Mulana Poll Merino

When lambs aren’t growing as well as expected, feed is often the first place we look. Is there enough feed in front of them? Is pasture quality holding them back? Do they need grain? Is protein or energy the limiting factor? They’re all sensible questions. Nutrition, animal health, seasonal conditions and management have a major influence on Merino lamb growth rates. But there’s another part of the equation that can be easy to overlook: genetics. For commercial sheep producers, understanding...

When it comes to ram selection, today’s ram sale catalogues give commercial sheep producers more information than ever before. But sometimes, more information doesn’t make choosing Merino rams any easier. Between ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Values), indexes, pedigrees, wool measurements, growth figures and visual assess ments, it’s easy to get caught comparing individual numbers rather than asking the bigger question: Will this ram actually help move my flock in the direction I want it...

Choosing the right Merino rams is one of the most important decisions a commercial sheep producer makes. The genetics you introduce today will influence lamb survival, fertility, wool quality and profitability for years to come. Yet with sale catalogues full of ASBVs and endless breeding advice available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. If you've ever looked through a ram catalogue and wondered, "Where do I even start?", you're certainly not alone. Many Australian sheep producers are trying to...