Trefusis Merinos: Tassie sheep producer rides high on wave of success

A RECORD run of wool prices made 2017 the year of the Merino sheep. And riding high on this wave of success was Tasmanian sheep producer Georgina Wallace.

Check mate: Georgina Wallace has transformed her family’s Trefusis Merino stud at Ross in Tasmania. Picture: Phillip Biggs

2017 SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

TREFUSIS MERINOS

Georgina and Hamish Wallace

ROSS, TAS

A RECORD run of wool prices made 2017 the year of the Merino sheep. And riding high on this wave of success was Tasmanian sheep producer Georgina Wallace.

A passionate advocate for the wool industry, Georgina juggles running the Trefusis Merino stud near Ross, with her duties as president of the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders.

With a bent on encouraging more people to consider running commercial Merino flocks, Georgina and husband Hamish are setting a cracking lead for others to follow.

Over the past eight years, the Wallaces have transformed the Trefusis flock, established by Georgina’s parents and once noted for producing some of the best superfine wool in the world.

With depressed premiums for superfine wool, the Wallaces sought to breed an animal that produces more wool and meat.

The change required a total rethink on breeding and new genetics. New bloodlines were introduced and sheep were scrutinised closely to achieve desired objectives.

The results have been more than impressive. Not only have wool cuts increased 44 per cent, but ewes are producing 20 per cent more lambs and sheep are 20 per cent heavier.

This has been achieved with only a slight increase in the micron of the Trefusis wool, allowing it to still command premium returns.

And the Wallaces’ success is not limited to the farm. For two of the past three years, a Trefusis fleece has been judged the grand champion at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo, beating about 500 others.

Georgina admits there is plenty more work to be done. To keep Trefusis progressing, she has gone on a genetics buying spree, including a share in the $52,500 supreme champion ram from last year’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show.

Which goes to show the stud’s true commitment to its future and the industry.