HEAVY export weight crossbred prime lamb production, Merino wool growing and some farming is a worthwhile business mix for Greg and Judy Bell at “Minnerong”, Peak Hill, who would prefer to finish their lambs as suckers, but rarely do.
Mr Bell said he was currently feeding young lambs on self-feeders to try and get them off as suckers, but normally can’t quite match second-cross producers, preferring to leave it to those specialists on better country and some with irrigation.
“We just can’t finish our White Suffolk/Merino lambs as quick here, so I normally grow them out to the 55 to 60 kilogram mark and sell before they break their teeth,” he said.
These are marketed at Dubbo and Forbes saleyards, with Mr Bell saying he likes utilise both markets.
Prime lambs have been a profitable boost for the Bells, especially during the years of low wool price returns.
They run a 1000 ewe self-replacing 21-micron Merino flock, which has been on Haddon Rig blood for more than 40 years with an average fleece weight of 6.5kg in the Dunmore district, just 20 kilometres west of town on the Tullamore Road.
“These sheep have potential to grow more wool, but we stock fairly highly here,” Mr Bell said.
“I know that if I gave them a bit more room to move they’d cut more wool.”
However, Mr Bell said he went for lamb production – “that’s where the dollars have been, but that might change a bit as wool prices have become a bigger income percentage”. The Bells source their White Suffolk rams from the Hartins family of Mungery, and prefer the two-breed crosses instead of Border Leicester first cross production because the White Suffolk cross is terminal and produces more meat.
“It’s all about keeping our business simple and the whole of each drop is sold,” he said.
Ewes used for crossbreeding are joined at a rate of two per cent rams in October, while Merino ewes in the main flock are joined at 1.5pc in January.
Maiden ewes are joined at 18 months, with all culls and cast-for-age ewes, lately as five-year-olds, moved to the crossbreeding flock.
“Numbers have changed a bit over time because I was running a third Merinos and two-thirds for crossing,” he said.
“But as the wool job is improving and ewes are getting dearer we’ve upped the number of Merino ewes and are now joining 1000 of them and 800 to White Suffolk rams.”
The split lambing of the two flocks makes management easier, as well.
Expert advice only a bell away
ASSISTING Greg and Judy Bell with their sheep breeding and wool growing enterprises is David Rathbone of Agriwest, Parkes.
Through the Peak Hill store, Mr Rathbone, an animal production consultant, helps the Bells plan their husbandry practices, shearing, chemical and pastures.
“He’s like an agronomist, but with animals, and keeps me up to date with animal health advice,” Mr Bell said.
“He knows when our peak times are and checks up with any requirements we may need to complete our jobs.”
“Minnerong” was taken up by Mr Bell’s grandfather, Harry, in 1921 and handed over to his father, Bob, who ran the farming business for 60 years before handing it over to him.
“Dad still does a bit and continues his interest in the farm,” Mr Bell said.
“Being a mixed-farming property it’s always flexible here.
“We were putting in just under 1000 hectares of crop, but now, more like half that and a big percentage is fodder for grazing and grain production for our sheep.”
Oats and barley are the main fodder crops, although Mr Bell said he has been contemplating grazing canola between wheat rotations.
