Fertility and survivability top performers at Karbullah Poll Merinos

Progressive farming techniques and early adoption of new innovations has placed the Murphy family at the forefront of the Merino industry.

Karbullah Poll Merino stud owner Mark Murphy with a sire at Goondiwindi in Queensland..

Fertility in Merinos has long been commonly considered a trait with low inheritability but according to Mark Murphy, it’s “codswallop”.

“When we see a client come in with low fat and muscle, and we put a ram of ours in, survivability in lambs’ skyrockets,” he said.

“It defies that statement that fertility has low inheritability. You’ve got to have both. You must have a unison of fat and muscle. It’s a marriage made in heaven. Whenever there is plenty of muscle there, fat will never get out of hand.”

Mark and Vicki Murphy, and their sons Luke and Ben and partners, Sarah and Stephanie, run Karbullah Poll Merinos on 3240ha in the heart of brigalow and belah country 70km north of Goondiwindi, in southern Queensland.

They refer to it as a next generation Merino stud, focused on producing a dual purpose Merino with high productivity, superior SRS wool and strong carcass, fertility and survivability characteristics.

The stud flock, which includes 1100 stud ewes and produces 350 stud rams for sale annually, has an average micron of 19, has not been mulesed since 2004, and the ewe base has not been worm drenched since 1992.

It is all a result of their genetic breeding and selection.

CUTTING-EDGE GENETICS

The Murphys became a registered SRS Merino stud in 2001 after learning about skin biology and wool quality from SRS genetics founder, Dr Jim Watts, who Mark described as “way ahead of his time”, adding his “legacy will live on for a very long time”.

“The package that he was promoting is really productive. It’s about being adaptable in all environments in Australia,” Mark said.

A Young Sire Program involving fellow SRS Genetics studs has enabled the Murphys to access cutting-edge genetics with great advantages in benchmarking, genetic gains and increased accuracy.

Other like-minded studs are situated in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and NSW testing sheep production in diverse environments.

“This is the way forward – non mulesed, ethically produced, survival orientated,” Mark said.

The Murphys have been measuring and collecting data for sheep breeding values for 20 years and are able to draw on that extensive collection of information to fine-tune breeding.

Karbullah Poll Merino ewes at joining time.

 FERTILITY AND SURVIVABILITY

Progressive farming techniques and early adoption of new innovations has placed the Murphys at the forefront of the industry.

Lambing rates last year were 153 per cent (lambs marked to ewes joined) with only 7.3 per cent lamb loss from pregnancy scanning to lamb marking.

“This is comparable to housed conditions in Europe where all sheep are under 24-7 surveillance, assisted birth, tube fed colostrum and antibiotics given to them at birth. Their average lamb loss is 7-9 per cent yet we can match it in the paddock in Queensland. It can be done,” Mark said.

“One of our biggest focuses here at Karbullah and the one we are most proud of is our fertility and survivability.”

The Murphys select heavily for a balance of carcass traits and believe it is the driver behind their higher fertility and survivability rates. They only select sires that are positive for muscle and fat.

“Selection for higher carcass values also increases the hardiness and do-ability of our sheep, which was reflected in consistently high scanning and marking percentages throughout the last decade, which included the worst drought in recorded history in 2019,” Vicki said.

Farm management has also played a huge role in fertility and survivability with vermin control measures including fox baiting and a cluster fence with nine other neighbouring properties to help with pig and wild dog control.

A guard dog protects the flock at Karbullah Poll Merino stud at Goondiwindi, QLD.

THE SWEET SPOT

The Murphys aim for a ewe that is about 65kg, bucking the industry trend for bigger ewes.

“If you have an 80kg ewe, she will eat more and you’ll get less wool because you are running less sheep,” Vicki said.

“You want a ewe that’s about 65kg and she gets you down the road without compromising production. Balance wool production with reproduction especially if she’s trying to raise two lambs. Wool quality being paramount.

“It’s about finding that sweet spot in your business – she’s not going to kill the shearer when he brings them out but she’s still doing the production side of it.

“If you can run a ewe that is cutting your 6kg in comparisons and raise an extra 20 per cent lambs, this would be a great outcome season permitting – wool and lambs.”

The Murphys aim for higher weaning weights to give lambs a good head start and also run minimal mob sizes for pasture management. Saltbush plantations have been planted for drought mitigation.

Maiden ewes with lambs at Karbullah Poll Merinos, Goondiwindi, QLD.

KEY PROFIT DRIVERS

In their drive to produce the ultimate dual purpose sheep, the Murphys have six key principles to produce superior wool quality including long staple, white-lustrous wool, silky softness, deep-bold crimp, nourishment and high density fibres.

“Our entire flock average sits in the top 10 per cent for staple length and our leading sires constantly produce fleece density,” Vicki said.

“Our emphasis on wool quality allows us to shear our adult sheep every six months, cutting an average of 3kg of 70mm, 19-micron wool.

“With the international focus on non-mulesed wool and the introduction of Responsible Wool Standards, we are now getting very nice premiums, that makes wool one of our main profit drivers.“

Perfecting worm resilience has also been an important driver for the Murphys over the last two decades and is an area they hope to continue to improve despite their rams sitting in the top 10 per cent for the trait.

Mark said more lambs, superior wool quality, increased hardiness and do-ability, bigger carcass values, less worm burden and quiet temperament all equalled more profit.

“More lambs equals surplus ewes, more wethers, more rams and more wool to sell. Superior wool quality, non-mulesed, RWS Standards equals large premiums for wool. Large carcass values equals higher dressing percentage and more dollars for wethers,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we do what we do to improve the profitability, the passion and the lifestyle of ourselves, our clients, and the future generations.”