THE AUSTRALIAN POLL DORSET JOURNAL VOLUME 50 / NUMBER 3 DECEMBER 2020 HILLDEN MAKE IT THREE FROM THREE INSIDE NEW APDA MARKET RAM SALE THIS ISSUE... DIRECTORS UPDATE RESULTS PAGE 11 PAGE 16-17 PAGE 30 POLL DORSET JOURNAL DECEMBER 2020 1 THE SHEARWELL TEAM TAKES YOU THROUGH YOUR LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT JOURNEY! Industry leading electronic EID scanning equipment Contact Shearwell direct & visual tags (NLIS accredited), (Including but not limited to: Stick & Panel for a hassle-free friendly with 99.5% retention rates Readers, Weigh Crates, Auto drafters, etc) service handled by our (Printing, with multiple layouts available, specially designed to assist professional dedicated staff, included in tag price). with livestock management. with multiple payment and ordering options. Room for Extra growth sharp pin PLICA AP TO EE R R F 1 piece tag Lightweight O n 1 st Sh gs earw ta ell orders of 200 + CONTACT SHEARWELL Working to help the livestock farmer TODAY! 1800 998 934 [email protected] www.shearwell.com.au PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE From a stud breeder’s perspective, the conclusions on the value-based price grid I came away from the meeting are: 1. Carcase weight (with correct fat coverage) will always be the best profit driver • HSCW (kg) will contribute at least 90% of the total value of the carcase • Growth and carcase shape are THE AUSTRALIAN crucial to increased value back to the lamb producer POLL DORSET 2. Lean Meat Yield (DEXA scan of JOURNAL muscle/fat/bone) and Intramuscular Fat are important for maintaining and The Australian Poll Dorset Journal is increasing value. What an amazing ram selling the official journal of the Australian Poll Dorset Association Inc. season! I’ve never seen demand • Flocks with weight, LMY and high IMF will be preferenced by meat President so high for rams, and record processors Isabele Roberts prices to go with it. The level of emphasis on production Vice President Demand from within our breed has seen traits in our breeding programs should be Geoff Davey stud ram sales at a level not seen for reflective of the highest value to the lamb CEO & Secretary producer and what the meat processors quite a while. Auctions resulted in many Margot Falconer stud rams selling between $10,000 and are targeting. [email protected] $24,000, with Tattykeel achieving a record The research results from the Bowan Park stud sale average of $8,700. Privately, Advertising Sales lambs continue to show how our breed is Gooramma 79/19 was sold to Barwon Patrick Falconer doing it’s job. The 17-19 week old lambs Stud for $30,000. It is wonderful to see [email protected] that were delivered for carcase testing the strong drive forward in our stud sales, averaged 30.1kg (HCWT), and dressed Journal Editor and the confidence we have in our breed. an average 55.5% (highest 62.5%). This Jamie-Lee Oldfield [email protected] Flock ram auctions have smashed the high growth, high yield is exactly what Poll records too. Armdale Park set a new Dorsets are known for. Administration & Graphic Design record flock ram average of $2,218, Sam Garland It might sound like I am overly and plenty of other studs over $2,000. [email protected] emphasising the performance traits, but Congratulations to all Poll Dorset breeders it is so important that we understand the Address for correspondence on the results achieved and quality of the final outcome of the genetics we produce. Australian Poll Dorset Association Inc. rams on offer. However, they should not be focussed on Unit 1/6 Merino Court East Bendigo, VIC 3550 I recently had the opportunity to meet with so heavily to the detriment of structural the Chief Executive Officer of Gundagai conformation, carcase shape and breed Telephone: (03) 5443 9902 Meat Processors (GMP) regarding the type. Balancing out all these traits is Fax: (03) 5443 9354 development of a value-based price grid. the most difficult part of a successful Email: [email protected] GMP have introduced technology into breeding program, and I encourage you www.polldorset.org.au their plant that will enable chain-speed all to include visual and performance traits ABN: 65 206 172 969 measurement of LMY and IMF. Currently appropriately. The Australian Poll Dorset Association it is still in the validation phase, with Inc reserves the right to accept or Congratulations to Julian Iles who was the vision that premium lamb carcases reject any advertisement submitted awarded Life Membership of the APDA can be quickly identified. GMP have for publication in the Australian Poll in September. Julian’s contribution and recognised the importance of providing Dorset Journal. It is the responsibility of outstanding service to the APDA, Poll lamb producers with feedback on the the advertiser, member or advertising Dorset breed and Tasmanian Region make agency concerned, to ensure that the lambs they have delivered – feedback that him a well deserving Life Member. advertising complies with the provisions is individual to each carcase and based on of the Trade Practices Act 1974 relating the quality and quantity. It is encouraging to advertising. While every effort is made to see that lamb producers are one step Isabele Roberts to publish advertisements as ordered, closer to being rewarded for premium PRESIDENT no responsibility is taken for the failure of quality lamb. an advertisement to appear as ordered. Opinions expressed in the Australian Poll Dorset Journal are not necessarily those of the Association or its journal editor. POLL DORSET JOURNAL DECEMBER 2020 3 Continuing to produce a unique & balanced blend of elite performance and structural excellence A special thankyou to everyone who inspected our sheep in 2020 and invested in Kurralea genetics at our annual sale. KURRALEA 152-19 - Sold for $7,500 and KURRALEA 92-19 - Sold for $12,500 to the Hiscock family, Brurob Stud Overall Sale Result: 306 Rams sold to an average of $2020 Semen available from our top group of sires at Kurralea. Enquiries also welcome for stud ewes. Ben & Lucy Prentice, ‘Kurralea’, Ariah Park, NSW Ben: 0429 814 549 Lucy: 0409 544 080 Kim: (02) 6975 2606 Email: [email protected] 4 POLLwww.kurralea.com DORSET JOURNAL DECEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER BOARD MINUTES This year, board meetings and the AGM have been held via Deregistered flocks Zoom with the AGM being a combination of both Zoom and in The meeting noted that there were approximately 24 flocks de- person at the Cowra Show. registering in the 2020 flock book. As this year is a voting year, all seats were declared vacant. Victoria was the only state that required an election with Tania Ram registrations King joining the board. Tasmania had only the one nomination The following motion was passed; so Will Milroy duly elected. “As of 1st November 2020, a registered ram with the Election of Office Bearers 2020/21 APDA must have a consecutive traceable pedigree for a minimum of four generations of its parentage registered President – Isabele Roberts with the APDA. Any that have trouble meeting these Vice President – Geoff Davey requirements may be registered following approval of the Finance – Treasurer Sascha Squiers, Isabele Roberts, Geoff flock book committee. Applications for ram registrations Davey, Garry Armstrong, Alistair Sutherland, Damon Coats that do not meet Regulation 19B may be registered with board approval. These rams are only to be used in – Chair Garry Armstrong, Andrea Administration & Planning breeders flock with ram and progeny not transferable.” Rowett, James Frost, Rod Davies, Laurie Fairclough, Tania King. The following motion was passed; “The APDA will waive all fees on the transfer of Semen Promotions – Chair Alistair Sutherland, Geoff Davey, Damon and Stock to Schools.” Coats, Andrew Scott, James Corcoran, Will Milroy, Sascha Carried. Squiers, Isabele Roberts. Flock Registration Committee – Chair James Frost, Will Life Membership Milroy, Tania King The following motion was passed; “That Julian Iles, a true advocate for the breed in Research & Development – Chair Andrew Scott, Andrea Tasmania and member of the Federal Council be Rowett, Sascha Squiers, Damon Coats awarded life membership.” Carried Finance Report From a profit and loss viewpoint, 2019/20 came out quite well with Covid and not a lot going on event wise. Membership remained at a similar level as the previous year as did the flock ram levy. Shares were down quite a lot due to markets being significantly down. Administration costs were down ACROSS THE PENS since the changeover and some expenses were up including a one off $24,000 for the new database and $8500 for website development. Discussion took place on where the funding ON FARM SALES from flock ram levy is placed in the accounts and the finance Congratulations to everyone on committee will come back to the next meeting with a solution. the excellent results achieved with The following motion was carried on farm sales this year. From all “That the Finance report be accepted” accounts this has been a record Carried time and we hope your success continues. Promotions Report FLOCK RAM NUMBERS James Corcoran was unable to attend in person due to Covid but presented a verbal report to the meeting and spoke of the SOLD promotions that would be held in the future. He also asked We recently wrote to many that the office stay in touch with regions to streamline regional members with a query on flock rams sold entered in this year’s rebate process. flock returns. I would like to thank those members who have responded to the office with their numbers and assure you all that The following motion was carried we are only interested in keeping accurate records and with all “That the Promotions report be accepted” members treated equally.