POLL Dorset-cross prime lambs remain a key part of the enterprise mix at Peter Schiller’s Perponda property.
For about 50 years, Poll Dorsets have been used over Merino ewes to produce prime sucker lambs, with Peter’s late father Dennis the first of his family to begin buying the meaty sires.
It is a tradition his sons have continued.
“We’ve tried other breeds but we always go back to the Poll Dorset. Their feed conversion is their best attribute,” Peter said.
“Crossbred lambs are a very profitable part of our business and provide a good short-term cashflow.”
Peter farms in partnership with his brother Darren, running the DD&PB Schiller operation across 3000 hectares, cropping wheat, barley and oats as well as running 2000 Merino ewes, mating 50 per cent back to Merinos as a self-replacing flock and 50pc to prime lamb sires.
“It’s mainly the sucker lamb market that we look to target, as it is the most efficient production system for the climate we have here,” Peter said.
The Schillers aim to produce a lamb that weighs between 18 kilograms carcaseweight to 24kgcwt.
Lambs are marketed either on-hooks to Thomas Foods International or through the saleyard, depending on prices and the season.
Peter said lambs needed to pick up condition well as the Mallee’s variable weather presented challenges or “checks in the season”.
“While I’d like to say we only have one, we can have several checks, so it’s important that the lambs can come back and pick-up quickly in condition afterwards, which the Poll Dorsets do time after time,” he said.
“You also don’t have those lambs which you have to keep on and carryover for longer because Poll Dorset-cross lambs get up to weights quickly, and often weigh heavier than they look.”
The last lot of Poll Dorset-cross lambs sold had a dressing percentage of 46 per cent, with older, lot-fed lambs 50pc.
I use forward contracts when I’m confident with the season. If prices are better than $5 a kilogram, you know you’re doing well.
- PETER SCHILLER
The lot-fed lambs, weighing 26kgcwt, averaged $172 at the abbatoir in June.
“I use forward contracts when I’m confident with the season. If prices are better than $5/kg, you know you’re doing well,” Peter said.
“The same goes for selling lambs per head; we aim to get at least $100/hd.”
Peter buys rams with a deep well-muscled carcase, smooth muscling through the shoulders and plenty of muscle in the back end.
Poll Dorset genetics are generally sourced from the Close family’s Newbold stud at Gawler River.
Poll Dorset genetics boost fertility rates
While aiming for a 100 per cent lambing percentage, Perponda sheep producer Peter Schiller has recorded up to 130pc lambing using Poll Dorsets.
His lambing is spilt – in March, with lambs sold from the end of July, and in April-May, with lambs sold in spring.
Lambs are weaned at eight to 12 weeks of age, depending on seasonal conditions and available feed.
“We’ll wean at eight weeks if the season isn’t going well,” Mr Schiller said.
“We’ve had a pretty reasonable year so far, we had rain in April but we had a few frosts in June which burnt the feed, but the lambs have come on well since then.
“We wean early in tougher seasons to ensure the lambs aren’t having to compete with the ewes for pasture feed, so they reach saleable weights quickly.”
Ewes lamb on dryland pasture, either sown cereals, ryegrass or forage barley.
Lambs are kept on the pasture, with ewes drafted off after weaning.
His pasture improvement program is a focus, with medics, lucerne and a mix of ryegrass sown in consultation with an agronomist.
Pastures are also fertilised regularly.
“Pastures are a tool in finishing lambs,” Mr Schiller said.
“I do have containment yards to grain feed lambs, but these are more for opportunity feeding, I only use these when I need to.”