A BOTHWELL sheep operation with a focus on breeding snared the top prize in the recent Tasmanian Flock Ewe Competition.
About 24 properties took part in the inaugural contest, according to organiser and Roberts' wool manager Alistair Calvert, who said all sheep were judged under commercial conditions by Hugh Cameron, Otematata Station, New Zealand, and professional sheep classer Chris Bowman.
Both placed Weasel Plains, Bothwell, at the top of the pack, with criteria comprising wool quality, quantity, uniformity and constitution.
The successful 4000-hectare property owned by Scott Bowden and managed by Peter Hansch is one of four properties owned by the Bowden family in the Bothwell district.
About 11,000 sheep are run on Weasel Plains, with 45 per cent of the wool sheep joined to terminal sires and 55pc joined to Merinos.
Mr Bowden, along with Mr Hansch, said they took pride in their flock, placing plenty of emphasis on selecting quality AI sires to breed their own rams.
"Initially, in the early 1980s, we bought quality stud rams from Roseville and Haddon Rig and bred rams to use ourselves," Mr Bowden said.
The reasoning behind this decision was to save money, with Mr Bowden saying he viewed it as a safe option in case the crosses did not work.
The Bowdens then added to their ram collection, buying from Arable and Gunya, both in the Monaro area.
"This was because dad had always told the story of using a couple of rams from Arable … and as a result he got heavy-cutting white wool and a higher lambing percentage," he said.
"I used to ask him, why we didn't continue to buy there?"
Mr Bowden said he perhaps did not continue to buy because the wool market was unsettled then, but fortunately fine wool values soon began to rise. The family then decided to look at "fining up" their flock.
"We used some Merryville-blood, but needed to keep our large frame ewes to maintain our prime lamb enterprise," he said.
"Roseville Park had a ram that won King of Australia, so we decided to do our first AI program and use the sire over our best ewes," he said.
Rams were bred using the resultant ewes and an original ram from Gunya.
After a few years, Mr Bowden discovered an older flock ram that cut "18 pounds" (8 kilograms) of 19-micron wool.
On closer inspection, he noticed the ram had a large flap of skin hanging at his rear.
"Throughout the years I had seen these same types of sheep in a few leading stud sheds on the mainland, so Peter and I decided to see what it would throw," he said.
"The result was several generations of heavy cutting sheep with a very low cull rate."
The property has since been undertaking an annual AI program, using top sires from Roseville Park, while still maintaining other lines.
Although Mr Bowden did not save much cash in the process of breeding his own rams (compared to buying flock rams), he says the quality of his stock was proof in the pudding.
"It is important to pick good sires. We need to maintain a ewe big enough to breed reasonably fat lambs out of," he said.
"I look for wool quality and the right micron."
The Weasel Plains flock averages about 18-19M, and cuts about five to 6kg of wool per sheep.
Although the judges in the competition looked at the Weasel Plains Merino flock, Mr Bowden said they breed prime lambs and first-cross ewes as well.
"We got $250 a ewe (Border Leicester-Merino) for our 1.5-year-olds a couple of years ago but we are re-evaluating that because we got $80 last year," he said.
They also sell wether lambs at 13-14 months-old or 18-20kg.
"We shear and fatten them up," he said.
In prior years, the wether lambs were offloaded at five to six months. "If it is a dry year we would do that again," he said.
"We have since bought another farm and we use that as a finishing property for the wether lambs and we are making money by doing it that way."
Last year the operation's wethers made $60-plus a head, plus an additional $30 for wool.
"The wethers are a means of adjusting the stocking rate to suit the season and if the season or cropping program permit, they allow us to value-add," he said.
Pasture renovation and irrigation (300ha) also provides Weasel Plains with a point of difference.
New pasture and turnips are sown (in conjunction with poppies and oats for grain), which helps with young stock and finishing lambs.
Mr Bowden said he was content with the direction of the operation.
"We'll continue to improve pastures and spend money on animal health," he said.
"We conserve hay and store enough reserves for a dry year and sell off grain if not needed."
He added the ewe flock competition presented a valuable benchmarking tool.
"The benefit for us in going in these competitions is to see what others are doing and learn what's working," he said.
Placing a close second in the competition was the 4000ha property – Lowes Park – at Woodbury in Tasmania's midlands.
Brothers Chris and Richard Headlam – who run the farm – were also excited about their win.
Last year they joined 3500 Merinos to Merinos, 1000 Merinos to Dohnes and 3100 Dohne-Merinos to White Suffolks (from the prime lamb trade).
They also cultivate irrigated poppies, wheat, barley, pasture and fodder crops.
In the past two years, the Headlams have expanded their operation, purchasing 1800ha that is now used to grow out wethers and cultivate irrigated crops.
"There's some native country and it's good for growing wool," Chris said. The move has also allowed them to grow their sheep numbers, after cutting back in the drought.
In the past, lambing percentages have struggled due to cold weather and frosts, but have seen a rise due to additional shelter on the new block.
The brothers said they had never entered a sheep competition before this one.
Chris put their success down to their 1200ha irrigation program, which allowed them to maintain condition score.
"We grow the young ewes out on grass and utilise fodder crops," he said.
Older ewes are also grown out on stubble and irrigated grass during autumn.
"We want our ewes to be as big as possible before joining in March, about 50-55kg," he said.
The Lowes Park flock has also been moving towards an "open face" sheep that carried plenty of wool.
"We've certainly been doing less mulesing," Chris said.
Brooklands and Sorell Springs sires are used, which the brothers say are suited to their region.
Their wool averages about 18.5-19M, with the latest offering fetching a high of 1100-1200 cents/kg greasy. It was a price the Headlams were happy with, despite a cheaper market.
Chris said the competition result proved they were "on the right track".
He added they would continue to build flock numbers, but balance the livestock operation with crops to manage risk.
