Prime SAMMs fit the bill

(Left Michael Kerin, Yeoval, NSW, with a first cross Prime SAMM ewe prior to shearing)

FRUSTRATED with the fall in wool prices in the late 1990s, Michael and Leanne Kerin from Yeoval in NSW's Central West made the bold move of introducing Prime SAMM blood into their Merino flock three years ago.

This decision has since enabled them to run a financially rewarding prime lamb enterprise, as well as maintain a reasonable level of wool quality in the Merino flock they spent many years building.

The couple, who live on a 1650ha property, Balmoral, said their decision to use Prime SAMM rams in their flock had resulted in the production of prime lambs which averaged $90 per head in the past year.

While it was too early to see how the infusion of Prime SAMM blood had affected the flock's wool cut, Michael expected the ewes to still cut more than 5kg of 21 to 22 micron wool, down from about 6.5kg to 7kg.

The June 2007 shearing saw the ewes with eight months of wool growth cut 4.5kg of 21 micron wool.

After testing several other terminal breeds, the Kerins chose to use Prime SAMM sires in their prime lamb production system, feeling they most closely matched their breeding objectives.

"We wanted to run a self-replacing flock, only needing to bring rams on to the property each year," Michael said.

"We didn't want to have to buy replacement ewes every year, as we would have had to do that with a crossbred enterprise."

Michael's hunch that Prime SAMMs would fit the bill was strengthened after looking at the NSW Department of Primary Industries' gross margin figures, in which Merino prime lamb production appeared very competitive with a traditional crossbred lamb enterprise.

"Because we had the Merino lamb flock already, that was the path we chose to follow," Michael said.

"We knew if the wool price rose again we would have a good Merino ewe base to work from."

The Kerins chose Prime SAMMs over Dohnes because they got more bang from their buck in terms of body size, carcase weight and the premium buyers appeared to be paying for the breed.

The Kerins have made as much as $130 for Prime SAMM cross lambs finished in his on-farm feedlot in recent months, though most sold through the Dubbo saleyards for about $90.

Michael finished between 3000 Prime SAMM cross lambs in the feedlot this year on a 70pc barley, 25pc lupin and 5pc supplement ration from Elders Livestock Management Solutions.

The lambs were in the feedlot for 45 days, growing from a starting weight of between 25kg and 40kg to reach more than 60kg liveweight within six to nine months.

Michael, who also lotfed some traditional second cross lambs as a comparison, said the Prime SAMM cross weight gain was comparable with second cross lambs, averaging just 10 grams per day less.

Using Prime SAMM rams over the Merino ewes had also helped improve the fertility in the Kerin's flock.

Lambing percentages have increased from 80pc for the Merinos to between 100pc and 120pc for the first and second cross ewes.

In addition, Michael said he had been able to join his young ewes from nine months of age.

He uses mainly Belmore and Towalba-blood rams over his ewe flock.

"We look for long-bodied rams with plenty of muscle over the loin and a big spring of rib," he said.

Michael also pays attention to the fleece of the rams and tries to purchase sires with above average wool quality.

In addition to their prime lamb operations, the Kerins grow 500ha of wheat, barley, lupins and oats.

They also opportunity fatten cattle, and have 75 steers on the property at present.

Michael said high grain prices had put a dampener on the feedlot in recent times.

"The most important factor is the marketing end of the equation and being able to forward-sell or having a firm price to budget on when the lambs are finished," he said.

"Another important factor during dry times is the environmental equation, because feedlotting ensures the survival of valuables pastures and native species.

"At the end of the day, one has to weigh up the store value of the lambs, and the environmental and human costs of feeding to decide which path to follow."

Editorial and photograph courtesy of Farm Weekly