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hogget lambing
Coopworth Rams
Season Update
This 2016 season has been exceptional in regards to rain fall and growth. Summer dry is the norm for us so we try to farm accordingly. March tupping is usually challenging as it is often when feed covers are at their lowest and low quality and ewes are often losing weight. Our philosophy is to produce sheep that can handle the conditions without supplement, with ewes on a no drench policy, rebounding quickly after a tough season. This season was not the norm as we had rain every week and had great feed covers but also the challenges that come with moisture and humidity - high parasite loads and of course very high Facial Eczema spore counts. The ewes were in great condition and have shown no adverse effects from the parasites nor FE. Tupping was in March and 90% of ewes marked in the 1st cycle. MA ewes scanned at 199% and 2ths at 195%. Triplet rate is generally 10 to 15 %.
Hogget lambing
Hoggets are farmed exclusively on grass. We strongly believe that by successfully mating hoggets on grass we are developing genetics to perform in any environment. In 2015 hoggets were a 37kg average to the ram and scanned 142%: weaned 120 %. We have clients , using top feeding and management, who are achieving hogget scanning rates of over 150 %. They are realizing the full genetic potential of these sheep.
Nikau hoggets were 40 kg to the ram this season and the main line of hoggets scanned at 140 %. Hogget lambs, which were bigger this season and therefore more were put to the ram scanned at 100 %. It is a challenge most years getting hogget lambs up to tupping weight by April as they are Sept/Oct born. The only dry hoggets retained in the stud flock are those that are themselves hogget lambs, these must produce twins at their 2th lambing.
All ewes are single sire mated and lambs electronic tagged at birth.
Facial Eczema Tolerance
Flock sires are all Facial Eczema (FE) tested at .6mg/kg . FE testing has been done for the past 32 years. Nikau Coopworth is an FE Gold flock, leading genetics for Facial Eczema tolerance.
We also GGT test all ewe and ram hoggets each summer in the face of natural challenge to assess them for FE tolerance. This was a great year for screening the flock as the FE challenge was high very early and was sustained. It is very important to be screening out the intolerant females as well as dosing the sires.
GGT is an enzyme released in the blood that is apparent when liver damage has occurred. This gives an indication of an animal’s tolerance to FE. All animals with elevated GGT are culled from the stud flock. All sale rams have had no elevation in GGT to this seasons high challenge.
We are farming in a very ' hot ' FE area, meaning we see spore counts each autumn. This year was exceptional with a high challenge from January til May. The GGT screening one of the most important tests we do.
Screening our ewe flock this way, dosing all flock sires at 0.6mg/kg of sporidesimin and farming in such a challenging area gives us confidence that we have one of the most FE tolerant flocks in the country.
2016 has been one of the hottest FE years on record yet many Nikau clients are reporting higher than average lambing results. With top FE tolerance they were able to take advantage of the good feed available.
SIL ACE
Nikau features highly on the SIL ACE DPX list. This index is a assessment of FE tolerance, however the ACE run does not take dose rate into account. Look at the star rating to differentiate flocks testing at different levels.
5 * is the highest level.
The new NZGE on SIL shows Nikau genetics to be at the top for health traits, FEC and FE. Selection for over 30 years for a strong immune response has rewarded us with top rankings on SIL with over 1100 flocks in the evaluation.
Rams
Selection is based on the use of DNA to assess heritable traits, ultrasound CT muscle scanning, fecal egg counts, GGT testing , frequent weight taking and wool weights.
Our aim is to produce a FE tolerant animal with a minimal requirement for drenching which exhibit a high growth rate. The ewe flock has been on a no drench policy since 2002. We select for open faced , open breech, dag free sheep with high wool weights, and are targeting sound feet with resistance to scald and foot rot. Clients with a good representation of Nikau Coopworth genetics in their flocks routinely wean above 150 %.
Rams are sold by auction at the Tuakau Saleyards in early November. They are presented in index order with the first draft of approximately 60 rams having a Reserve Price of $1000. 2nd draft $750, 3rd draft $500.
Ring for more info.
09 2333 230
broadbent.ka@gmail.com
All rams presented at auction on Nov 7, 2016 have sold.
Rams still available on farm.
A select group of ram hoggets will be available in early 2017
Selection list for 2015 rams
| 2015ramselmwm_fec_sept16.pdf |
Genetic Trend Graphs for Nikau Coopworth
Look here to see Nikau Coopworth compared to the overall Dual Purpose data from SIL.
1995 to 2014, genetic trend plotted and compared to the overall Dual Purpose data.
FEC ( parasite resistance )and GGT ( FE tolerance) should be tracking down to show progress.
1995 to 2014, genetic trend plotted and compared to the overall Dual Purpose data.
FEC ( parasite resistance )and GGT ( FE tolerance) should be tracking down to show progress.
| gtgraphs_oct2014.pdf |
