Carcass
At Haddon Rig, our commitment to excellence extends to breeding sheep with outstanding carcass traits. We focus on producing animals that not only excel in wool quality but also deliver superior meat yield, with well-muscled, high-yielding carcasses.
By prioritising both wool and carcass quality, we ensure that our sheep meet the demands of modern markets, offering versatility and profitability for producers while maintaining the legacy of the Haddon Rig merino.
muscle
Since the 1960s, Haddon Rig has been incorporating early-growth and carcass attributes into our breeding selections with annual eye muscle and fat-scanning and regular weighing of our stud rams across their first 18 months to measure growth and carcass attributes. Since the incorporation of ASBVs into our breeding objectives in 2013, we are seeing rapid progress in our chosen genetic traits and increasing accuracies mean the ASBVs are getting closer to reflecting the actual animals, as our data set improves. We have seen a 40% increase in Eye Muscle Depth (YEMD) in 5 years and a 30% increase in Yearling Fat (YFAT).
However, we are not chasing fat and muscle at all costs or losing sight of our other goals. Our primary focus is to maintain the balance of the animals – maintaining fertility, early-growth, carcass attributes and to be truthful and honest in our breeding and marketing.
At Haddon Rig, we pride ourselves on breeding Merinos that excel in both wool and meat production, ensuring our sheep offer exceptional carcase traits that meet the demands of modern markets. Our focus is on producing animals with well-muscled, high-yielding carcases that are both efficient and profitable for producers.
By selecting for traits such as muscle depth, fat cover, and overall body condition, we ensure that our sheep provide excellent meat yield without compromising on the wool quality Haddon Rig is renowned for. This holistic approach to breeding creates a sheep that is adaptable, resilient, and profitable, making Haddon Rig sheep a valuable asset for any production system.
Haddon Rig turns off a large number of merino wethers each year, fed on native pastures and then finished off in our 2000-head feedlot as required. Trading meat sheep has been a core part of our operations over the last 40 years, with numbers traded reaching up to 3000, marketing depending.
and fat
Traits
Yearling Weight
At Haddon Rig, we place significant emphasis on improving Yearling Weight (YWT) as a key indicator of early growth and overall productivity. Our breeding program has consistently achieved Yearling Weights that are well above the industry average, with our lambs being 7.85 kg heavier at one year old compared to the average.
This focus on Yearling Weight ensures that our sheep mature faster, providing earlier returns on investment through both wool and meat production. By selecting for superior growth rates without compromising on other essential traits, we produce sheep that are not only robust and resilient but also highly profitable for our clients.
Post Weaning Weight
Weight (kg) WT
Estimates the genetic difference between animals in live weight.
Post Weaning: PWT estimates the genetic difference between animals in live weight at 225 days of age.
- HR has seen a 10% increase in Post Weaning Weight (PWT) since 2013
- 20% increase in Yearling Eye Muscle Depth (YEMD). Rams with more positive ASBVs for EMD will produce progeny that have more muscle, independent of weight, and a higher lean meat yield.
- 10% increase in Weaning Rate (WR). WR calculates the predicted number of lambs weaned per ewes joined for maternal and Merino animals.
Sustainable Merino
The Sustainable Merino (SM) trait reflects Haddon Rig’s dedication to breeding resilient, high-performing merinos that excel in both wool and meat production, while supporting long-term sustainability.
Our SM index consistently surpasses the breed average, as shown by significant improvements since 2020. This progress highlights our focus on breeding sheep with superior adaptability, welfare, and environmental resilience. At Haddon Rig, we are committed to producing merinos that thrive in diverse conditions, ensuring sustainable outcomes for woolgrowers and contributing to a more eco-friendly future for the merino industry.
