Pushing the boundaries of Merino profitability

Henty wool grower Peter Campbell is out to squeeze as much profitability from his Merino operation as he can.
Mr Campbell is keen to identify the traits within his 2000 ewe flock which will ultimately increase his gross margin.
He is one of 60 commercial producers to enter teams of 30 2011-drop wethers in Australia’s largest Merino genetic comparison.

The Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge (PWMMC) has drawn entries from four states, representing 39 bloodlines, and provides a platform to evaluate the relative performance of a range of wool and carcass traits.
The wethers were randomly allocated into meat and wool groups, with the meat group loftfed at Collingullie, in southern NSW, since May 15. They are due to be slaughtered in mid August with carcass data collected.

Challenge convenor Craig Wilson said the wethers averaged 13kg of weight gain, or 237 grams a day, over seven weeks. The top 10 per cent of lambs gained at more than 400 grams a day.
Peter Campbell and his wife Alison were among the entrants in the original challenge conducted by Mr Wilson in 2004.
“Our sheep were only average so we took notice of the Pastora bloodline which had several clients in the top 10 per cent,’’ Mr Campbell said.
The couple switched bloodlines and now dovetail their Merino enterprise with a 1550 hectare cropping program. They decided to enter the 2012-2014 challenge to evaluate the performance of the new Pastora Poll genetics.

“The average micron of 18.5 has remained constant but fleece weights have improved, and are now 45kg/hectare,’’ Mr Campbell said. The couple has changed from horned to poll genetics, and a plainer body type. Their older ewes have lambed at 100-110 per cent and maidens at 85 per cent.
“This trial data is valuable information for the rest of the Merino industry,’’ Mr Campbell said. “We are seeing incredible variations in individual sheep and team performance.’’
In the 2010-2012 PWMMC meat challenge, there was a $48/head difference in carcass value between teams, a 39 per cent range in weight gain and 4.8 per cent difference in dressing percentage.
Pastora Poll Merinos, of Lockhart, has eight commercial flocks represented in the 2012-2014 meat and wool challenge.
Principal Tim Westblade said the bloodline had performed well in the 2010-2012 challenge.

“Our eight teams had about 120 wethers between them,’’ Mr Westblade said. “When all eight teams were averaged, their combined result placed them in the top third for dollars per hectare.’’
Mr Westblade uses the challenge as a comparison to ensure his genetics are on track.
“We encourage clients to enter the trials and I use the results as a guide to my stud’s performance and future genetic direction,’’ he said.
Challenge convenor Craig Wilson has tested more than 4000 wethers for up to 20 wool and meat traits in trials since 2004.
Mr Wilson said it was critical for growers to start with a bloodline backed by credible data.
“Get involved in trials which clearly identify the strengths and weaknesses of your flock’s genetics,’’ he said.
“The range in profitability in a Merino enterprise is just enormous – some sheep are tripling income compared to their mates, and this has a massive influence on profitability.’’