Making switch to the Australian White reaps rewards

Convenience, big money and early maturity of the Australian White convinced a farming enterprise to make the change.

Jim Walsh from Woomboota in southern NSW said the early maturity of the Australian White allows a quick build of numbers. Picture: Jenny Kelly

From a Merino operation four years ago, to running 900 commercial Australian White ewes and founding a stud through to embryo transfer work this season.

Jim and Ange Walsh, from Woodlands at Woomboota in southern NSW, fit the case study of why shedding breeds have gained so much momentum across the sheep industry.

A vet by profession, Jim works full time for Coopers Animal Health, and their farming enterprise has to fit around work commitments.

“The decision to change breeds was based around convenience, and I do have a prime lamb background rather than wool and was always attracted to the Australian White for its quick maturity and sound feet (having worked closely with footrot eradication programs in the past),’’ Jim said.

They also considered financial outcomes, and he said to match or exceed a good Merino operation with its dual meat/wool income their shedding sheep would have to lamb down three times in two years, which they have started to do.

Jim said there was definite gains from the early maturity of the Australian White, and they have been able to successfully join lambs at just eight months old, allowing them to quickly build numbers and fast track genetics.

They have also had a taste of the big money available for the breed, selling unjoined ewe lambs for up to $450 each. This past autumn purebred Australian White lambs were born on Woodlands as part of an ET program for a new stud flock they will use to breed some of their own rams from, with the longer-term aim of building up a ram clientele.

MORE

TOUGH REPUTATION DRIVES POPULARITY OF DORPER SHEEP

AUSSIE SHEEP FLOCK SET TO INCREASE, AS PRODUCERS REBUILD

STELLAR SEASON DRIVING FARMER CONFIDENCE