Border Leicester rams play an integral role in the Anderson family's fine wool Merino enterprise in the Southern Tablelands, producing quality first-cross ewes for prime lamb production.
Although Robert and Suzanne Anderson have always run first-cross ewes as part of their 1330-hectare grazing enterprise, Box Hills near Narrawa, during the past five years they have significantly ramped up their breeding program.
"We used to buy in our first-cross ewes but due to biosecurity and animal health concerns and the cost of replacements, we have created a closed flock system," Mrs Anderson said.
"For the past three years we haven't had to buy any first-cross ewes as our flock numbers are sustainable now."
"We also used to keep our Merino wethers for longer but with the mutton market being so good we only keep them for 12 months or so now which has meant we can stock more Merino ewes as a base for our first-cross production."
They currently run 700 self-replacing Merino ewes alongside 700 Merinos joined to Border Leicester rams to produce their first-cross ewes and 2000 first-cross ewes mated to Poll Dorset terminal sires.
The Anderson family's Merino sheep are a mix of Thalabah, Grassy Creek and Demondrille genetics and the flock averages 18 micron. All surplus Merino ewes are joined to Border Leicester rams.
They have been sourcing their Border Leicester rams from the nearby Talkook stud, with selection focused on structure, frame size and eye muscle area.
For Mrs Anderson, who is a wool classer and has a family background in superfine wool growing, micron and wool quality is also important.
"We use exactly the same criteria as for our Merino rams, we want to select the finest micron we can without compromising on size, structural soundness and carcase attributes," she said.
"By focusing on micron, coefficient of variation and standard deviation along with frame size, this all contributes to a better quality first-cross ewe.
"For breeders like ourselves who are keeping our first-cross ewes, the micron testing and muscle scanning that Talkook carry out on their rams is really important.
"If you can keep your micron under 30, you can substantially increase your profits.
"A couple of years ago we actually got close to the same price for our first-cross ewe wool as we got for the Merino wool. When the market is hot, it's hot."
Poll Dorset rams are purchased from the Hillden stud, Bannister, and Brad Dawson's local Charja stud, with the Andersons preferring to select structurally sound, paddock-reared sires with a smooth shoulder for ease of lambing.
Lambing is staggered for ease of management with the first-cross ewes lambing in May and June, while the Merinos mated to Border Leicester rams lamb through June and July and the self-replacing Merinos start lambing from July onwards.
For the past five years, scanning rates have averaged about 150 per cent in the first-cross ewe flock mated to Poll Dorsets and marking rates are similar.
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Lamb marking rates average about 120pc for the Merino ewes joined to Border Leicesters, and 100pc for the pure Merino flock.
The Anderson family aim to have the ewes in condition score three or more at joining and maintain their condition through to lambing. They also ensure the rams are well looked after.
"Winter is usually our tightest time and we're happy to supplement the ewes with sheep nuts or grain depending on the available pasture feed," Mrs Anderson said.
The first-cross ewes are scanned to identify multiples so they can be given preferential treatment.
The twinners will be kept in small mob sizes in paddocks close to the house and are checked twice daily.
"The twin-bearing ewes will always lamb in the better quality, more sheltered paddocks," Mrs Anderson said.
"We'll also plan ahead and make sure the silos are fully stocked with grain so the ewes can be supplemented with feeders if required."
The family aim to sell all the second-cross lambs at heavy trade to export weight with the top draft marketed at a live weight of 50 kilograms from October onwards.
The lambs are sold through the Yass saleyards or over the hooks, depending on the current market and prices.
"We're finding with their genetics and nutrition we are turning them off earlier and earlier and we're getting prices over $200 per head for them," Mrs Anderson said.
"We'll weigh them regularly and just keep selling drafts when they are ready. We want them all sold before Christmas."
The first-cross wether lamb portion are weaned, shorn in December and grown out over the summer. They will be marketed through the saleyards from February onwards and the Andersons have been pleased with their prices.
"The first-cross wether lambs have been a pleasant surprise for us," Mrs Anderson said.
"We're selling them through February, March and April when there aren't any new season lambs around.
"We've been getting an average of $200 per head, which we certainly didn't anticipate when we changed our production system."
