BREEDING OBJECTIVE

Selecting low-input Romney and Suftex 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 longevity. A 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.

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BREEDING OBJECTIVE

To maximise returns through increased meat and growth without compromising survival.

THE FLOCK

The Suftex flock is a stabilised breed of terminal genetics and purebred Texels have underpinned the terminal lamb performance on Mount Linton for many years.

GET HIGH ON YIELD

Reversing the trend of fast growing lambs to deposit more fat as they get heavier, has been made possible through CT scanning sire lines. Mount Linton is one of very few breeders that incorporates CT scanning into the breeding program. Clients will especially notice these benefits in a tough finishing season when most lambs effortlessly grade Y.

Average Meat yield per lamb

• Industry 53%
• Station 55%
• Genetics Unit 57%

CATCH THEM FROM GROWTH

On the Station (commercial operation, 50% of lambs are killed by mid February, this means lambs average 280g/day. These lambs averaged 17.3kg carcassweight with 83% reaching the Alliance yield grade threshold.

PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE

The farming system although seperate from the Station is farmed under commercial type management. The young stock are specifically challenged to see how they perform under pressure at certain times of the year, particularly over the summer in relation to parasites. The ewe flock has a no drench policy and are farmed under commercial flock management. Sheep Genetics manager Hamish Bielski believes that as we move into the future it is as important to select terminal sires primarily for their growth and meat characteristics but they must still have the constitution and ability to perform within a typically run farming system.

WHY CHOOSE A MOUNT LINTON RAM?

• Over 1600 SIL recorded ewes
• Only top 25% of ram lambs born are offered for sale
• All the top Mount Linton genetics are available to external clients (after selecting its sires)
• Two year replacement guarantee for structure (provided they are incapable of successfully serving ewes/hoggets)
• Brucellosis accredited

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BREEDING OBJECTIVE

To maximise returns to clients through high fertility, above average indexes and increased carcase attributes.

MATERNAL MATTERS

The performance recorded cattle are put under pressure at critical times of the year. Cows and 18-month heifers are wintered on the hill and tussock country, up to to 1000 metres asl and prone to several snowfalls. In this environment and with no winter supplements, cows can lose up to 100kg LW over the winter months. Our focus on positive fats and moderate mature cow weights prove their worth in this extreme environment.

The focus on fertility in the proram means cows must be in calf within two cycles and rear a calf each year, irrespective of season. The heifers are mated as yearlings and they must calve unassisted.

KEY DRIVERS

An annual AI program means we can utilise the best Angus genetics available world-wide. We select bulls that break the negative correlations between the following traits:

• Direct and daughters calving ease
• Low birth and high growth
• High growth and low mature cow weight

BUYING A MOUNT LINTON BULL

Bulls are for sale by private treaty as yearlings or 18-months old.

• Transport of bulls is compliments of Mount Linton as far north as Feilding.
• The fertility and structural soundness of bulls is guaranteed for three years.

All bulls have:

• TB status C7
• Negative BVD and EBL test and vaccinated.
• Passed a semen morphology test.
• Cleared a thorough veterinarian check for physical health.
• Forward store condition ready to acclimatise to their new environment.

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