1. Top fertility to increase lambing %
Edale's Medium Fine (MF) lambing in 2005 was 87%(2004 - 95%) of ewes mated on an ewe conception rate of 86% (2004 - 87%). Superfine (SF), in the 2005 ultrasound, showed an ewe conception rate (including 20 month old maidens) of 91% (2004 - 82%) with an in utero potential lambing of 118% (2004 - 108%). The SF lambs to ewes mated ended up being 85% (2004 - 70%). One of our long standing MF ram clients recently ultrasounded a flock of 856 adult ewes having a 96% conception rate, with 185 20 month old maiden ewes having a staggering 98% conception.
2. Lower your flock micron
Edale produces a low crimp frequency, long staple, elite style wool of average adult micron for 2005/6 being 19.1 (MF) and 17.3 (SF).
3. Outstanding fleece weight
Edale's corresponding GFW for adult sheep was 6.1kg (MF) and 3.7kg (SF). This was with an 8.6 DSE per hectare stocking rate in the Moora Shire, 200kms north of Perth, Western Australia.
4. Early maturity
During 2005, Edale's progeny ranked in the 25 top EBVs for yearling weight on the Merino Genetic Services database, an important trait for selling young sheep into the prime lamb market. A draft of 9% of fat lamb progeny sired by poll dorset rams out of MF and SF merino ewes sold in Midland late August, 2005 demonstrated a weight gain in excess of 300gms/hd/day and a price around $3.41/kg dressed.
5. Resistance to Worms
Faecal egg counts (FEC) on breeding ewes and sires and selection of low FEC sheep has been occurring for the past 7 years giving a base for increasing resilience to worms in both the MF and SF flocks.
6. Premium Prices for Premium Wool in the Value Chain
We must produce wool for a consumer platform. Edale's MF and SF wool each have a high comfort factor, due to both the low micron and low CV(Micron), making the wool suitable for all close-to-the-skin or suiting apparel end uses.
We must also produce wool that allows the topmaker, and spinner in particular, to extract the highest productivity from the wool. The Edale MF wool has shown, in five shipments processed separately, that it processes into tops at an elite standard, exceeding previous highest levels of difference when compared to the TEAM formula that calculates predicted hauteur and CV(Hauteur) and provides rewards for each party. The Indian mill with whom we have a close relationship processes the Edale clip separately, and on its quality, correspondingly, pays a premium price.
Benchmarks of Particular Interest
1. At July, 2006 an Edale Sire, 03K071 who is a son of the sire below, 99Z340S, is listed in the Elite Sires list of national sheep genetic database, Australian Genetic Services (AGS). 03K071 shows out for his high GFW (8.0kgs), low FD (17.7), long staple length, high eye muscle depth (EMD) and low fat. He is a trait leader for CFW and staple length. He is a ram for the wool specialist, also having useful meat characteristics. These rankings and indices can be seen on www.sheepgenetics.org.au
2. The Central Test Sire Evaluation trials run by the Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association in the Medium Wool section of its 2005 publication, "Merino Superior Sires" ranked (based on RAMPOWER 3% and 6% micron premium breeding options) an Edale MF sire, 99Z340S, 2nd in Australia (1st in Western Australia) for reducing micron and increasing fleece weight! Further, his progeny as a group was one of only two medium wool sires that were visually judged to be superior in both body conformation and wool quality. Its an exacting benchmark for Edale's strategic breeding direction.
We view these combined measures and visual judgements of the quality of progeny that a sire breeds as a superior indicator of a sire's ability than that of national shows where individual sires are judged entirely visually and are awarded as "champions". How many of those sires in the field have contributed to the wool quality of the national flock, and woolgrower profitability?
Edale has been using this top ranking sire and his sons and daughters to produce some envious progeny for Australia's merino wool producing country. The trend of our micron continues to drop, and our fleece weight continues to rise...
3. Edale 2 tooth Sires were ranked among the 25 trait leader 2005 EBVs in 7 of 19 traits ranked by Australian Genetic Services. The traits in which Edale Sires ranked were Yearling and Hogget WT; Yearling FD; Yearling CFW; Hogget SL; Yearling and Hogget SS. This historical ranking among the vast database held by Australian Sheep Genetics underscores the elite quality of the Edale sheep on a national scale. Few merino breeding entities can emulate this performance. Rankings on 5 of these traits had genetic origins with 99Z340S, the ram that performed outstandingly in the central Test Sire Evaluation referred to above. Rankings on the remaining two traits have their origin to Kerikeri 980107 whose EBV for yearling and hogget bodyweight is near the highest in the Australian Sheep Genetics data base for these traits, though whose wool traits require significant on breeding to bring them to where Edale's wool quality lies.
These EBVs also pinpoint those traits on which Edale is focussed to strengthen its performance - worm resistance (FEC); higher eye muscle depth (EMD) and higher number of lambs weaned (NLW).
How can Edale validate this to me?
This website can add validation for you by explaining how we get these performance results as well as show the statistics that prove how we have been able to consistently deliver premium class rams that perform, to our clients. The wool apparel market is seeking the soft, luxurious, low micron wools that these rams breed - if the broad industry continues to ignore these market requirements, it does so to its peril.
This website is packed with information which will give you a detailed picture of how we operate at Edale. It contains records of flock performance and a detailed stud history which includes our breeding objectives and plans for the future.
Once you have had a quick look, you are welcome to email or telephone Philip Gardiner (Principal) to discuss any aspect of this genetic performance or arrange your personal on-farm inspection of our rams, ewes and their pedigrees. If you would like to be sent our itinerary for our annual Ram Tour (subject to logistics, we bring a sample of our Sale Ram Team to interested parties once a year) then click on the "Contact Details" menu at the top of this page.
For more information, or for a no obligation (on farm) viewing of available rams or ewes, please call Philip Gardiner on (08) 9651 1700 or Stephen Bullock on (08) 9651 1398.
We look forward to speaking to you soon.
