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January 2013

September 2013

September 2013

Wiltipoll ewes and lambs resting in around 4000 kg green dry matter of evergreen pasture and shade, mid-November.

Many farmers will not consign their sheep to live export slaughter markets because the risk of cruelty to the animals they have bred and cared for is too high.

An important feature of the trait is the animal’s ability to lift the tail clear of the urine and defaecating streams. Photo: Parkdale SRS ® Merino Stud.

The genetic correlation between bare breech and bareness under the tail are demonstrated in this sheep. Photo: Parkdale SRS ® Merino Stud.

Don Mudford has observed that a thinner tail with less wool towards the end seems to ensure a more active tail lift, probably because the muscles at the butt of the tail can lift it more easily. Photo: Parkdale SRS ® Merino Stud.

Parkdale SRS(r) Merino Stud has incorporated the short tail genes into its flock. This ram demonstrates how the tip of the tail sits well above the hocks. Photo: Parkdale SRS ® Merino Stud.

Figure 2: It is important that short tails are also bare underside tails. Source: Meat and Wool New Zealand 2006.

Having wooly short tails does not present any management issues in Parkdale Merinos as these 18 months old ewes in 10 months wool demonstrate – there are no dags or breech urine stain. Photo: Parkdale SRS ® Merino Stud

The dilema facing the Australian Merino wool sector is clearly demonstrated in these two groups of Merinos. Left: unmulesed hoggets from flocks selected for skin, wool and disease characteristics that makes mulesing unnecessary; right, hoggets from business as usual flocks displaying a high degree of skin wrinkle and were mulesed to help prevent breech strike.

The Moffitts Farm Wiltipoll lambs have been taught to interact with humans. Providing the interaction is maintained and supported the sheep will continue to follow humans when they need to be transferred to a new paddock.

Moffitts Farm Wiltipoll lawn mowing sheep can keep pasture around yards and storage areas under control, but need regular shifting into rested paddocks or yards to maintain their health.

Discarded belt leather is being tested as a collar for Wiltipoll ewes to carry the NLIS tag and the management tag.

Visitors can see how livestock welfare is closely associated with management of pasture paddocks and conservation corridors

Boom-bust pasture like in this western Victoria paddock, shown in August then five months later in February, demonstrate an unhealthy dominance of annual species which rely on regular applications of plant available phosphorous fertiliser for productivity. Ecosystem function is impaired by lack of perennials, low level of ground cover, poor soil moisture holding capacity and restricted soil food web.

Boom-bust pasture like in this western Victoria paddock, shown in August then five months later in February, demonstrate an unhealthy dominance of annual species which rely on regular applications of plant available phosphorous fertiliser for productivity. Ecosystem function is impaired by lack of perennials, low level of ground cover, poor soil moisture holding capacity and restricted soil food web.