| Genetics | Health | Management | First-cross Breeders | Sale | Catalogue | $uperBorder$ | Information |
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Hello from us here at Cal Col. Here are some items of news about $uperBorder$ and Wongajong Borders that we thought would interest you. We have remained focused on improving the genetics of our rams for our clients who are breeding for the First-cross market. The drought has produced some hurdles to cross, but we still have a lot of good rams for our sale on Sept 25th.
First-cross sales
Congratulations to our clients who did well in the First-cross sales last year. There were some notable successes, with top of the market in Bendigo and close to the top in Benalla. One client was able to fill a special inquiry coming in for ewes and wethers bred from LAMBPLAN rated rams. Many others have been retaining the first-cross ewes for their own breeding.
Supply Contracts
Earlier this year the Rutherglen Research Institute Farm advertised for growers who would be willing to enter into a contract to supply First-cross "Bred from $uperBorder$ Rams". Supply contracts are not for everyone, but we expect more of them in future as prime lamb breeders seek some alliances with their suppliers to ensure they get the genetics they want.
This particular contract was for First-cross ewes bred from Border Leicester Rams with a minimum Border Dollar Index of 105 and from Merino ewes with a history of high fertility.
MLA want more Lamb
The PRIME TIME campaign run by Meat and Livestock Australia is now under-way. We hope many of you will be able to attend one of the meetings now advertised in the press. MLA see the export market for lamb as remaining buoyant, with supply limited by the low number of ewes and the effects of the drought. The essence of this campaign is firstly that returns from lamb production are now competitive with cropping, and secondly that to produce more lamb the carcass weights will have to get even bigger than they are now. This means even better genetics, with the emphasis on higher lambing percentages and better growth, two features that we have been developing with our Wongajong $uperBorder$.
Further gain in index
The latest genetic report we received from LAMBPLAN shows an average dollar index for the Wongajong 2002 drop rams of 106.9. This is a rise of 0.9 on the previous year. The average number of lambs weaned EBV is now +5.5% and the Yearling Wt EBV is +3.5kg. The average dollar index for tested Border flocks is 103.6. This is also rising quickly, as we trade the best rams and semen around the group. Remember that the figures across all $uperBorder$ flocks have the same base, and can all be bought with confidence.
Index being revised
There will be several important changes in the index at August 1st. This will update the dollar values of the EBVs, but also change from yearling wt to Post-weaning (300 day) weight as the main measure of growth. This is the age when most lambs are marketed. A third change is to place more emphasis on the maternal trait, milk yield (shown as Mwwt). This has been done because of current research station results that have shown how important this is in determining lamb production in the Second-cross. So in summary, the index has the same structure, goes a little higher because of the higher lamb values and has more emphasis on Second-cross breeding traits.
First-cross "Bred from $uperBorder$" Promotion
The $uperBorder$ Association will be running some advertising in prime lamb features in the rural press this spring. As well as promoting our own product, we will also be targeting specialist prime lamb breeders who can benefit from buying your product – the "Bred from $uperBorder$" First-cross ewe.
Some prime lamb breeders say they don't know where to find these ewes, so please make sure that your agent identifies your First-cross as "Bred from Wongajong $uperBorder$". It is not sufficient for them to be listed as B/L rams, as we see in many sale listings. Brand recognition is most important. We will supply yellow sale cards as a further aid to recognition in the yards. Our web –site, www.wongajong.com, lists those of you who I know have the product for sale. If we have missed someone, please let us know. The www.superborders.com web-site has a list of special First-cross sales where we know that ewes "Bred from $uperBorder$ Rams" will be in the market. The demand is definitely increasing for know genetics.
Our Sale Sept 25th
Our second HELMSMAN sale will be held on Thursday September 25th. The sale starts at 2pm after a light BBQ lunch. It will include the best of our 2002 drop. They are now up to standard, thanks to some recent good feed and a lot of barley over the spring and summer. They have been shorn and back-lined with MAGNUM. A worm-test showed that worm burdens remain low, so they will not be drenched. That is perhaps the only dividend from the drought!
If you wish to buy outside the sale, there will probably be good rams left for private selection afterwards.
Some excellent sales of First-cross ewe lambs bred from $uperBorder$ rams. Bill Hermiston, "Karawatha" Deniliquin, had the top ewe lambs at the Bendigo "Premier Exclusive Breeders Crossbred Sheep sale on November 6th. Bill described these lambs as "The best he has ever bred".
Graeme Telford, "Pinaroo" Shepparton, was within 50 cents of top at the Benalla First-cross breeders sale on November 22nd. All top pens at this sale were "Bred from $uperBorder$ rams".