Suffolk studs open gates to farm tours

Oberon Suffolk stud, Musk, and Blue Rock Suffolk stud, Romsey, conducted farm tours, and then offered guests a taste of their own meat, this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Oberon stud co-principal Bruce Rolfe said it was important to show off the breed, as popularity for Suffolk sheep isnt as strong as it once was.

Thirty years ago, there were 150 Suffolk studs in Victoria, and now there are 50, Mr Rolfe said.

We have a fantastic breed of sheep, and we think the meat is beautiful, it seems ridiculous that it should be such a small part of the prime lamb industry.

He said the idea of the event was to educate consumers about where their meat came from.

Consumers should be aware of the breed of sheep that theyre eating, and you dont get that sort of information in the marketplace where the consumer goes to buy their meat, he said.

Its about educating consumers to actually ask for Suffolk meat when theyre at their butcher, buying their meat.

Blue Rock stud co-principal Deva Weitman said she was very pleased with the turnout.

The turnout was fantastic, particularly given its the first year its been run, and we had very limited advertising of it, Ms Weitman said.

We had clients drop by, consumers, chefs, people in the industry, and even just young families from the local area and out of Melbourne.

Visitors of Oberon stud included Paul Gilders and Alison Brookes, Maldon, who said they had always admired the studs sheep.

We run a very little herd at home for our own purposes, and this was a great opportunity to come by, and taste the meat, and learn more about them, Ms Brookes said.

She said the pie made out of Oberons Suffolk meat, that visitors got to eat after their tour, lived up to expectations.

Michael Worthington, Trentham, used to run sheep himself, and said the event was a good opportunity to see the other side of it.

I was very impressed with the flock, Bruce has got some really love sheep here, Mr Worthington said.