Breeding ewes are the core of the business and Don says he wouldn’t falter from that. There are 6500 breeding ewes – with the hoggets grazed off-farm – opening the scope for trading stock and giving the business flexibility.
Stock performance is a key feature of the business and the lambing average for the past 10 years is 138% with the past 3-4 years sitting at over 140%.
Attention to detail is evident with Don spending a lot of time sorting sheep and giving them a body condition scoring (BCS) although this doesn’t necessarily mean physically laying a hand on every one.
Leading up to tupping over summer he is constantly monitoring BCS, mainly on the drafting gate. He does this monthly, usually tied in with other work like dipping or shearing.
About that time the mob sizes are large except for the tail-end. They are about 3500 for the mixed-aged ewe mob, 1500 four-tooths, and 1400 two-tooths. Having less than 400 in tail-end mobs takes the pressure of those ewes.
Don is quite prepared to take a bit of weight off the ewes but at crucial times of the year, like tupping, this practice is forgotten.
Leading into tupping the priority swings from the trading stock to the ewes. He treats the delicate ewes with care.
The 10 days leading into tupping are the most critical. He will do daily shifts so the ewes are just harvesting the cream of the pastures. This process will be stretched out as far as possible depending on how much feed is available.
The average BCS will be 3.5-4 but he will drop this back to a three prior to scanning. Tightening up happens over winter with a September 1 lambing start date.
“I’m happy to lose half a BCS over winter but I’m choosing when that happens.”
Don sorts the ewes into mobs with the skinny ewes having twins being the most delicate.
