Meatlinc sheep

[Global ovine]

How do the multiplier farms now work for the likes of Highlanders, NZ texel, nz suffolk breeders etc? Is there farmer input or all from head office?

NZ Suffolks and Texels are owned and run as individual flocks. Groups of like minded breeders in both breeds work closely together and take advantage of the several options available to sire reference their homebred sires used in their flocks.SILACE/CPT and the wide use of different breeds being compared within flocks allows for accurate trait assessment irrespective of breeds.
Easyrams has sourced much of its' genetics from such groups which put emphasis on the traits which matter to both the UK and NZ commercial farmers. Firstly those functional traits which remove labour and animal health costs, and those which have the greatest influence on improving income such as lambing %, survival, growth and meat yield.

In the last 15 years NZ has lost around 40% of its ram breeders. Those now dominating the number of rams sold into the commercial industry are not corporate breeders, as many from outside NZ often presume, but individual breeders who work actively in sire referencing, sourcing elite proven sires for the traits of economic importance for the good of their ram clientele. Such studs have strong relationships and benefit from two way production reporting with their clients which is necessary for both breeder and client, eg. more than 3/4 of my clients supply me with their farm production data and copies of their lamb killing sheets produced by their meat processor. This puts the pressure on me to maintain annual improvements relevant to my clientelle.

The recent downturn in sheep farming returns is rapidly making the small and less progressive NZ breeders consider their future as dairying and dairy grazing unrelentlessly marches on replacing sheep.

 

[Johnny400]

Thanks for replies. Just wondered how things were set up, thats all.

Sorry OP for taking slightly off topic

 

[Dave6170]

Thanks for replies. Just wondered how things were set up, thats all.

Sorry OP for taking slightly off topic

Not a problem all very interesting. Surely its only a matter of time that we all move away from over fed, unfit rams.

 

[M-J-G]

Not a problem all very interesting. Surely its only a matter of time that we all move away from over fed, unfit rams.

And Bulls!!!!!!!!!

 

[neilo]

Not a problem all very interesting. Surely its only a matter of time that we all move away from over fed, unfit rams.

Psst, Meatlincs don't have a monopoly on that. They exist in all breeds.

 

[Johnny400]

Not a problem all very interesting. Surely its only a matter of time that we all move away from over fed, unfit rams.

Been doing this a few years now. Just making sure when i look for some maternal rams this autumn they are the same.

 

[andybk]

Psst, Meatlincs don't have a monopoly on that. They exist in all breeds.

+1 , its the ring mentality from both sides that propagate the problem ,

 

[Devil's advocate]

Are people still buying Meatlinc tups?

 

[will6910]

Are people still buying Meatlinc tups?

I have 1 and will be sold this year. Hate the sight off him

 

[Devil's advocate]

I have 1 and will be sold this year. Hate the sight off him

Him or the lambs?

 

[will6910]

Him or the lambs?

His lambs. No appeal to me what so ever. Lambs born small and stay small. He’s Totally mental and lambs take after him to isn’t a selling point for me

 

[Jonny_2]

Got our first one last year and really pleased

 

[Devil's advocate]

Seems to be variation in the breed.

How are they for entropean eye lids?

 

[PhilipB]

The founder of Meatlinc, Henry Fell wrote a very interesting book "intensive sheep management" on what he wanted from his sheep in the 60s, and how he set out to try and achieve it.

 

[will6910]

Seems to be variation in the breed.

How are they for entropean eye lids?

Never had that but some lambs do come abit unusual around the eyes

 

[Remington700]

Are people still buying Meatlinc tups?

I bought one three years ago. I farm on fairly marginal upland in the west of Ireland. I have to say he's been the best terminal ram we've ever had. He still looks in super shape and leaves good lambs with "get up and go" and that grow well. On our ground and with the weather we get, a good looking terminal ram would often melt away after a year and his lambs would have to be coaxed into surviving after birth.

 

[ringi]

I bought one three years ago. I farm on fairly marginal upland in the west of Ireland. I have to say he's been the best terminal ram we've ever had. He still looks in super shape and leaves good lambs with "get up and go" and that grow well. On our ground and with the weather we get, a good looking terminal ram would often melt away after a year and his lambs would have to be coaxed into surviving after birth.

Have you compared with other rams from breeders who are commited to performance recording and only sell direct?

 

[JohnAC]

We have 3 here goin onto mule and easycare ewes suit us well lambing mid February indoors and mid march outside they do both well our main thing is getting lambs on the ground and getting them away asap with the hope to have most of our lambs away finished before the rams go out again! This is the first year we have kept ewe lambs out of them to try them and see how they do! The first 2 have lambed and seem good wee mothers so fingers crossed we can get away from buying in mules. Just have to remember there is good and bad ones in every breed

 

[ringi]

I can see good reasons to keeping Easycare+Meatlinc that shed well, then cull hard if not great mothers.

 

[Remington700]

Have you compared with other rams from breeders who are commited to performance recording and only sell direct?

No, the only other performance recorded ram I've bought is an NZ Suffolk. Again, I've been really happy with how vigorous they are at birth. I bought him to breed replacement ewe lambs for keeping and found them good.