CADELL Border Leicester rams are producing sought-after first-cross ewe lambs for Allan and Kate Gadsby at Binnowee, Molong.
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The Gadsby family runs about 4000 ewes on about 2023 hectares, and have destocked reducing their numbers due to the drought, and also sold off all their lambs early this year.
Wether lambs are sold after weaning in February to various lotfeeders, and ewe lambs usually go onto improved pastures, including phalaris, clover and ryegrass, until April, then onto crops, such as barley, wheat or brassica, until they’re sold in early spring.
“The wether lambs were sold on time, and the ewes were trucked in May, but they normally don’t go until mid-October,” Mr Gadsby said.
They’re good-doing Border Leicester rams, with good growth rates, and they’re nice, long-bodied sheep with good heads, conformation and legs.
- Allan Gadsby, Binnowee, Molong
The ewe lambs go to the same re-stockers each year, with a Victorian second-cross lamb producer purchasing most of them.
”We have a buyer at Hamilton who takes 2000 to 2500 lambs, and the balance goes to a farmer at Forbes,” Mr Gadsby said.
“Our Hamilton buyer bought a run on AuctionsPlus about seven years ago and liked them.
“He runs about 12,000 first-cross ewes.
“In August last year, it was very dry, so he took them about six weeks earlier, but this year it was nearly three-and-a-half months earlier. They generally weigh from 58 to 68 kilograms.”
Border Leicester rams have been used for about 15 years.
In 2002 the Gadsbys sold all their cattle, and they’ve simplified the production by buying in young Merino ewes, turning them over at five-and-a-half to six years of age.
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They’ve been using Cadell genetics for more than a decade, choosing the Ariah Park stud for the strong growth rates and length in the sheep.
“They’re good-doing Border Leicester rams, with good growth rates, and they’re nice, long-bodied sheep with good heads, conformation and legs,” Mr Gadsby said.
”Barry (Harper, Cadell stud principal) has some great genetics.
“Fertility is a big thing with these Border Leicesters, and the ewes that we buy in have good fertility, so on average we have 130 per cent lambing.
“Our buyer marks an even better percentage of lambs, but they are looked after, from birth to joining. He joins them in November, at 70kg.”
Ruth Schwager
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
