to claim "I told you so" to the few who thought that droughts were now permanent as we all realise that seasons come and go.
Much of the pasture that we have at present will make great mulch and ground cover as we get into summer.
Meanwhile, we are seeing prolific seeding of stands of sub clover and most producers know that topdressing at this stage is important.
The lack of fertiliser is quite obvious on some properties and clover pastures have a sickly yellow colour in mid-spring.
From home to farm
AMONG some positive signs that are being seen at present on the country scene was the boom spray application of Season to a fast growing crop of Blackbutt oats.
This product is widely used by home gardeners and they would expect to see great results from a foliar spray on a broadacre crop.
I believe that the product Pasture Masta contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium as well as kelp, fish and humante.
The car races at Mount Panorama should feature some beautiful green scenery in the background of TV coverage and overseas viewers may think that Bathurst district is always green.
Mayor Bob Bourke has urged lots of families to buy some steaks and sausages from your local butcher, get some liquids and fire up the barbie.
A few friends, a few laughs and watch the Supercars on tele.
Well said, Mister Mayor.
Risk and reward
LANDHOLDERS who want to get started on a restocking program are going to need deep pockets and big hearts.
Cow and calf units at plus $3000, good steers at $1500, young merino and crossbred ewes $300 to $350 and the list goes on.
Add to this young terminal sires $1500 upwards and flock merino rams with stud backing $3000 to $4000 and we must remain friends with the banker.
Most livestock breeders are pretty savvy nowadays and they know all about ASBVs, quality wools that test fine, plain wrinkle-free bodies and possible six months shearing.
Low birthrate bulls are sought after as most properties are understaffed.
Safe as houses
REAL estate values in town and country have certainly weathered the COVID storm, with any change in value seeming to be upwards.
Rental values and applications are sound, with not many vacant premises.
Our proximity to metropolitan Sydney makes it an ideal investment opportunity and the work from home ability in a quiet country town or city must be appealing.
Diary date
THIS Saturday, 10am: Harley and Vick Nightingale's clearing sale, "Raheen", Triangle Flat. Details from Mick Lund, 0427 033 033.
Laugh lines
"DARLING," he said, "from the first moment I saw you, I wanted to make love terribly."
"Well, honey," she replied, "you can certainly tick that box."
***
- SHE was a doctor's daughter; she knew how to operate.
- She was a photographer's daughter; she was well developed.
- She was an optician's daughter; she made a spectacle of herself.
- She was an insurance agent's daughter; all the local lads liked her policy.
- She was a musician's daughter; and knew all the bars;
- She was a teacher's daughter; and gave lessons to lots of lads.
- She was a statistician's daughter; and knew all the standard deviations.
