THE resurgence of the Merino breed is spreading thanks to a national campaign which is adding fuel to the dual purpose breed’s fire.
Independent research and field trials being promoted by Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders’ Breed More Merino Ewes campaign aims to highlight the breed profitability across a range of production systems and rainfall zones.
The promoted profiles included Merinos at Elmore, Victoria, which topped a six year sheep profitability trial in 2015 with the highest dollars per hectare return at $69 and $70 compared to the other groups at $57‐$61.
Merinos in the inaugural Booborowie Feedlot Competition recorded average weight gains of up to 307 grams per day during the competition, while producer Martin Ramsay, Yorke Peninsula, SA reported a gross margin of $94/ha per 100 millimetres of growing season rainfall.
“Merino profitability on my farm is driven by three key factors – stocking rate, bodyweight and fleece weight,” Mr Ramsay said.
“While these key factors vary year‐on‐year, I’ve seen a steady improvement since I’ve been benchmarking.”
Merinos near Lake Grace in WA were benchmarked at $200-$250/ha, from a DSE of 4‐6/ha in 2015‐16.
Tasmanian producer David Taylor – who benchmarked his operation through Holmes Sackett – Merinos returned about $70/DSE for wool, compared with $60/DSE for prime lamb and $50/DSE for beef.
Mr Taylor said his wool flock had provided an18pc higher net profit per DSE than prime lamb flock and 22pc high than beef herd.
