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A gut feeling about good lamb is paying off at One Oak Poll

By Julia Wythes The Land

August 9 2024 – 6:00pm

Alistair and Natasha Wells, One Oak Poll Merino stud, say there is more focus on meatier Merinos. Picture supplied

Finding a balance. This is what Alistair Wells is striving for when he looks over his stud Merino flock.

The principal at One Oak Poll Merino stud, Jerilderie, has a long tradition of growing terrific wool, but as demand for eating quality ramps up, he is finding that sheep that grow good wool often also produce delicious meat.

He’s got a gut feeling about how breeders can tell which Merino will produce good meat.

And, like many of his fellow Merino breeders, he is striving to excel in both meat and wool.

FOCUS ON TASTE

Mr Wells said a focus on eating quality in Merinos was not a new thing.

“It’s changed a lot over the past 25 years,” he said.

He said New Zealand sheep producers had already carried out research into eating quality in Merinos in the high country.

On a tour of New Zealand, Mr Wells tasted some Merino hogget, marketed as Silere in a restaurant.

“When I saw the marbling in it, I thought it was similar marbling to some of our well-nourished, quality wool Merinos,” he said.

Mr Wells said his father always had a theory about breeding good-eating Merinos.

Shearers have always said the Merino hogget is the best meat. It is the sweetest, best-flavoured meat because of the fat. Merino meat naturally has a different flavour.

“He always said the sheep with purple fat underneath get fat, shear well and produce good wool,” he said.

“As a breeder, you look for that dark purple skin, because it has good blood flow.”

He said in generations before, there was an understanding that the skin had a lot to do with productivity.

“Those that are loose in the skin and have a bit of fat on them are the best,” he said.

“A good quality, loose skin for growing wool that will shear well is also a skin that will peel off the body easier.

“It is one of those ways of selecting quality sheep and good wool producers, whether it be a plain-bodied or a sheep with a bit of skin, it’s a loose pelt.”

He said despite talk that plainer-bodied sheep had more meat, he often found the opposite.

“I’ve found that some of my heavier-skinned ones have fattened easier and have the purple skin,” he said.

“We tend to select against the plainer, drier wool types and prefer the free-growing, better wool types with nourishment.

“I’ve always felt like the nourishment in the wool is important. The fattiness in the wool is in the meat as well.”

He said this theory has been around for decades – especially if you ask a shearing contractor.

“Traditionally when the shearing team would camp out, the farmer would provide a killer. And these guys have always said the Merino hogget is the best meat.

“It is the sweetest, best-flavoured meat because of the fat. Merino meat naturally has a different flavour.”

TOWARDS DUAL

Mr Wells has been breeding Poll Merinos for years, as his father and grandfather did before him, and this was for one simple reason – to produce a dual-purpose sheep.

He worked in a number of places with Merino producers, including in New Zealand and Western Australia, and this strengthened his passion for the polls.

Mr Wells took on the family poll stud in 1990, and from the outset, he was focused on dual-purpose qualities, gathering ideas from working with South Africans, including Latelle and Dohne breeders.

“We were just trying to breed a meatier sheep,” he said.

“Many Merino breeders and myself have been breeding towards a quality dual-purpose Merino for a lifetime.”

One change he has made is his breeding strategies and selection process.

“Now when I do my selection, I put them in a pen and walk around. I don’t put them down a race first,” he said.

“I walk them around and around to see if they are the kind of sheep that I am looking for. It shows their balance.

“Some are a meatier type and others are more wool types, some are the balance of the two.

“You are trying to find ones with dominant traits that will breed on.”

Mr Wells said his father used South African Merino genetics in the stud, and he made use of their hardy, dual-purpose characteristics.

“It’s survival of the fittest where we are,” he said.

“Living on the edge of the Hay Plains, I have focused on selecting for constitution.

“For me, by not over-feeding them and letting them find their own way through as lambs, they will fatten under natural conditions. The toughest will always come to the top.

“You try genetics from one side of Australia to the other and try your damndest to blend these together with our own genetics to get the best you can.”

TO THE FUTURE

While producing good wool is still his main focus, he is open to looking more at eating quality as clients demand it.

He said a client of his who supplies a restaurant with lamb wanted Merinos with a big backend.

“As a farmer, I have to be profitable and help my clients. Constitution and surviving is a big one for me.

“With the introduction of electronic tagging, we are able to gather more information on individual sheep and this will make selection for different traits easier and more efficient.

“The use of DNA parentage and gene marking will also no doubt help.

“I would like to see that well-nourished wool is seen as a premium along with the quality of the meat that comes with it. You don’t have to breed a dry, harsh wool to have a meat sheep. You can have quality wool too.”

Article courtesy of the Land, Elka Denvey

For the third year in a row Darren and Gale Clarke, Barmedman, have taken home the top spot at the West Wyalong Flock Ewe Competition.

Despite a challenging season for producers, five high quality entrants from across the region were judged by Ian Cameron of The Yanko, Jerilderie and Alex Karsten of Kiawarra Merino stud, Weethalle, along with associate judges Lachlan Kitto, Tallimba and George Ridley, Girral.

Classed by Michael Elms, the Clarke’s winning July/August 2022 drop One Oak blood ewes were the youngest in the competition.

On average, the flock ewes had a 19.4-micron fleece with a 41 newtons per kilotex staple strength and cut 5.59 kilograms of wool per head per year.

The flock also achieved a 95 per cent lambing and 70pc yield with a 32pc culling rate.

Judge Ian Cameron said the yield was visible with a bright and white wool.

“They are structurally very sound and squared in the backside when you stand behind them,” he said.

“The culling rate shows, and it is good to keep that pressure on to keep a tight flock.

“With great skin quality, they’re an uncomplicated sheep that still have plenty of cut.”

Judge Alex Karsten said the wool was well presented.

“The staple length is excellent with a nice bright wool, and good crimp,” he said.

Coming in as the runner-up was Jason and Leonie Ridley, Grenoble, Girral, with their flock of Haddon Rig blood ewes classed by Andy McLeod.

On average, the 1100 breeding ewes had a 19.6-micron fleece and cut 5.5kg of wool per head per year.

Despite extremely difficult and isolating wet conditions which saw a 78pc lambing, the flock achieved a 78pc yield with a culling of 34pc.

“I’m aiming to produce ewes with a free growing long staple length that eases shearing and handling,” Mr Ridley said.

“With all of the water we’ve had on-property, the pasture quality has been hopeless so they’ve had a bit of grain, but considering what conditions they’ve been through I’m really happy with them.”

Judge Alex Karsten said the ewes were well balanced with a good staple length.

Judge Ian Cameron add that there were a few minor structural issues.

“They’re just little ones around classing, the odd foot and hock but they’re small things that can easily be remedied with the ram source,” he said.

Overall third place was awarded to Gerard, Caroline, Glen and Maureen O’Brien, Caloola, Bellarwi, with their Pooginook blood flock classed by Bruce Baker, who died earlier this year.

On average, the O’Brien’s February shorn 2000 flock breeding ewes had a 18-micron fleece and cut 7.5kg of wool per head, per annum.

The flock had a 115pc lambing and 72pc yield with a culling of 22pc.

John and Leanne Staniforth, Golden Vale, Tallimba, received the Encouragement Award.

Kitto Pastoral Co, East Yalgogrin, Tallimba, also participated in the competition.

Article Courtesy of the Land, Helen Decosta

Justin and Natalie McCarten of Rankin Springs claimed top spot at the 29th Lake Cargelligo Maiden Merino Ewe Competition with their flock of One Oak Poll blood ewes.
A crowd of 50 people were in attendance to follow the competition on February 2, with perfect weather and a beautiful breeze to keep the flies and dust away.
The competitions judges were James Osborne, sheep and wool specialist with AWN, Deniliquin, Garry Kopp, Towonga Merino stud, Peak Hill, and associate judge Tamara Pabst, AWN wool technical officer, Tottenham, Vic.

Not only did Justin and Natalie McCarten’s flock win in the judges opinion but they also won the peoples choice award, beating their previous years success being awarded second place.
The One Oak Poll-blood flock classed by Michael Elmes measured a fibre diameter of 20 micron, also cut an average of 6.1 kilograms per head over a nine month shearing interval with 68 per cent yield, while having a lambing rate of 110 per cent.
The judges said ewes were big, long framey ewes with excellent skins, that were a very even line, with a flexible but very well managed approach.

One Oak Poll Merino sold to a record auction price Friday on-farm at Jerilderie, with their top ram selling to $28,000 and the second top price ram selling for $18,000.

The full draft also came back at a new record average with 110 rams for $3885.

Lot 4, a PP Poll ram, R19137, attracted a frenzy of bidding quickly going beyond $20,000 and eventually selling to Rodger and Kim Mathews from Borambil Merino Stud, Corowa.

This most wanted stud sire was described as an all ’rounder with a balance of quality and volume in wool and meat. His wool measured 19.1 micron with a standard deviation of 3.3 and a coefficient of variation of Fibre Diameter of 17.3. The ram was DNA tested and is by Red-31, out of a special stud medium wool ewe. Stud principal Alistair Wells said that R19137 had a balance of meat and wool that will breed on and exhibited a level of comfort factor that reflected the stud’s ambitions. This ram is plain bodied with increased body weight and long staple wool, Mr Wells said.

Lot 8, R19198 by R-45 a full ET brother to R1937, sold for $18,000 or $3000 above last year’s top bid, going to Michael Green from Boudjah Merino Stud, Cooma.

This younger ram was described as presenting with deeply crimped elite wool through to his points and underline. Carcase-wise he was square, solid and had the potential to easily fatten. His micron was 18.9 with a standard deviation of 2.9 and a CV of 15.3,

There were two lots that sold to $9000 including lot 11, R19136 with “free-combing, gutsy wool on a well put together and good doing body”. Micron was 18.9 with a standard deviation of 3.5.

The other ram sold at that price was lot 20, B20118 produced by artificial insemination with 18.6 micron wool and 3.5 Standard deviation.

Volume buyers were Andrew and Catherine Browning, Ivyholme, Jerilderie, who bought 8 rams for an average of $4881, TM and J Caldwell, Young, purchased 10 rams for an average of $3800. Barry Carruthers and sons, Tullibigeal, purchased 8 rams for an average of $3197, Mark and Helen Hoskinson, Fernleigh,  bought 9 rams for an average of $3887.

Mr Wells said embryo transfer had served One Oak Poll very well, and was worth the expense. “Artifical insemination is cheaper upfront but less effective. With ET the genetics of both sides are dominant.”

Mr Wells said he and his wife Natasha and their children Amelia and Lachlan were thrilled with the result of the sale.

The sale was settled by Elders Jerilderie.

Mark Griggs 1 Feb 2021, 4 p.m. The Land Newspaper

NARRANDERA sheep classer Michael Elmes has retained his reputation and even added another accolade at the 2021 Lake Cargelligo Maiden Merino Ewe competition last Friday.

The three placegetting flocks were each classed by him, and, the flock which was awarded the most profitable.

Eleven-months wool certainly impressed when the tour arrived at Barry and Vickie Carruthers and son, Jared, Milbank, Tullibigeal, but it was also the conformation, quality and wool cut of the 20.5 micron average One Oak Poll blood flock of some 40 years that really impressed as standouts to win the competition.

The Carruthers won this competition in 2019.

One Oak Poll ram, 18010 sold privately for $30,000 on the day the studs 2020 on-property auction. The sire was purchased by Justin Boughen from Kamora-Netley Park, SA. Justin said he admired the big soft muzzle and the style of the long stapled fleece. “We came to buy a ram with white and pure wool”, he said. “Our ram has terrific lock structure and a very dense fleece.”

The fleece measurements of 18.9 mic, 3.1 SD and 99.5 pc CF with a body weight of 119kgs confirmed Mr Boughen’s decision to buy the ram.

Pictured from the left: Michael Elmes, Smart Stock, Narrandera, Justin Boughen, Kamora-Netley Park Poll Merino Stud with Amelia and Alistair Well

Mark Griggs 5 Feb 2020, 6 a.m.  – The Land newspaper

NO newcomers to Merino maiden ewe competitions, Justin and Natalie McCarten have made the 2020 Lake Cargelligo fixture their third win in 20 years.

With their four daughters, the McCartens run a self-replacing Merino flock of One Oak blood growing 20 micron wool at Glen-Echo, Rankins Springs, classed by Michael Elmes, Narrandera.

Mr McCarten, said a judge, several years ago, Matthew Coddington, Roseville Park stud, Dubbo, had commented that his ewes had the full genetic potential to grow out into good matrons and gain the benefit years on of breeding better sheep.

“I’ve followed his comments and put the effort into turning my ewes into well nourished and well-grown sheep,” Mr McCarten said.

“I do have better breeding ewes and they have big frames and cut well.”

The maidens now at 20 months had been joined for six weeks and would be scanned in another four weeks with Mr McCarten still deciding whether to join the empties back to Merinos or to White Suffolk rams.

“Having all one flock of Merinos makes for easier management and Merino lambs may not turn-off as quick as crossbreds, but I benefit from the extra wool as well at 7.08 kilograms,” he said. The Glen-Echo flock won the top award in 2010 and in 2018, and has been runner-up four times and placed third twice.

Returning judge Allan (Smoke) Dawson, Winyar stud, Canowindra, said he liked the ewes’ growth pattern.

“They’re good rangy types with plenty of neck extension, fair bit of leg under them, good spine and penty underneath,” he said.

“Their muzzle type suggests they are a good constitution type of sheep.”

Introductory judge, Henry Armstrong, Pemcaw stud, Dunedoo, agreed saying the ewes are impressive and all pretty even in type.

“All have good heads and not many are overdone.”

Impressed with the ewes’ feet, he said they were excellent. “With feet I look for both claws the same shape. If you get the feet right you don’t have too many problems.”

Rachel Canfield loves knitting and crocheting and wanted to spin the wool grown on her parent’s property, Yuruga Plains, into yarn for her own use. But once spun, the wool was too good to keep just for herself and so Rachel decided she was going to share this product with others. After seeking out the few remaining local businesses that would process the families raw wool into yarn, Rachel was able to create an entirely local product that is made from start to finish, in Victoria. Yuruga Plains yarns can be purchased online at www.yurugaplains.com.au. The story of Yuruga Plains fine merino wool has been generations in the making. The Canfield’s, have been producing fine merino wool in the Loddon Valley region in Victoria for more than 80 years. Rachel’s parents, Geoff and Carol Canfield are long term One Oak Poll clients.