Building on almost 20 years of family knowledge has led Coolah producer’s, Tom and Anna Dunlop down a profitable path with the Wiltipoll breed.
Eight years ago the Dunlop’s began operating a self-replacing Wiltipoll flock after taking over the family stud, Munna Wiltipoll.
At “Munna”, a 638 hectare property, Tom and Anna operate 400 breeding ewes, with another 200 replacement maiden ewes.
Believing the breed is ahead of other shedding breeds, Tom Dunlop said the Wiltipoll’s 100 per cent shedding and high yielding ability are the main attractions.
Using the majority of their own bred stud rams, Mr Dunlop said they have also introduced Wonoka bloodlines from South Australia.
“We have introduced very few outside rams because a lot of the rams we look at have already got our blood in them to begin with,” he said.
The key traits the Dunlop’s are aiming to continue building within their flock are shedding ability, structure and easy care.
“Shedding and structural correctness are massive for us, as well as easy care and easy doing,” Mr Dunlop said.
“We try to get them as early maturing as possible because we want to get our lambs turned off nice and quick and over the hooks,” he said.
Munna ewes are joined for six to eight weeks at the end of February to produce an August/September lamb. Aiming to target the prime lamb market, the progeny are generally weaned in mid November.
“It depends on the season, this year we have left them on a bit longer because they’re doing so well,” Mr Dunlop said.
“Usually, in a good season I can sell them straight off their mother at seven months old,” he said.
Opting for the over-the-hook market instead of the sale yards, lambs are grown out to about 28 to 35 kilograms dressed weight and sold to Eversons Food Processors, Frederickton, in lots of about 200 head.
“It’s the yield that really drives the processing decision because you get paid for yield, I get a set over-the-hook price from Eversons - with the yards it can be a bit of gamble with what the buyers want on that particular day,” he said.
With maternal traits at the top of desirable attributes the Wiltipoll possess, Mr Dunlop said it’s not a surprise that this year out of 385 ewes, 620 lambs were marked.
Mr Dunlop can envision a bright future for the breed especially if marketing milestones can be reached over the next few years.
“I see marketing as a huge factor in stabilising its future against other breeds, if you look at what the Dorper and Australian White societies have achieved so far, their marketing seems to be paying off,” Mr Dunlop said.
“I think it’s important to get the Wiltipoll name out there to the larger producer and shown those guys the quality sheep they are what they can achieve for them.”
