Damian and Rebecca Merrett: High achieving sheep farmers at Apsley

THERE’S plenty of merit in Damian Merrett’s approach to sheep farming.

Sheep shape: Damian Merrett on his farm at Apsley in Victoria, where he produces 9000 prime lambs a year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

2017 SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

DAMIAN AND REBECCA MERRETT

APSLEY, VIC

THERE’S plenty of merit in Damian Merrett’s approach to sheep farming.

A combination of good genetics, pastures and management have allowed him to achieve in two weeks what it takes others months.

Damian runs his composite sheep flock on about 1410 hectares at Apsley, in western Victoria, a mix of country he owns and leases with his wife, Rebecca, and father Kevin.

In a prime example of how to produce lambs profitably, the Merretts sell their entire drop of nearly 9000 lambs to abattoirs in the space of just a fortnight.

This is an impressive feat given most farmers struggle to get their lambs to desired weights all at once, and are forced to drip-feed the market over months at generally discounted rates.

Damian said his farm was ideal for turning off prime lambs thanks to the high clover content of its pastures. Export weights of 26kg a carcass can be achieved within just 20 weeks.

Genetics is the key to the success of the business. Damian joins about 7000 composite ewes each year, mostly to Primeline rams, with a portion of the flock joined to Poll Dorsets.

So happy has he been with the performance of the Primeline progeny that he plans to switch more of his production to the breed, noted for producing good prime lamb mothers.

The proof is in the production pudding. Last year the Merretts enjoyed a lamb survival rate of 142 per cent and aim to increase this to 150 per cent.

Another innovation Damian has introduced to the farm is joining ewe lambs at eight months, instead of the normal 12 or 18 months, which means they start earning money for the Merretts quicker.

The Merretts also don’t wean their lambs, allowing them to run with their mothers until they are sent to the processor, ensuring they “have the best growth rate they can”.

It’s a formula that has positioned the Merrett family firmly at the top of the chops in the sheep industry.