Mainstay

Breeding Objective: Selecting low-input animals that have high performance in both breeding and finishing systems, using the dual-purpose index.
The Texel-Cross Road
Using Texel genetics that have been selected for maternal traits, as Mount Linton has, is crucial for cross-breeding with your maternal ewes. The Texel has become renowned as a terminal sire breed with high meat yield and growth rates. But it has also been bred on Mount Linton as a dual purpose animal that has fertility and improved lamb survival. It is these dual-purpose characteristics that the Station is seeking in a maternal sheep.Selecting for the High Five:
Fertility Survival, Meat Yield, Growth and longevityA specific MLM (Mount Linton Maternal) SIL index has been designed to evaluate the genetic performance of animals within the new flock including:

  • The flock must achieve 140 plus lambing percentage to sale each year and average over 30kg lambs at 90-100 day weaning.
  • Aim to reduce dags on ewes by at least 50% and cut out pre-lamb crutching. A bare breech under the tail is sought after for low-input once-a-year shearing in February.
  • The target for meat yield is 90% plus of lambs finished to receive the maximum yield payment.
  • Achieve growth rates that will finish 95% plus of all lambs by the end of march.
  • The ewe will need to put on good condition over summer and before winter, then lose minimal condition over a long cold winter.
  • Animals must be structurally sound.
  • Reduce drenching of ewe lambs to three times by 1 May.

Check out these current sires SIL data:

Mount Linton Mainstay 3065/2012

Mount Linton Mainstay 3065/2012

Mount Linton Mainstay3134/2012 and 3261/2012

Mount Linton Mainstay3134/2012 and 3261/2012

Mount Linton Mainstay Ram List, Autumn 2013

CHECK OUT THE
SPRING 2012 NEWLSETTER
FOR MORE INFO ON THE BREEDING VALUES USED IN THE MATERNAL PROGRAM.

Two-tooth rams
on sale from November!!

Contact Dave on 021 779 485 or Ceri on 021 678 809 to discuss your requirements or view rams today!

Genetic Trends

SIl Maternal Genetic Graphs