Breeders beat the challenges

LODDON Valley Merino studs conquered a challenging spring to put their best ewes and rams forward at last Friday’s field day.

Ewes lost condition last October carrying too much wool as studs waited for shearers to get through floodwaters and grazing areas were reduced or waterlogged. “But they have recovered well,” said Terrick West’s Ross McGauchie.

That optimism for the industry was echoed by Robert Hooke at Willera Merinos, one of four on-property displays for the annual field day with another 11 association member studs based at Serpentine recreation reserve.

He said floods had impacted local studs and while wool prices could be tough, a lift was around the corner.

Loddon Valley Stud Merino Breeders’ Association president Kevin Hynam said members had proven again that they were breeding sheep to withstand environmental challenges.

Pen of three rams judge Murray McKenzie backed up the assessment of recovery since the floods.

“The rams we judged today looked really good,” he said.

“The studs were hard to split and we really did come down to the finer details - an even three rams ... their structure.”

Co-judge Phil Toland said quality and quantity of wool also came into the assessment.

“Some have handled the wet better than others,” he said.

“There’s a big range of environments the rams come from - some areas have far greater rainfall than others and last year you could double it.”

Mr Hynam said while crowds were down slightly this year, the field day was an opportunity for members to show “a range of Merino types bred selectively by each stud breeder to suit their goals and environments”.

“Although 2023 has shown a correction in lamb and mutton markets, Merino wool prices have increased closer to a sustainable level.”

Kamarooka Park’s Errol Hay is among Loddon breeders continuing to invest in genetics for improvement of sheep.

Mr Hay said he aimed for a bold crimp-style fleece that was averaging 18.5 microns.

While winning the field day pen of three rams last year, he had higher hopes in 2023 for the new ewes competition and was rewarded with third place.

Mr Hynam said the inaugural ewe competition was named in honour of the late Doug Todd. From next year, the award would become a memorial event for all former members of the association, he said.

Mr Todd’s wife Elizabeth and daughter Lou judged the ewe

Friday 10th March 2023- 10am Sharp

Machinery, Collectables & Antiques

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PTO drive, “Sherwell” field bin with Auger (300 bag), 36’ “Sherwell” Auger, 12’ pencil Auger.

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ANTIQUE MACHINERY: “Furphys” farm water cart, 1937 “Sunshine” AL Harvester, “Avery” scales, Blacksmith Bellow, 1935 timber wool table, “Sunshine” gate, “Furphys” spike roller, 5’ stump jump plough, 5’ Mulboard plough, “Chas Smith” wool press, 12 plate one way disc plough, 21’ Coltipacker, homemade smudger, 2 x mud scoops (homemade), blacksmith tools, old trailer, grader blades, 5 draft horse collars.

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Ageing drinkers milking market

THE liquid “drinking” milk market remains of key importance to Australia’s dairy sector – with improved domestic retail pricing and opportunities for further export growth, Rabobank says in a new industry report.

In Australia’s Drinking Milk Markets: from Loss Leader to Improving Performer, the agribusiness bank says the liquid milk category – which in recent years had struggled with a number of challenges including discounting by retailers – is a major “pillar” for Australia’s dairy sector, accounting for 30 per cent of milk production and generating more than A$4 billion in revenue annually.

And this is important not only for revenue generation, but also strategically for supply chain efficiency, helping to support the Australian “dairy value chain and lead to stable farmgate milk prices over multiple seasons for milk suppliers servicing the drinking milk market, the report says.

competition last Friday and said Doug would have been thrilled to have the inaugural prize named in his honour.

Lou said her father always enjoyed the field day and being with fellow Merino breeders.

His Ninuenook stud became known for high lambing percentages and great mothering abilit-

“Drinking milk, being a staple product in the consumer basket, will remain a large and important category for Australian milk utilisation,” the report says.

Australia’s domestic drinking milk market is, however, “very mature” with falling domestic consumption. but this is being offset by growing exports of liquid milk, says report author,