Suffolks a boost at Bigga

For six generations the family have been producing some of the best in the country.

But with changing demands and unstable wool markets, Mr Picker, “Rocton”, believes relying on what was produced 30 years ago won’t necessarily grow business into the future.

Youngest of the four Picker brothers, “Hillcreston”, Bigga, Mr Picker said diversification was the key to a sustainable farming future.

“Breeding superfine Merino wool is, and will always be, our main objective,” he said.

“But these days, especially with the wool market, or any market for that matter, being so volatile, you have to look at other options.

“To me, there is an obvious increasing need for diversification to spread cash flow through the year.”

Mr Picker, his wife Sue and son Cameron run 3000 head of sheep on 658 hectares at the foothills of Bigga in the Upper Lachlan Shire.

Ten years ago, Mr Picker made the bold move of introducing White Suffolks into his Merino flock.

He knew he needed to look at diversification within his Merino enterprise.

Mr Picker now runs 1200 Merino ewes, 250 White Suffolk ewes and joins another 200 Merino ewes to White Suffolk rams.

“Introducing White Suffolks was suggested to us as a second avenue,” he said.

“We took the advice and it turned out an ideal path, and has rewarded us with long term benefits.

“A lot of people are doing both first- and second-cross and looking at purchasing something else to put over their cull or stronger-wool Merinos.

“The White Suffolk side of the business has been a diversification of income in prime lamb production.

“They are ideal for crossing over Merino ewes producing both a wool and carcase sheep.”

Commercially, Brett and Cameron sell 50 to 60 White Suffolk rams a year.

Last week Mr Picker received $5.90 a kilogram for his first cross lambs.

On average their ewes cut three and a half kilos with an average of 16.5-micron.

“We’re still producing a low micron Merino ewe,” said Cameron Picker.

“But we are also on the path of developing a larger framed sheep that cuts more wool.

“This isn’t easy to do without compromising your micron.

“The selection itself has gone from just basing it on micron and a pretty overall wool sheep to a larger built ram, denser wool.

“If you slowly do that with your ewes and your rams, your whole flock will change.

“We are starting to see it in this year’s young sheep and I think we are in for a bigger wool cut this year.

“That, combined with our White Suffolk operation, which is continually growing, builds a more sustainable income for the year, and in the end, that’s what it’s all about.”

AS PART of the next generation of woolgrowers, Cameron Picker, 22, knows when it comes to the future of wool, the industry is not what it used to be.

“You can’t wait for a wool boom,” he said.

“Having a secondary income is nearly second nature to a lot of people these days.

“What the future holds for the wool and sheep industry is unclear, therefore drought-proofing yourself has become somewhat a necessity.”

Mr Picker is a trained accountant, and works on the family property, “Rocton”, three days a week, while from Tuesday to Friday he works at SWL Accountants, Goulburn.

When choosing studies he wanted something that was going to help both himself with his own enterprise as well understanding the needs of others on the land.

“If I was going to use my studies resourcefully I could see doing accountancy was going to be beneficial,” Mr Picker said.

“I always knew I was going to follow in dad’s footsteps and take over the family property, but it was just a matter of when.

“But rather than relying on one form of income when managing a farm, I also knew I needed a backstop in my career.”

A talented rugby league player, Mr Picker was selected to play for the Parramatta Eels when he was just 17.

But his football career was cut short when he sustained a back injury and had to undergo a back operation just before he turned 20.

During his time in Sydney he completed a Bachelor of Business Management and finished his accountancy degree when he returned to Bigga.

“The two work well together, hand in hand really,” said Mr Picker (pictured, foreground, with his father Brett).

He has also just started a Poll Dorset stud, buying in 35 ewes.