THOSE that breed Merinos are in no doubt it is a profitable enterprise, but now there is also plenty of trial data to prove it.
Craig Wilson, Craig Wilson and Associates, Wagga Wagga, has collected benchmarking data during the past 10 years on more than 4500 wethers run in trials at Wagga Wagga, Alectown, Warren, Taralga and Temora.
Regardless of the region the trial data consistently shows Merinos are profitable, particularly where both high wool and meat values are concerned.
“Genetics is the key in Merino production. The range in net profit can be as much as $40 per head, so if you are running 3000 sheep this equates to an additional $120,000 profit per year,” Mr Wilson said.
Once again, Mr Wilson is convening a trial to gain more insight into how genetics can increase net profits.
In what is Australia’s largest evaluation of Merino genetics, the Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge 2012-14 (PWMMC) will start in early April with up to 60 teams of 30 wethers from participants in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.
Mr Wilson said the aim of the challenge was to demonstrate the relative productivity of a Merino flock for economically important traits under equivalent conditions.
“Like the previous Merino Challenge, the 2012-14 challenge will continue to assist Merino breeding enterprises to make more informed decisions on genetics,” he said.
“The information and data analysis produced will show entrants and the wider sheep industry the financial gains that exist through high performance Merino genetics.”
Entry to the Merino Challenge is open to any commercial breeders who are running self-replacing Merino types.
Already having received an overwhelming response from past entrants, there are a limited number of places still available for the up-coming challenge.
Mr Wilson said this challenge would also aim to include benchmarking against a wide range of Merino types such as the Dohne and SAMMs.
Each team of 30 wethers will be randomly split into two groups of 15 and allocated into the Meat Challenge and the Wool Challenge.
The Meat Challenge wethers will be fed a commercial feedlot ration supplied by Conqueror Mills and processed at Fletchers International abattoir at Dubbo.
The Wool Challenge for wethers will be run for two years at the Temora Agricultural Research and Advisory Station and assessed for meat and wool performance.
“The 2010-12 PWMMC has shown the range in net profit from feeding Merino lambs for meat and/or to grow wool can be doubled by using high performance Merino genetics.”
“The challenge has proven beyond doubt what a Merino sheep can achieve, combining excellent growth and carcase traits with high wool cuts which have low fibre diameter.”
Director of Bluechip Livestock Marty Moses, said knowing the relative merits of Merino genetics must be of the highest importance.
Previous entrants acknowledge this type of objective information is vital for Merino breeders and the industry as a whole in maximising its profit.
“Bluechip Livestock has been successfully marketing some of the PWMMC entrants’ high performing sheep, achieving premiums above current market value from a growing number of buyers who are prepared to invest in high performance Merino genetics,” Mr Moses said.
“The key to achieving consistent premiums for our clients is having their sheep benchmarked in the PWMMC.”
The challenge honours the late Peter Westblade, who died in late 2008 and is considered to have been a true visionary, epitomising compassion and devotion to a cause by those who knew him, Mr Wilson said.
The 2012-14 challenge is a joint initiative of Craig Wilson and Associates and Bluechip Livestock and is supported by Moses and Son Woolbrokers, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sheep Co-operative Research Centre, Riverina Wool Testers, Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia, Fletchers International, Conqueror Milling and ProWay.
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