Duncan maintains wool quality with Pastora

Wether trial feedback prompted wool grower Duncan Clowes to make productive changes on his own farm.
Mr Clowes, of Milthorpe, in the NSW central tablelands, entered a team of Pastora blood wethers in the 2010-2012 Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge.
As a result of feedback from the meat and wool components of the challenge, Mr Clowes pushed shearing and lambing back a month earlier.
This allows his Merino lambs to grow out before the hot summer months.

Mr Clowes also has a ram breeding nucleus and has an entry in the Young Merino Sire Evaluation trial at Temora, in southern NSW.
The ram, Blue 151, is a son of Pastora 05.107. Blue 151’s progeny are the equal finest, have the highest yield and were competitive for fleece weight compared to other sires in the trial.
Mr Clowes has progeny tested several young Pastora sires against other leading stud sires from throughout the industry with great results.

“I love breeding sheep and seeing more ways money can be made with Merinos,’’ he said. “The Peter Westblade Memorial Merino challenge has revealed to me the huge differences in the top and bottom Merino producers.’’

Mr Clowes runs his 3500 to 4000 commercial ewes alongside his stud ewes in a harsh environment at a 1000m altitude, enduring snowfalls each winter.
“It is traditional prime lamb country,’’ he said. “We have been on Pastora bloodlines for 20 years with the ewes averaging 16.5 micron and cutting 5.5kg,’’ he said.
“I’m looking to maintain wool quality – the plainer bodied sheep are easier doing, and have better carcass and wool quality.’’