Welcome to the SRS® Media Centre,
your source for news, media releases,
fact sheets and case studies
- May 07, 2013
Editorial 2 - Ensuring Rams are Bred Well, Not Fed Well
- Details
OVER FEEDING of rams has been widely practiced in the sheep industry for many years despite concerns that this may limit ram breeding performance. The continued uptake of Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) in the Merino industry is however providing for a more 'level playing field' and delivering immediate and long-term benefits for the animals, purchasers and wider industry. Read more ... Editorial 2
- May 07, 2013
Editorial 1 - Mulesing Status
- Details
The Australian wool textile supply chain is in a dilemma over the presence of declared non mulesed Merino bales being presented for sale. A small percentage of farmers are successfully producing high quality Merino wool from non mulesed sheep which are naturally resistant to fly strike. Read more ... Editorial 1 - Mulesing Status
- September 28, 2012
ASBVs Get a Big Thumbs Up at Monaro Workshop
- Details
100% of participants at the Bred Well Fed Well (BWFW) Workshop held at 'Severn Park' (near Cooma) today said that they would now use Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV) to select rams that fit their breeding objectives.
Around 50 commercial woolgrowers heard from two of the leading experts in Australia on sheep genetics and nutrition, Dr Mark Ferguson and Dr Jason Trompf. Producers were provided with practical tools that they could immediately put into action to optimise reproduction and profitability in their ewe flocks.
Member of the SRS Monaro Group (who hosted the workshop), Henry Bridgewater, said the day had far exceeded his expectations with close to 100% of participants also saying they would recommend BWFW to others.
"We were keen to bring BWFW to the Monaro as it provides practical tools for improving fertility & feed efficiency, and takes away the 'smoke and mirrors' from using breeding values on-farm. All of which equate to more dollars in the pockets of commercial growers in the region," Mr Bridgewater said.
"It is not often you get the opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in Australia so we wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible."
Dr Mark Ferguson from Murdoch University in Western Australia said the day was squarely aimed at improving the profitability of ewe flocks because they are the engine room of the industry.
"We were able to help participants to set breeding goals for their ewe flocks and teach them how to use tools like Breeding Values to choose fit-for-purpose rams," Dr Ferguson said.
The Bred Well Fed Well workshops are funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) through their Making More from Sheep initiative and supported by the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a part of a national program to increase sheep industry productivity and profitability.
The SRS® Monaro Group work together to promote the many benefits of SRS® Genetics. All members of the group adhere to a strict code of ethics and display a high level of integrity within their businesses. They are Aloeburn, BellaLana, Blue Gate, Blyth, Boxleigh Park, Glenwood, Mumblebone, Parkdale, Richmond and Sherwood.
Now in its 3rd year, the annual SRS® Monaro Ram Sale brings together genetics from these ten leading SRS® studs and will be held on Wednesday 24 October 2012 at 'Severn Park', Cooma. The sale will feature over 70 "top of the drop" Merino and Poll Merino rams selected specifically to suit the needs of sheep producers in southern NSW and Northern Victoria. Inspection is from 10am.
High Resolution Photos are available on request
ENDS
Media Contact:
Ian Smith
0417 020 429
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- January 20, 2013
Case Study 4 - Wallendibby
- Details
Scott and Shelley Dunn live with their three children on the Merino breeding property, “Wallendibby”, Delegate, New South Wales, at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. Scott manages “Wallendibby” for Sir Michael and Lady Sally Nairn who live in Scotland but visit Wallendibby for extended periods each year. The flock currently comprises about 7,000 sheep. In the last 3 seasons the Dunns Merinos have produced, on average, a fleece weight of 7.1 kilograms, a fibre diameter of 18.1 microns, 74 % yield and 113% lambs weaned. Read more at Case Study 4 - Wallendibby
- September 18, 2012
Bred Well Fed Well Comes to the Monaro
- Details
Monaro sheep producers will be given the opportunity to learn practical tools to optimise reproduction and profitability in their ewe flocks at a ‘Bred Well Fed Well’ (BWFW) workshop to be held at ‘Severn Park’ Cooma on 28 September 2012 from 9am to 2pm.
This highly successful initiative, which has been rolled out nationally, will feature three of the leading experts on sheep genetics and nutrition in Australia, Dr Mark Ferguson, Dr Jason Trompf and Luke Stephen.
Chairman of the SRS® Monaro Group, Trevor Ryan, said that they were excited to bring such a successful training initiative to the Monaro.
"The goals of Bred Well Fed Well are closely aligned with those of our group in focusing on improved fertility, low maintenance and feed efficiency, all of which equate to more dollars in the pockets of commercial growers," Mr Ryan said.
"It is not often you get the opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in Australia on genetics and nutrition so we wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible on the Monaro."
The Bred Well Fed Well Workshops focus on:
- improved understanding of how to use reliable breeding tools to improve enterprise profitability;
- how to develop a breeding objective for your sheep enterprise;
- better management of ewe nutrition for reproductive performance and flock profitability; and
- skills in assessing ewe condition and developing simple energy budgets for the ewe flock.
The Bred Well Fed Well workshops are funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) through their Making More from Sheep initiative and supported by the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a part of a national program to increase sheep industry productivity and profitability.
The SRS® Monaro Ram Selling Group work together to promote the many benefits of SRS® Genetics and have built a solid reputation for delivering truly all-purpose Merinos while adhering to a strict code of ethics. They are Aloeburn, BellaLana, Blue Gate, Blyth, Boxleigh Park, Glenwood, Mumblebone, Parkdale, Richmond and Sherwood.
The workshop is free of charge and lunch will be provided.
Media Contact and RSVP for Workshop:
Ian Smith
0417 020 429
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