Straban Merinos: Straban's Breeding Programme

With the disbanded SRS® stud Walcha Ram Breeders' Group being purchased and incorporated in the Straban merino stud in 2004, stud ewe numbers have now grown to 600. All ewes on Straban are AI'ed each year sourcing the best semen from outside sires and also using the studs own internal sires. In the last 3 years, ET programmes have also been performed. In 2005 two programmes were undertaken, each programme comprising 13 donor ewes. When selecting ewes for ET programmes, major emphasis is placed on wool length, structure, fecundity and worm resistance. Rams used over the last 5 years included sires from Stockton, Merrysheils, AMM, Longford, Kyabra, Lorelmo as well as our own sires 990075, 010112, 030259, 030270 to name a few.

One ram belonging to Straban is 990075 is one of the most worm resistant (Faecal Egg Count) sheep in Australia and grew 220 mms of wool in 12 months (as 3 year old). He is a trait leader in the Merino Validation Project for other characteristics including staple length, hogget CV, eye muscle depth.

With the present reduced wool prices now is the time we believe to increase fleece weights, improve fecundity and breed sheep that show resistance to worm infestations to be a high priority. Thus over the last two years we have used the studs leading sire 990075 daughters, with their low FEC over large frame Meat Merinos to achieve the above.

Always being aware that with return of good wool prices, our sheep still maintain their soft silky wool which they are renowned for but carry some of the other characteristics which have become just as important.

Worm Resistance

At Straban we have become more aware of the importance of worm resistance (FEC) in our sheep. We have placed a considerable emphasis in our breeding programmes on selecting sires and stud ewes with negative FEC's. We have found through our own trials and through the MVP that this trait is highly heritable. In fact, to date all progeny by ram 990075 in the last 3 years have shown FEC's in the negatives (ewe, wether and ram portions).

Ram 990075 - a leader in worm resistance

Having ewes that are highly resistant to worm infestations then allows us to use sires that may not be as resistant but have other characteristics that we require. The CSIRO through their worm trials found to drop one drench per year. A 50% culling regime would apply and this would take 14 years to achieve. Most graziers could never afford to cull 50% of their flock; more like 25% thus it could take 21 years. Trials using ram 990075's progeny after one cross were able to reduce our drenching regime by approximately 2-3 drenches per year. Along with our rotational grazing system at Straban this practice has halved our drenching costs. It is estimated that the cost of drench products exceeds $300 million per year in Australia. How much do you spend each year on drench and labour?

Sire 990075 is a trait leader in the Merino Validation Project (MVP) for many traits but among them his ability to show a high resistance to worms in his progeny. Out of 700,000 sheep in the MVP, 990075 is the trait leader in Post Weaning, Yearling and Hogget FEC. His progeny are one and a half times more resistant to worm infestation than those in the MVP making him a clear leader in the fight against worms.

Dr Alex Ball, Project Manager from the MVP in a recent article from The Land Newspaper states "Inherent parasite resistance is shaping up to be a key trait for the sheep industry. Between 70% and 80% have worms with resistance to white and clear drenches and 40% are now finding resistance to the mectin family (Cydectin). Genetic resistance is one of the tools to lengthen the life of these drenches. Our international markets are asking us to be clean, green and ethical and this is one of the ways we can reduce to use of chemicals. People can be confident that ram 990075 from Straban Merinos will pass on his resistance to his progeny".

Veterinary Health Research (VHR) director Bruce Chick reported that "this summer, VHR's parasite monitoring service had tracked a marked deterioration in the efficacy of the remaining drench groups on some New England properties, particularly the mectin group that includes trusted solutions like Ivermectin. By identifying a single superior male, you have a real opportunity to make an impact, providing he has other production traits that you want."

Latest AI & ET Programmes

All ewes on Straban are AI'ed each year sourcing the best semen from outside sires and also using the studs own internal sires. In the last 3 years ET programmes have also been performed. In 2005 two programmes were done containing 13 ewes. When selecting ewes for ET programmes major emphasis is placed on wool length, structure, fecundity and worm resistance.

With our record keeping going back 10 years we are able to select ewes for ET programmes that are proven dams. Many of the ewes and their daughters appear in our programmes often because of their ability to produce progeny with the traits we require.

Ewes are scanned to confirm singles, multiples and drys. This process allows us to, if required, to supplementary feed our multiple ewes, remove our dry ewes. This also assists us in the process of mothering up. Most of our ewes are mothered up in the paddock twice daily, inspection of lambing groups is carried out. All lambs are birth weighed, tagged and initial comments are noted. Australian Livestock Scanning Services assists us in carrying out this process.

As stated before a large emphasis has been place on fecundity in our ewes. The last two years ewes have been AI'd and backup rams have been put out with the ewes for one cycle. This process has lead to a tightening of our lambing period. It has increased the fecundity of our overall flock as ewes that are dry or ewes that would normally take two full cycles to get in lamb are culled. I believe the results below show that the fecundity in our ewes has dramatically improved.

The results from the 2005 AI and ET programmes were very promising. With a scanned in lamb rate to the AI of 80% and an overall ewes in lamb percentage of 108%. The ET program had an average of 8 eggs per donor and with a stick rate of 77%. Total dry ewes in 2005 is 2% of the flock.

This could not be achieved without the professional worked carried out by EweTec Pty Ltd. They have performed our ET and AI program for the last 3 years and the results we have achieved speak for themselves.

Use Of Meat Merinos

We believe that as a merino stud we should be pursuing every avenue to improve our sheep for Australian and international clients. Not only do we require soft, silky, SRS® processing wool but our sheep need to have a large frame, good fecundity, high fleece weights and the ability to resist worms. Sounds like the perfect sheep! This is what we are achieving.

The introduction of the Meat Merinos into our programmes was created by demand from Australian and International clients. With the stud's renowned ability to produce soft SRS® wool, we believe that the progeny from our dams by Meat Merinos does create this outstanding sheep. Over the last 2 years in our ET programmes we have selected daughters of ram 990075 with worm resistance (FEC -1.5 or better) must grow at least 90mm of fibre bundling, well aliened, lustrous SRS® wool at nine months and also had to be structurally correct. What we have produced has excited us and our stud consultant, Dr Jim Watts, from the SRS® Company. The size and frame, the wool quality and FEC results are remarkable. People talk of breeding better sheep for the future. We believe these sheep have great potential to improve Australian and International wool and mutton markets as well as carrying other characteristics that are important to our clients.

Straban's Breeding Programme

History Of Ram Breeding

Worm Resistance

Latest AI & ET Programmes

Use Of Meat Merinos