When Richard and Jane Carter decided to relocate their Corriedale stud from the Southern Tablelands to the warmer Riverina, the fact their prospective property purchase came with an established flock of commercial Corriedale ewes was a clincher.
The Carter’s moved to their new property “Billagaboo West”, on the Yanco Creek west of Narrandera 12 months ago and are busy reestablishing pastures and gradually building the size of the breeding flock.
Mr Carter is proud of his families association with the Corriedale, having been bred by his father on the Crookwell district property since 1937.
“The Corriedale were once the second most populous breed in the world renowned for their true dual-purpose characteristics, but unfortunately the breed lost its direction with the call for the wool industry to grow finer wool,” he said.
“The Corriedale was once recognised for its long, lustrous and soft deep crimping fleeces on a body which was very suitable for the local of export trade.
“We still have those characteristics in our sheep and we are determined to maintain them.”
Mr Carter said the sheep must produce soft and well nourished wool, whatever the mean micron, to keep the dirt out, and to enhance the processing qualities of the wool.
“There are two major bloodlines in the breed, each are represented in my sheep and we will be building on their lineage,” he said.
“I am very strong on having good female lines, and it is interesting to class the sheep yourself because you pick out the ewes which correspond to the type you like, and then you look at their figures.”
Mr Carter said it is unfortunate there aren’t the big lines of Corriedale ewes available like there once was, so if anyone wants to breed a Corriedale flock, he suggests starting with some top quality First Cross ewes and joining them to top Corriedale sires.
“The sheep industry is searching for a sheep which can produce both a lot of fibre and a lot of meat, just like it did 100 years ago,” he said.
“In the present climate where meat is in huge demand, and where the price differential in various wool types is minimal, the Corriedale has a unique place as it did 100 hundred years ago.”
The Corriedale ewes on “Billagaboo West”, have an average lambing of 130 percent while ewes cutting up to seven kgs of 28m wool.
“Our wether lambs are sold at eight months and reach export weights of 28kgs dressed in that time,” he said.
“The wool is bright and lustrous, and soft handling and the type is finding ready acceptance in the trade.”
Mr Carter said it is very exciting time to be involved with the Corriedale breed.
“Their is huge demand for meat from many traditional markets as well as emerging countries in Asia, and they are looking for heavier types of lambs from Australia,” he said.
“The timing has occurred just as the type has been fixed after 100 years, so breeders can be assured of animals throwing true-to-type,” he said.
“This is a key factor when considering a sheep breeding program … the self-replacing Corriedale flock which has high fertility and constitution and breeds consistently is an attractive option for producers to consider.
“There is a new generation of producers investing in agriculture … whether they are corporate investors employing managers with an open mind, sons returning to the family property or small farmers interested in breeding a unique sheep, the Corriedale fills their needs.”
Jane Carter said their personality and performance make them more than a curiosity.
“There is something about the Corriedale, they are fantastic mothers, and happy to be around people,” Mrs Carter said.
