A breeder's perspective
Fifth-generation Merino breeder Matthew Coddington can easily measure the effect SGA has on his stud business, ‘Roseville Park’, near Dubbo in central NSW. “Last year, SGA was the source of nine new clients who spent $26,000 on rams and semen,” he says. “The SGA subscription and additional testing fees cost a total of $6200. This adds up to a profit of $19,800.”
Matthew runs the stud with his wife Cherie and their four children. During the past 15 years, the stud, which was founded in 1938 and runs a flock of 6500 stud Merino sheep on more than 2000 hectares, has reduced its average micron from 20.6 to 18.5. Average adult ewe fleece weights have increased from 6.5 kilograms to 8kg. Bodyweight has also gradually increased.
The Merino stud sells up to 800 rams a year. They service more than 700 clients, and have an influence in more than 200 Merino studs in Australia and overseas. Overall, Mr Coddington attributes this success to a breeding program that aims for a balance between different selection tools. ‘Roseville Park’ makes extensive use of artificial insemination, embryo transfer, rigorous classing techniques and indexed breeding values.
The stud has continuously benchmarked itself to the Merino industry, through taking part in Central Test Sire Evaluation and wether trials and through a database now incorporated into SGA’s MERINOSELECT.
“When it comes to benchmarking my sheep against other flocks, I’m prepared to have a go at anything,” says Mr Coddington, who helps to represent woolgrowers’ perspectives to the SGA through its advisory committee. “I have a lot of confidence in my product and like to back my better judgement. I use the SGA genetic database as an aid to visual assessment to back up this judgement, and as another way to benchmark our flock on a level playing field.”
Mr Coddington recommends SGA’s ‘Try Before You Buy’ program for those growers who find the SGA option daunting or expensive. In the program’s first round, 55,000 sheep from 19 flocks participated for free, with the resulting information provided confidentially with no obligation. The program has been extended until the end of August 2007.
“Many people are already doing measurements and there are advantages and cost-benefits to joining SGA,” he says. “The breeding values and benchmarks are a useful selection tool. However, they are not a silver-bullet solution and I advise breeders that they still maintain a balance between visual and measured selection when purchasing a ram.”
More information: Matthew Coddington, 02 6887 7286, rpmerinos@gobushmail.com.au, www.rosevilleparkmerinos.com.au
Image: Matthew Coddington of "Roseville Park".
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