MAY 2020
Dear Sheep Breeder,
It's been a busy month at HR - sowing the last of our winter crops, monitoring our joined ewes as they lamb, tagging and DNA testing our Merino and Poll Merino special stud progeny and planning for the year as we evaluate our options when combining one of the best Autumns we've looked into with a slightly less optimistic global outlook.
This month we celebrate 60 years of working with Forbes Murdoch, provide an update on our early-joined ewe program and recap our (socially distanced) visit to "Bonanza Merinos" in Walgett. Owned and run by James and Jo Morris, Bonanza is one of HR's oldest daughter studs and has been bolstered by Haddon Rig bloodlines for over 110 years, and guided by Andy McLeod's classing and advice for the last 30. Read below for a recap of our visit.
STUD NEWS
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS WITH FORBES MURDOCH, OAM
This month marks Haddon Rig's 60-year anniversary with Australian sheep industry legend Forbes Murdoch, OAM.
Forbes started as a jackaroo in May 1960, under the direction of Manager AB Ramsay. In 1963, Forbes was promoted to establish and manage HR's breeding operation in Western Australia, where he worked for 12 years, before returning to manage HR at Warren in 1975. Says ex jackaroo Charlie Powell (1982) "Congratulations Mr. Murdoch. I'll never forget how you helped shape me and Haddon Rig." Forbes retired as Stud Manager in 2001, maintaining his role as Stud Master and Consultant.
Forbes' impact on HR and the broader industry has been remarkable, and we were pleased to see this impact recognised in 2019 when he was awarded an OAM.
We are proud and thankful to have Forbes as part of the HR family. Cheers to our diamond anniversary!
STUD NEWS
CASE STUDY: EARLY-JOINED EWES
HR worked to retain our stud and commercial ewes through the drought of the last few years. Facing into one of the best Autumns we’ve experienced, HR made the decision to trial joining our 9 month old ewe-lambs to boost our numbers and utilise the exceptional feed.
1300 of our heavier Merino and Poll Merino ewe lambs (45kg +) were selected to take part in the trial. Although born in one of the worst droughts experienced, they were weaned early at 6-8 weeks and introduced to a full grain ration and hay in the HR feedlot. At 9 months and with strong body weights, they were joined on the 27th February for 35 days (two cycles) to some of our best Haddon Rig sires (at 3%). Fortunately, as it was out of season, we had lots of rams to utilise. The rams were taken out of the ewes on the 2nd April. The ewes were left for 5 weeks in fresh, green grazing country and brought into the yards for scanning on the 13th May. We are very happy with the result. The now eleven-month-old ewe lambs scanned 70% in lamb with 15% of these showing multiples. Considering the challenging lambing and joining conditions we are extremely happy with this result. The young ewes were shorn as lambs in the last week of October 2019 and, due to their considerable wool length, shorn again (on the 22nd May) cutting just over 5 kgs of wool for 7 months growth. The early shearing will allow them to increase body weight and grow healthy lambs to their due date on the 26th July. The ewes were weighed in the shed, and averaged 54 kgs pre-shearing, and are gaining weight daily.
The ewe lambs are currently at a 3-score condition and will be monitored closely leading up to lambing. One month prior to lambing they will be split into mobs of ~100 and supplemented with grain as needed. Their lambs will be weaned at 6 weeks of age and the ewes provided with correct rations to re-join at the end of the year.
This program will enable us to get our ewes in lamb sooner - increasing their value earlier in life. It will also increase the lambs per ewe over their lifetime, significantly boosting our lamb numbers as we and other farms look to restock coming out of a harsh season. All ewes are closely monitored for body weight and growth; ensuring they continue to mature and develop correctly. Pending successful results of this trial, we will look to continue the program. We will provide an update on lambing in our August HR+Update. Watch this space!
CLIENT NEWS
JAMES AND JOANNE MORRIS, "BONANZA", WALGETT
This month we paid a socially-distanced visit to James and Jo Morris, the owners of "Bonanza Merinos" (HR’s oldest daughter stud) in Walgett.
The Morris family has built a strong partnership with Haddon Rig over the last 100 years, starting in 1908 when James' great-grandfather Thomas Dugan purchased HR ewes and a combination of Wanganella, Gingie and HR sires to kick-start his stud “Lolleep” in Walgett. These bloodlines have since been enhanced by over 50+ HR Stud sires plus semen from top HR sires, carefully nurtured by the family (Thomas' son Stan, Stan’s daughter Helen and her husband Tony Morris, and their son James and his wife Jo Morris) initially at "Lolleep" and now at "Bonanza". Stan in particular was recognised as a great lover of Merino sheep and quality Merino wool. Both HR and Bonanza are proud of their working relationship into the present day. HR stud representative, Andy McLeod, has been key to driving quality and consistency in the Bonanza flock, prioritising premium bloodlines, good confirmation and heavy wool cuts with a focus on consistency and client profitability.
James and Joanne currently run "Bonanza"; a busy mixed-farming operation in Walgett and Lightning Ridge, balancing their self-replacing flock with 2,711 hectares of farming. Says James "HR rams are best-suited to our environment. They’re well-known for quality wool,and also being very fertile and highly productive." These qualities are key for the tough climatic conditions of the Upper West NSW. Bonanza Merino stud purchases HR sires for their their depth of genetic breeding and consistent performance. "Enabling Bonanza to breed the type of sheep that we and our clients value."
We were lucky to view some of James and Jo's recent HR ram purchases, including HR 18-0037, a 2-Tooth sire purchased last year and currently joined with ~70 of the Morris’ ewes. With a great face and body, bright white wool and high virility - we look forward to seeing the next generation of HR/Bonanza progeny.
James and Jo are currently focussed on rebuilding and consolidating desired traits within their flock; focussing on durable, productive shape with quality wool cuts. They look forward to continuing the business partnership with the Haddon Rig team, who they trust to "back their product 100%".
A huge thank you to James and Jo for hosting us. It was inspiring to see their great work continuing to build a quality, consistent flock and support the future of Merinos in Australia.
Thanks for reading our May edition of the HR+Update. The team at HR is committed to supporting and enabling your success. Please get in touch if you have any feedback or comments!