The Schlitz family of Uondo Pastoral near Kerang have found Texels have improved the shape and lean meat yield of their prime lambs.
This allows them to be turned off earlier for the domestic trade.
Deid Schlitz, who farms with husband Ron and son Jarred, said they started using Texel rams eight or nine years ago.
The family runs about 1200 first-cross ewes and about 800 to 900 Merino ewes.
They also do dryland and irrigated cropping.
Dorset-East Friesian rams are used over their Merino ewes to produce a composite ewe which are then joined to terminal sires-Texel and Poll Dorset.
They have been buying Tullamore Park Texel rams for the past few years.
Deid said the Texel sired lambs were rounder and finished earlier than other breed combinations.
She said these traits gave the family more market options.
The flock lambs down from July 15 and they sell the prime lambs straight off their mothers at 16 weeks for the domestic trade market, at 18 to 24 kilograms’ carcase weight.
Deid said an earlier turn-off helped with cash flow during the tight period prior to harvest.
I can’t believe the Texels haven’t been taken up more as a terminal breed because they fit our operation really well and produce really good trade lambs.
- Deid Schlitz, Kerang
They sell lambs to the Swan Hill Abattoirs.
Ms Schlitz said the abattoir liked the Texel infused lambs for their rounder hindquarters and larger eye muscle.
“I can’t believe the Texels haven’t been taken up more as a terminal breed because they fit our operation really well and produce really good trade lambs,” she said.
She said this year’s lambs were looking really good, as there was plenty of feed available on the farm, particularly compared to the past two dry seasons.
During those tough years, the family had to reduce livestock numbers and are now in a rebuilding phase
Ewes run on crop stubbles and are joined on stubbles.
Deid said they also used containment areas as a management tool to maintain the ewes condition score prior to lambing while at the same time keeping the ewes off the irrigated pastures until they are well-established and a feed wedge created.