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2007 Sheep Articles
Main Keri-Keri Shearing
October 2007
In October our main shearing of all sheep on the property took place again. Fred Lowry's shearing team (Shear Off) were releaved it wasn't as hot as it had been at the last main shearing, February 2007, when there were days on end where the heat hit over 45degrees.
In much more agreeable conditions the task was completed well. Below are photos, and in the near future a summary of the wool cut & sale will be added.
Overseas Keri-Keri Progeny photos
August 2007
Below are photos sent from the Falkland Islands. This property purchased semen from Keri-Keri 2445 & 8107 in February 2006.
On this property the grass is of low qualitiy, and stocked at appro .87 SU/ha.
Their stud lambs get a better start than the flocks but then are run with the flock hoggs/two tooths for one to two years.
They are then drafted back into the stud for use or sale. The ewes don't go to the rams until they are 2.5 years old as they aren't mature enough before. With such harsh winters they are trying to grow winter forage to supplement ewe hogget growth but is is difficult with a soil ph of 4.5.
Hence, with such difficult conditions they have to select for animals which do not require additional feeding.
Keri-Keri Cross Progeny at approximately 9mths of age.
Photo taken August 2007.
Merino Wether Lamb Challenge
Dubbo National Merino Ram Show & Sale
June - August 2007In 2007 Keri-Keri entered a team of their 2006 drop Wethers in the Wether Lamb Challenge held in conjunction with the Dubbo National Merino Show & Sale.
The Keri Keri wethers performed incredibly well. They had only been paddock fed until the challenge. There were many others in the Challenge which had been supplementary fed for some time in the lead up to 15th June 2007.
In total there were 34 teams of 5 sheep (170 sheep) with breeders and producers entering from all over Australia.
SUMMARY :
Wether's began the Challenge on Friday, 15th June 2007.
At the Western Institute of TAFE (Dubbo) all sheep were electronically tagged, weighed and shorn. They were trucked that afternoon to a feedlot in Canowindra.
** Keri Keri Team Average Entry Weight 38.5 kg.
** 1st weighing at 42 days. Keri Keri Team Average weight - 54.3 kg. Their average weight gain per day 378.0 grams.
** The Keri Keri wethers had the highest average weight gain of all 34 teams. The next highest team's score was 38.7 grams less, at 339.3 grams per day.
** Our best performing Keri Keri wether of the trial was the only one of the 170 sheep to gain over 400gms per day. His average daily gain at 42 days was 464.3 grams per day.
** 2nd weighing at 54 days. Keri Keri Team average figures had increased to 380.0 grams gained per day. The next highest team's score was down to 319.0 grams gained per day.
** At the completion of the Challenge the highest & lowest wethers were removed from all teams. Our final three wethers had an average daily gain of 335.6 grams. Average Carcase Weight 27.7kg; Dressing Percentage 44%; Fat Depth 10mm & Eye Muscle 25mm.
** The wool results for the team averaged: Micron: 18.6; SD: 3.4; CV%: 18.4; CF%: 99.0. Average fleece weight 2.70 (previously shorn).
Many thanks & congratulations to the Dubbo National Ram Sale Association, Australian Wool Innovation, Fletcher International Exports, Lanoc Wool, Sheep Genetics Australia & The Western Institute of TAFE for their efforts in running a very professional and demonstrative challenge.
15th June 2007.
Delivery of the '06 drop wethers for shearing & weighing.
Final Team Average Carcase Weight: 27.7kg
Final Team Average Micron: 18.4.
11th October 2007
Annual Keri-Keri Surplus Ewe Sale
500 June/July 2006 drop ewes were offered for sale, in unrestricted runs.
held at Swan Hill, Victoria
Thursday, 11th October 2007
Approximately 250 were 4-Teaters - offered seperately.
In addition to Keri-Keri bred ewes there were over 1,000 Keri-Keri blood ewes on offer from Keri-Keri clients.
For any details or enquiries regarding ewe sales please contact Andrew Dowling or Joe O'Reilly - 0427 32 9911.
The day before the sale drafting up at Keri-Keri.
Ready for sale.
The Keri Keri ewes which made $84.00.
(unmulesed)
Their 4-Teater sisters made $85.00 per head.
(also unmulesed)
Left - right : Ben Mahy, Damon De Jong, Andrew Dowling & Karl Geltch.
Some of Neville Willox's, Scotsburn Pastoral, 300 Keri Keri blood ewes which made $92.00.
Wyam Pastoral Co. offered 200 Keri-Keri blood ewes.
These sold for $76.00 per head.
Tin Tin's, Balranald, 250 Keri-Keri blood ewes.
They made $69.00 each.
Willgrow's offering of 164 '06 drop ewes sold for $39.00.
As you can see Tony & Annie O'Halloran's '05 drop Keri-Keri blood ewes with lambs at foot looked great.
They made $72.00.
Topping the sale for the day were Greg Rae's 150 Warrawee bred, Keri Keri blood ewes. Greg bought Keri-Keri blood ewes in lamb to Keri-Keri rams from our Sturts Meadows client (Broken Hill) & the resulting progeny were outstanding.
They sold to the Woolcott Group, Gunnedah for $95.00 each.
In unbelievable condition for 5 years old were Graham Nalder's Keri Keri blood ewes.
The Keri-Keri fertility & ability to survive is very evident here.
These also sold to the Woolcott Group, Gunnedah for $55.00.
A special thank you to Joe O'Reilly & all the staff at B.R.& C. Agents who work hard & always provide us, and our clients, with unending support.
In addition to Keri-Keri bred ewes there were over 1,000 Keri-Keri blood clients ewes also on offer.
Clients selling ewes - Ettrick, Glenbar, Melool, St Pauls & Woolmark.
Photos of the sale ewes being shorn etc... in the lead up months to the sale can be viewed further down this page.
For any details or enquiries regarding ewes please contact Andrew Dowling or Joe O'Reilly - 0427 32 9911.1st October 2007
With classing completed and the sale ewes shorn & ready for sale, their sisters that Keri-Keri will keep came in on the 1st of October 2007 for shearing.
The "keepers" who are sisters to the Keri-Keri surplus sale ewes
September 2007
'06 drop Keri-Keri blood ewes that
Neville Willox, "St Pauls", Scotsburn Pastoral
will have on offer at the
Swan Hill Blue Ribbon Sale.
28th August 2007 - shearing of sale ewes for Swan Hill Sale
The classing process for selecting the Surplus Ewes for sale finished on the 24th of August.
Below are photos of the ewes that will be available about to be shorn.
To view details, photos & results of the 2006 Keri-Keri Surplus Ewes go to the 2006 Archives Section.
October 2007
The Dry Conditions Continue
Below are some photos taken recently here at Keri-Keri.
One dam had gone dry so quickly that a magpie landing for its' daily drink was stuck in the silt.
Andrew spent over an hour getting it out by building a mesh roller that brought it to the shore, however even after being washed and dried in front of the heater for the night - it unfortunately didn't survive the ordeal.
A long way to get the bird to safety.
Still a beautiful sunset.
The front paddock shows how quickly things have dried off.
September 3rd 2007
Annual Keri-Keri Ram Sale
50 June/July 2006 drop Keri-Keri rams were offered for sale.
The 50 rams average : Micron 20.16, SD 4.04, CV% 20.0, CF% 98.9.
All 50 rams were cleared at an average of $1,052.00. The two top priced rams were sold for $1,700.00, each to Scotsburn Pastoral Company, Balranald.
Neville Willox - Scotsburn Pastoral,St. Pauls - Balranald
& Dr. Jim Watts, The SRS Company.
With one of Nevilles' top priced rams that he purchased for $1,700.00 each.
Whilst this ram is staying in the local district, again the rams went to a range of different locations throughout Australia, such as Weethale, Tamworth, Barham & Ivanhoe in NSW, Dingee in Victoria, Port Kenny in Sth Australia and Cunnamulla & Longreach in Queensland.
On offer on the day were 9 additional AMM June/July 2006 drop rams.
These 9 rams average : Micron 20.76, SD 4.33, CV% 20.9, CF% 97.6.
All 9 rams were cleared at an average of $856.00. Thank you to all those who helped and were involved with the sale.
Again, thank you to those who supported and continue to support our sales. All rams are guaranteed and we welcome feedback on how they perform.
Good luck to all for the remainder of the season - while it started out with light at the end of the tunnel - all of Australia needs rain again.
We would also welcome any feedback from those who attended the sale as to what they thought of the Helmsman System of Auction. We felt it went extremely well. Hopefully it enabled purchasers the opportunity to re-assess lots & give them a better chance of getting the ram of choice at the price of choice.
Ready for inspection and the sale.
Keri-Keri's new decision to adopt a Helmsman Auction was outlined.
Following lunch Andrew opened the sale.
Dr. Jim Watts explained the breeding history of the Australian Meat Merino.
Fay Cooney, Cunnamulla.
Jill Sutherland & her grand daughter Melissa.
David Cooper & Sue Dowling of NSW listen in as Andrew speaks.
Andrew Sutton, Keri-Keri.
As usual our B.R.& C. Stock Agent team did a great job at running our sale. They worked hard to ensure record keeping & the whole process were "spot on".
Rams are now available for Private Sale. For details contact Andrew Dowling
PHOTOS OF THE RAMS - taken 28th August 2007
Weighing Results
The 2006 drop Rams have been weighed at 100 and 200 days, and shorn late March '07.
100 DAYS OF AGE(15/11/06) : Mean average of 35.44kg to a high of 58 kg.
200 DAYS OF AGE(2/3/07) : Mean average of 46.14kg to a high of 60kg, Fat Depth of 2 & EMD of 24.
Photos taken earlier in the year can be viewed below.
28th March 2007 - MLA Scanning
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10th April 2007 - at 9 months of age
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If you wish to view last year's catalogue (2006)it can still be downloaded (PDF)
For a full sale summary & photographs of the 2006 Ram Sale - go to the 2006 Archives Section.
To see the lead up to the 2006 sale, rams in the paddock, classing etc... go to the 2006 Archives Section.
Rams available for Private Sale. For details contact Andrew Dowling
March 2007
ALS Scanning
On the 28th & 29th of March Steve Parker from Advance Livestock Services (ALS) [Hamilton, Victoria Ph:(03)5573 3201] spent a day and evening with us scanning this years' sale rams for EMD, Fat Depth, Scrotal Circumfernce and Weight. The results have been forwarded for inclusion in the Australian Sheep Genetics database.
The rams have also had their weaning weight (100 days, at 15/11/2006) and their 200 day weights (at 2/3/2007) recorded and this combined with the EBV results produced will be data available on our sale rams in September 2007.
For further information on the 100 & 200 day weights go to Ram & Ewe Sales.
Our weighing and scanning process have been greatly streamlined by our use of the Data-based SheepTrack™ Ear Tag System.
Keri-Keri began electronically tagging the ram lambs three years ago using Allflex EID tags, to speed up and more accurately measure body weight, fat and eye muscle depth. (The Australian Sheep Genetics Database requires ram lambs to be weighed a number of times in their first 12 months of age, for growth rate).
Ian Hingeley has developed this system over years of involvement with the Keri-Keri stud. Information on this sheep tracking system can best be followed up by contacting Ian directly via www.sheepsoftwaresolutions.com.au.
February 2007
Shearing
With many of the summer days heat hitting over 45degrees consecutively, the main shearing at Keri-Keri this year was long & hot.
Fred Lowry's shearing team (Shear-Off) pushed on every day regardless though and it was always a welcome time when the end of the day arrived.
All sheep on the property were shorn. Below these photos is a summary of the wool cut and wool sale results.
A great wool cut for only 6 months growth
Hard work in the Hay Plains heat.
On the way in.
On the way out - Maiden Ewes off shears.Keri-Keri Shearing results :
Rainfall - from 01/05/2006 until 01/02/2007 229 mm rain
(of which exactly half 114.5mm fell
outside the feed growing period).
Weaned 86% lambs in September 2006Latest wool sale results :
KERI-KERI EWES: shorn at 9 months with no supplementary feed cut 4.9kg.
(uncrutched & not jetted). Grossed $27.716-7 MONTH OLD WEANERS: First shearing, no supplementary feed, unmulsed cut 2.8kg.
(uncrutched & not jetted). Grossed $13.88
Sale Date : 8th March 2007
MIC N/KT VM Yield mm price per kg Weaners AAAM 20 32 5.9 64.2 79 $ 6.50 Mixed Age Ewes AAAM 21.9 35 2.5 63.6 89 $ 6.11 Mixed Age Ewes AAAM 22.1 39 1.9 65.3 89 $ 6.26 Old Ewes AAAM 21.9 35 2.8 62.5 80 $ 5.90 Maidens AAAM 21 29 2.9 61.9 100 $ 6.18 Mixed Age Ewes BBB 23.4 33 2.3 66.3 92 $ 5.81 Weaners PCS 18.8 35 15.4 52.3 70 $ 4.40 Mixed Age Ewes PCS 20.6 34 7.7 52.3 82 $ 4.20 Weaners BLS 19.5 29 19.7 39.1 55 $ 2.34 Mixed Age Ewes BLS 21 17 20.2 37 62 $ 2.03 Earlier Shorn Weaners AAALMS 19.9 41 2.4 71.1 62 $ 6.46 LKS 20 6.7 54.2 $ 2.99
January 2007
Australian Red Cross Murray Marathon
In January 2007 Keri-Keri was one of the sponsors of the Murray Marathon Boat Race. Lyn & Ross Pfeiffer have participated in this fundraising event previously and this year we decided to also "get on board". They finished 1st in their class and were 10th outright on handicap. They completed the 404km in 38 hours & 57 minutes (over 5 days).
This Red Cross Marathon raised in excess of $350,000 from the event.
If you are keen to sponsor Lyn & Ross in their future fundraising quests, let us know and we can put you in contact with them.
Andrew Dowling | Keri-Keri, Moulamein NSW 2733 | T 03 5034 0591 | M 0429 340 581 | F 03 5034 0555 | UHF 23 | E keri@kerimerino.com.au
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