FIRST-CROSS lambs with plenty of length are the type Geoff Jones likes and breeds for at “The Troffs”, Trundle.
His formula for success and a premium income source is proving positive as his annual drop of first-cross ewes are keenly sought-after at each January Forbes First Cross Breeders Sale and have taken out the best presented pen three times in the past seven years.
The prize is the coveted Glamis Shield, presented each year by the Brown family’s Glamis Border Leicester stud, Bedgerabong.
Mr Jones runs 2500 ewes which are surplus to his brother’s Darriwell Merino stud and commercial flock of 5000 ewes on “Darriwell”, nearby.
“I select from the surplus stud ewes and from all the older flock ewes which may have lost a bit of wool quality,” Mr Jones said.
“Because these are big ewes, I have the foundation for big first-cross lambs.”
He said the base must be good ewes. “And you must buy rams you like,” he added.
“I’ve always wanted length of body, long neck, big ears, and I’m not too worried about the depth of the ram because I have that in my ewes,” he said.
Some 10 Border Leicester rams are purchased each year from Glamis stud and also Glen Oak stud of the Barber family, Narromine.
“It looks good in the yards when you see my ewes which look like they have an extra rib on them,” Mr Jones said.
“The Troffs” first-cross ewes have been in the top five drafts at each January sale.
In near-normal years lucerne has been a key factor in sale preparation as the soil type has minerals and limestone, but this year, like everyone else, only time will tell how his sheep look by next January.
“I began using a bit of lick feeding earlier this year and lambs will be weaned onto lick and grain trails plus mineral blocks,” he said.
“I reckon by weaning, which will be probably six weeks earlier, at least 95 per cent of the lambs will be feeding off the grain line, they already are getting used to it.”
In the second week of June Mr Jones wet and dried his late drop ewes and sent all the dries to Forbes market fetching $150 up to $170.
Wether lambs are usually sold in August through AuctionsPlus but Mr Jones said he may change that plan this year, depending how the season moves forward.
“Last year they averaged $120 at 10 to 14 weeks and was happy with the money and let someone else grow them out and finish them.”
Both autumn and spring drop first-cross ewes, the whole ewe drop, are marketed in January.
