Rosewood Poll Dorset Stud

Breeding Objectives

Genetics
  • Founded and building on the genetics of highly successful studs including Hillden at Bannister, Tattykeel at Oberon and, most recently, Abelene Park at Tamworth, sires purchased by Rosewood are carefully considered to ensure they possess the traits to benefit the long term direction of the stud. This is identified by the genetic as well as physical attributes of the ram to compliment the stud’s strategic breeding objectives.We consider that the same principles used by successful wool producers should be applied to the breeding of consistent traits in poll dorsets. Having identified at the stud’s inception the type of ram we want to breed we have been consistent in the type of sires we have purchased. The lineages of all sire rams are investigated and their sires and/or siblings history investigated before they are purchased so that optimal inheritable traits can be assured.

  • We also aim to only breed and sell rams with good temperaments and easy handling ability. With mature rams weighing-in at 120kg plus the last thing needed when working with them in the yards is a ‘cranky’ sheep.

    • Innovations
  • Our lambs are weighed within 12 hours of birth, at weaning and at 7 months of age to correspond with Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV) BWT, WWT and PWT. These weights are then graphed so that the growth trend of the individual ram and ewe is easily identified. There is no hesitation in culling any sheep within the stud that do not meet the high standards for growth and conformation.

  • Stockscan is part of the assessment tools that we use to select the sale rams and validates the visual traits we identify as necessary for top class stock. Measurement of eye muscle depth and width to calculate the eye muscle area identifies the meat producing ability of the ram as eye muscle area is a definite indicator to total meat yield. Rosewood has started to Stockscan maiden stud ewes as, by scanning ewes as well as rams, the sheep possessing the traits required to produce higher meat yielding progenycan be identified.

  • All sheep on the property are regularly worm tested and are only drenched if the worm counts indicate it is required. We do this in order to reduce the risk of developing drench resistance. Lambs-at-foot are drenched according to their mother’s worm counts.

  • The pastures on Rosewood are mainly native grasses with some areas of improved pastures. These conditions reflect the feed availability of many local lamb producers. However, on-weaning Rosewood Poll Dorset Stud introduces all lambs to grain feeding to ensure that they are grain trained if supplementary feeding is required due to changes in seasonal conditions.

  • Since the foundation of the stud computerised records have been kept for all ewe joinings and lambing to identify both the best ‘matches’ for the ewes to the rams and to record the fertility, lambing and maternal abilities of the ewes. These entries record the ram to which the ewe is joined, the pregnancy scanning results (i.e. twin / single), the number of lambs born and the birth weights and weaning weights of the lambs. Any ewes not demonstrating optimal traits are culled.

    • Biosecurity
  • Rosewood is brucellosis accredited (CW 06/19) and only purchases rams from studs that are also brucellosis accredited. Ovine brucellosis is an infection of sheep caused by a bacterium called Brucella ovis(B. ovis). It is a disease primarily of rams resulting in infertility and sterility in some affected rams. In some flocks over 50 per cent of rams are affected. Ewes rarely carry the infection for more than one or two oestrus cycles. It is an important disease because it may cause considerable economic loss in flocks due to reduced lamb marking percentages, increased culling of rams, extended lambing seasons and, occasionally, abortions and the birth of weak, poorly viable lambs.

  • Rosewood sheep meet the Sheep Health Statement OJD standard as 'All approved Vaccinates' because all the sheep on the property have been vaccinated with Guidar since 2002.

  • The stud is foot-rot free

    • Useful Links:
    Stockscan NZ - eye muscle scanning
    Stockscan NZ - eye muscle scanning reports
    Drench resistance & sheep worm control
    DrenchPlan DrenchPlan is the recommended sheep worm management program for central and southern NSW.
    Wormkillis Wormkillis the recommended sheep worm management program for the summer rainfall area of north eastern NSW.
    Supplementation guide for sheep
    Supplementary feeding of sheep in Southern NSW
    Ovine Brucellosis
    OJD.com.au
    Ovine Johne's Disease - NSW DPI