The SheepMaster™ team goes to the TOP END
The past two weeks were well spent in the NT learning about the livestock industry from senior Elders agents & cattle breeders. The major concern is that Lumpy Skin Disease, carried by mosquitos and affecting cattle but not sheep, will arrive from Indonesia. This will have a huge impact on cattle enterprises. Many cattle breeders are not aware of the advances made in the last 5 years in the shedding sheep industry. This creates opportunity for cattle producers to diversify into lamb production.
Damara sheep are currently approved to run in the Bluetongue restricted NT. With a Damara foundation, we are con fi dent that SheepMaster will be approved and will thrive in all of Northern Australia. With it’s unique skin and hardiness, SheepMaster has been talked about as the Brahman sheep of the Top End!
The Garnett Scoring System (GSS)
Breeding of desirable quality rams and commercial sheep that attract maximum competition in the market place is every breeders goal.
A growing percentage of breeders have adopted the MLA Sheep Genetics Evaluation system for the selection of sires to improve their breeding flocks. We rigidly adhere to the golden rule of sheep breeding: To breed an even type of sheep that is most likely to repeat it’s qualities in its progeny. The MLA system does not analyse shedding ability, feet or conformation. For this reason the Garnett SheepMaster stud combines both systems and the success of this is reflected in our productivity. This policy ensures that the successful SheepMaster type and traits are maintained and protected
The Garnett Scoring System was first established at Collinsville Merino Stud at Burra in South Australia by Neil in the mid 1980’s to class the large stud merino ewe flock and act as a check to the stud master policy and classing decisions. It resulted in breeding world record priced rams. In the last 15 years the GSS has been successfully adapted for the SheepMaster breed, ranking all animals in order of quality. All management and breeding is carried out within quality groups. This offers enormous advantages in the breeding program.
The GSS has enabled development of new families within the Parent Stud. This year for the first time the Masterbuild and Africa families will be offered to our clients and the Everest Family in 2024. These new improved genetic lines provide our clients the opportunity to improve at the same rate as the parent stud.
Further info: Andrew Hodgson, +61 472 646 426 Shedding Sheep Australia
The Garnett SheepMaster management team have decided to not continue with the Anzac family and have removed all Anzac’s progeny from the stud.
Left: Leo Neill-Ballantine, Branch Manager, Elders Katherine, Neil Garnett and Shane Carter, Elders Territory Sales Manager right
Masterbuild 22R599
The start of a new SheepMaster family