CROP SPAYING may be the main business of Gilgandra couple, Charlie and Thea Newby, but their White Dorper sheep are the best meat breeding grazing machines for their 325-hectare “Golden Downs” in the Bearbung district.
The Newbys began breeding White Dorpers eight years ago starting with second and third cross ewes, however, a change of tactics five years ago in purchasing some purebred African blood ewes joined to Annalara rams changed their whole outlook.
“We turn-off lambs close to four months of age and sell them at Dubbo for good money,” Mr Newby said.
“Lambs were weaned a little earlier this season at two and a-half-months as it has been so dry and put on a 12ha oats paddock with a self-feeder to finish.
“The first lot of 50 head sold at the recent big Dubbo yarding of 40,000-plus sheep still made $95 each at three months and one week, and another mob a fortnight later made the same money.”
The Newbys have improved 250ha of their pasture paddocks with consol love grass and other tropical grasses, a move they have not regretted.
“Even in winter here where we get heavy frosts, the grass keeps going,” Mr Newby said.
“We still have green butts with longish grass and possibly 98 per cent ground cover in this light Ironbark and pine country.
“I’m told there is not much protein in this grass but the sheep don’t seem to mind.”
They have kept the ewe portion of the joinings and have been getting from 130 to 160 per cent lambing at weaning over the past five years and have been keeping accurate figures.
“We don’t have lambing problems and the Annalara-sired lambs seem to be very small at birth but grow rapidly and also have a high dressing percentage at that four-months age.”
Mr Newby said he could not fault White Dorpers.
“We don’t go near them at lambing, we just keep out of the paddock.
“There is an Alpaca running with them to guard from dogs and in this way we don’t get any mis-mothering.”
Mr Newby said he managed the AgSPRAY Gil spraying business which operates three rigs while Mrs Newby looked after the farm and stock when not water carting on some jobs.
“We were in cattle but got out of them and destocked the property for two years to get our grasses going,” Mr Newby said.
White Dorpers are the breed they enjoy the benefits from.
“We did try Aussie Whites but we found the White Dorper out performed them in this country,” Mr Newby said.
“A neighbor bought some maiden ewe lambs and bred from them lambing at 140pc, and we are getting some good feedback from these.”