Breeding Nucleus

BREEDING NUCLEUS

The importance of the ewe flock is often overlooked. We strive to maintain the highest quality group of ewes that possess a broad base of genetics with slightly varying features but still within the realm of specific breeding to our sire battery to annually produce an even line of lambs that fit market requirements. Seen above running with our commercial ET recipients. 

The core breeding nucleus is made up of a select group of elite ewes that are key to our future direction. 

We identify our top 2-5% of ewes at classing, & these are subsequently referred to as Double Stud ewes for future reference (DS in the catalogues). 

10-15 of these ewes are usually programmed for Embryo Transfer each year to accelerate our shift or progress in any direction industry requires. 

While heavy selection in any direction is generally at the expense of other traits, using our breeding principles, we can maintain the highest quality of our stock moving forward. 

HIGH PERFORMANCE EWE

This historic ewe DG.970015 Royal Champion Ewe at Sydney, Hamilton & Adelaide Shows is a fine example of our higher performance ewes that lambed triplets at 13mths weighing over 100kg here & milking from four teats.

She bred well including our keeper sire FOCUS DG.000196Tw who possessed a terrific balance of figures & left a significant group of daughters in the stud.

HIGH PERFORMANCE EWE

Another ewe the same year  –  DG.970122 Champion Adelaide Royal went on to breed XMAS 980346Tw (1st at Melbourne Royal) & DIMENSION 000188ET (Supreme All Breeds Lamb at Geelong Feature Show).

She bred other stud rams along with a significant group of daughters from which BREAKER 040208 was bred (Champion Adelaide Royal & National Record of the time at $36K)

QUINTUPLETS AT BIRTH 

The ewe DG.040172 was an ET daughter of the Supreme All Breeds ewe at Melbourne Royal 2003 & sired by Detpa Grove PRESTIGE.  

DG.040172 gave birth to 5 lambs – 2 rams weighed 4.5 & 3.4kg, & 3 ewes weighing 4.2, 2.7 & 2.5kg.  A total of 17.3kg of lambs.  

They were turned out into a paddock with the 3 sets of quads. They stayed in that small mob size, solely on grass until weaning. 

QUINTUPLETS AT WEANING 

Here they weighed 55, 46.5, 38.5, 33.5 & 28kg respectively. A total of 201.5kg lambs. weaned at 3 and a half months of age. 

An ET sister to DG.040172 is DG.040192 & placed 1st at Adelaide Royal 2005. She is the dam of stud sires POWER 050361ET, MAESTRO 070591TR & SOVEREIGN 090595TR. 

ET DONOR GROUPS

One of our largest ET donor groups produced a significant boost in the 2008 drop.

ET DONOR GROUPS

One of our largest ET donor groups produced a significant boost in the 2008 drop.

DOUBLE STUD EWE

Another more recent DS ewe is DG. 110335. A prominent donor for many years, she bred a great line of daughters along with sire DG.150211ET & his full brother that topped our sale in 2016.

DONOR EWE

This red tagged ewe DG.060455 was the best CRACKER daughter we bred. In her last flush at 10 years old, producing our sire CODE 160247 who again bred on exceptionally well.