Pastora offers Austin a dual purpose package

Riverina wool grower Austin Reid was stoked to see his Merino wethers averaging 361 grams a day of weight gain.
The team of 30 2011-drop Pastora blood wethers are part of the meat component of the 2012-2014 Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge. The trial has drawn 60 teams from across four states, and is Australia’s biggest commercial evaluation of Merino genetics.

Mr Reid prefers to sell his Merino wethers as lambs, with a solid weight gain suiting his sheep enterprise. At the July 9 weigh, Mr Reid’s team had an average bodyweight adjusted for age of 109 per cent, and was among the highest gaining teams at 361 grams a day. This was well above the trial average of 289 grams a day.
It is the first time Austin, his wife Monica and son Scott have entered the challenge. The family runs 1200 Pastora blood Merino ewes, averaging 18-19 micron and cutting average fleece weights of 5.5kg, on their Temora property, Killarney.

The family switched to Pastora rams 11 years ago, chasing better wool type, growth rates, poll genetics, fertility and body size. The maiden ewes are classed by John Driscoll.
“We entered the challenge to benchmark our operation against other sheep producers,’’ Mr Reid said. “The average daily gain of 361 grams a day was well above my expectations. We know the Pastora wethers can grow if they get the right feed.’’