- Visual and objective measurement applied
- Ewe fertility and mothering ability recorded
- Progeny fully pedigreed to their dam, sire or structured sire syndicate
- Individual mating decision for each ewe
- Best internal sires and externally sourced semen progeny tested
- Faecal egg count testing and selection to breed worm resistance
- Growth rate eye muscle depth and fat for meat characteristics measured
- Commercial medium fine flock used as template for genetic performance
Further Information:
Visual and objective technical measurement is made of each stud ewe and ram bred to judge the breeding potential.
Ewe fertility and mothering capabilities are recorded.
Ewes that fail to rear a lamb over two consecutive years are culled.
Specific mating decisions are individually made for each ewe. After being classed into the stud as maidens based on their own visual and measured characteristics that fit our breeding objectives at the time the only feature that determines whether a ewe stays in the stud is the quality of her progeny.
Progeny are fully pedigreed to their dam and, except where syndicate mated, to their respective sire.
Progeny testing is carried out on best new individual sires which have been bred.
Semen from best possible "elite" wool sires outside the property are sourced each year for benchmarking against sires bred at Edale through detailed progeny testing.
Breeding for worm resilience is being carried out by utilising ewes and rams which test zero or near zero faecal egg counts.
Measurement of meat traits including growth rate and eye muscle depth are carried out. Since 1998 stud and commercial flock sheep have been classed by Edale Principal, Philip Gardiner and by Edale Stud Manager, Stephen Bullock. For the period 1990 - 1997 the stud sheep were also classed by Mr. Jim Watts.
Biosecurity is conducted to the highest quality assurance standards.
As a template for the Edale Medium Fine Stud's genetic's performance and likely genetic influence on client flocks, the stud's genetic are applied to Edale's medium fine commercial flock and any benchmarks of the Australian flock.
Every sheep, including flock sheep, is visually classed each year and, subsequent to 2001, the 1˝yo flock ewes and wethers have been classed with the assistance of OFDA micron and fibre length testing and greasy fleece weighing.
Supplementary feed sufficient to ensure even wool growth is given with the objective to achieve average tensile strength of 35 N/Kt and high ewe conception rates.
In recent years it has proven difficult to find sires throughout Australia that have been able to add value to our wool breeding. The selection of sires within Edale's flock have given better progeny performance than progeny resulting from semen sourced from external sires.
