fbpx
Skip to main content

High Performance

Fast Early Growth

Breeding Objectives

Pooginook aims to continue improving the maturity pattern of the sheep. We look for animals that grow fast early in life (up to 300 days) and slow down as adults (>18 months of age). Fast early growth is key for commercial purposes. However, balancing fast early growth with improved carcass traits and moderate AWT, is important to help minimise increasing adult body weights.

POOGINOOK PRODUCTION

The 2020 drop rams, 90 days post weaning, gained on averaged 230 g/hd/day. The top 500 rams gained on average 307 g/hd/day.

Commercial Benefits

  • Turn off lambs quicker to market
  • Join ewe lambs to increase the rate of genetic gain, lower age of flock and increase gross margin
  • Join ram lambs to increase rate of genetic gain
  • Increase fleece weight
  • Improve reproductive performance

2020 drop ewes about to have their first lamb at 13 months of age

RAM SHOWING IDEAL MATURITY PATTERN

  • DNA POLL TEST: PP
    TAG: 220878
    BIRTHTYPE: 2

    MerinoSelect Run 21 August 2023

      ASBV INDUSTRY RANKING
    PWT 9.1 Top 10%
    YWT 10.8 Top 10%
    AWT 8.7 Top 20%
    YFAT 0.8 Top 30%
    YEMD 1.1
    WR 0.2 Top 30%
    Get in Touch
    Industry Percentile Bands
    Growth Traits

    • POST WEANING WEIGHT (PWT)

      Post Weaning Weight (kg) - Ewes with more positive PWT ASBVs produce progeny that grow quicker and are heavier at ~200 days of age (7-10 months).

      OUR BREEDING OBJECTIVE
      We aim to continue improving fast early growth by selecting for PWT. While doing this, we will also select for positive carcass traits and moderate AWT. This will help minimise increasing adult body weight. We pay close attention to maintaining good body structure and high wool value when selecting for these traits.

      ASBVs on this graph are PGK breeders showing the genetic trend

    • YEARLING WEIGHT (YWT)

      Yearling Weight (kg) - Ewes with more positive YWT ASBVs produce progeny that grow quicker and are heavier at ~300 days of age (10-13 months).

      OUR BREEDING OBJECTIVE
      We aim to continue improving fast growth by selecting for YWT. While doing this, we will also select for positive carcass traits and moderate AWT. This will help minimise increasing adult body weight. We pay close attention to maintaining good body structure and high wool value when selecting for these traits.

      ASBVs on this graph are PGK breeders showing the genetic trend

    • ADULT WEIGHT (AWT)

      Adult Weight (kg) - Ewes with more positive AWT ASBVs produce progeny that grow quicker and are heavier as an adult (>18 months).

      OUR BREEDING OBJECTIVE
      Currently, our standard reference weight (SRW) is 67kg when adult ewes are shorn at 3.0 BCS. As we improve fast early growth, we aim to minimise large increases in adult body weight. To do this, we are selecting for high post weaning weight (PWT) in combination with positive carcass traits and moderate AWT.

      ASBVs on this graph are PGK breeders showing the genetic trend

      High Performance Areas