LOCKHART stud Trigger Vale Merino will make its South West Slopes Stud Merino Breeders Field Day debut this year, exhibiting young rams which will be available in the stud’s September 7 sale.
Andrew and Mandi Bouffler join the event after about six years of being on the waiting list, and said it was a good opportunity to showcase their stock.
On display will be a selection of stud sires, and the first 10 lots from the sale catalogue, which will include 150 Poll Merino rams.
The Boufflers also exhibit their sheep at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show and Sheepvention at Hamilton, both in Victoria.
“South west slopes has grown to be the prestigious event to show and display sheep for southern and central NSW, we see it as a real opportunity, given our unique breeding objective, to market our sheep,” Mr Bouffler said.
Trigger Vale focuses on maternal traits, with emphasis on early growth, fat and muscle, while retaining good wool traits.
“Our goal is to improve the survival gap between conception and lamb marking rates,” Mr Bouffler said.
“This has both financial and ethical benefits for Merino sheep breeding enterprises.
“We’re breeding better maternal, easy care ewes that will do a good job raising a lamb, particularly with twins.
“With the high wool market, everyone’s gone a bit mad with the wool cut, but overall enterprise profitability comes from more than just micron and wool cut.
“It’s also about getting more lambs on the ground, and having a lower cost base. We’re not feeding as much, because the ewes carry a better condition score.”
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The stud, one of the earliest to use only polled genetics, was established in 1952 and will hold its 41st sale this year.
The stud flock of 2000 ewes averages 21-micron, and the Boufflers breed plain-bodied sheep that don’t need mulesing.
“It’s a free-growing, crimpy wool, with an eye on staple length to enable six-month shearings, which we've been doing for about five years,” Mr Bouffler said.
Our goal is to improve the survival gap between conception and lamb marking rates.
- Andrew Bouffler
“We want to breed a true all-purpose Merino, the extra fat and muscle in the genes ensures early maturing wether lambs with our clients regularly getting a premium price.
“Meanwhile their sisters, due to the same early maturing traits, present with the opportunity to join as ewe lambs if the season permits, and they also handle the tough seasons better.
“This dry year has highlighted the importance of our balanced maternal focused breeding objective.
“We’ve had extraordinary lambing percentages this year, because they were in good condition going into lambing, and we had no cold wet weather.”
