If you would like to improve the efficiency of your sheep unit, then Mike and Marie Williams have a solution.
Investing in high genetic merit Hampshire Down rams has enabled them to produce faster finishing lambs for an earlier market, freeing up grass and making cost savings.
“We’re a profit driven business, so finishing the maximum amount of kilos of lamb per acre as quickly as possible is among the objectives of our sheep enterprise,” said Mr Williams, who farms a 400 acre family partnership at Rosecastle Farm, Rhos, Haverfordwest.
“We believe we have found the answer by simply changing the breed of ram put to a portion of our 1,000 ewe closed flock, a mix of Lleyn, Lleyn cross and Suffolk cross.
“These Hampshire Down cross lambs are finishing four to six weeks earlier than lambs by other terminal sires, without any extra effort.”
The Williams family is hosting a Hybu Cig Cymru Hampshire Down open evening on Tuesday 19 June from 5pm.
Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the merits of using high index Signet performance recorded rams and also improved selection techniques.
The family make their first draw of Hampshire Down cross lamb reaching 18kg target deadweight at 10 to 12 weeks, and trade through Pembrokeshire Quality Livestock.
“By hitting that earlier market in early to mid-June, we’re able to secure a premium which last year was in the order of 20p/kg to 30p/kg,” said Mr Williams.
“The key is to have the maximum number of lambs away as possible by 20 week weaning.
We are finding that a consistent 70 per cent of the crop will reach 18kg or more and grade R+ 3L by then, that’s 20 per cent more than our lambs bred by other terminal sires.
“We start drenching monthly from July, so faster finishing means the number of treatments is significantly reduced along with the workload.
It also means the swards are freed up earlier leaving more grazing later on for flushing.”
The Hampshire Down is also helping the Williams’ to meet with one of the requirements of signing up to the Tir Gofal environmental scheme – grazing stubble turnips from mid-October.
“We store the few remaining Hampshire Down crosses on grass through August and September and finish within four weeks on the stubble turnips.
They continue to realise their potential benefitting from being sold on to the traditional rising market while still continuing to meet within the target weight and R + specification.”
The decision to make that one simple, yet significant change to the sheep enterprise came three years ago.
“We had used a Hampshire Down ram over 10 years ago, and he had proved to be strong and deliver vigorous lambs that would immediately jump up and go,” said Mr Williams.
“So while considering how we could further improve the farm’s efficiency without any major outlay, we decided to invest in the breed again, this time in a set of Signet performance recorded rams, and we used data for growth and muscle depth Estimated Breeding Values to help make the decision.
“The combination of the native genetics and those selected for improved performance is definitely being demonstrated in the lambs which are meeting market requirements.”
The Williams family is hosting a HCC Hampshire Down open evening on Tuesday 19 June from 5.00pm.
Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the merits of using high index Signet performance recorded rams and also improved selection techniques.