Ashmore Rams

Endorsement from David Heinrich for the McCarthy family

admin — Wed, 17 May 2023 07:26:03 +0000

David Heinrich, South East Stock Agent

For the McCarthy family, Keyneton.

With impressive figures from their late-April, early-May drop of lambs there’s no wonder the McCarthy family of Keyneton, SA, are repeat clients of Ashmore Rams.

Attending this year’s sale was well-known South East stock agent David Heinrich with his grandsons George and Sid McCarthy.

Mr Heinrich said his daughter and son-in-law had used the Ashmore Ram White Suffolk bloodline for about the last six to seven years which complemented their run of merino ewes.

“Through this time they have concentrated on low birth weights, growth and eye muscle. We would just like to continue with that bloodline,” Mr Heinrich said.

In mid-September, at an early weigh, one mob of lambs averaged 56kg and the other about 45kg.

“...we are pretty happy with that.”

Chasing the low birth weights, good growth and eye muscle, Mr Heinrich said the Ashmore ram was capable of producing these traits.

“It’s a combination that has worked really well (for us). We want to replicate what we have been doing with the Ashmore rams in the past.”

All of Ashmore Rams have their data recorded and it’s all available for buyers to peruse before they purchase.

Troy and Nette Fischer, Ashmore Ram principals, pride themselves on giving clients the data they require to successfully breed from their rams.

For more information or to chat with the Fischer family about how they can assist with your breeding requirements, or to learn more about the White Suffolk breed, call them on 0439 933 111.

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Endorsement from Celia & Neville Kernick

admin — Wed, 17 May 2023 07:23:00 +0000

Endorsement from Celia & Neville Kernick

Field, SA

Before they had seen the 2022 Ashmore sale rams in the flesh, Celia and Neville Kernick were thoroughly impressed with their ASBVs.

The return clients of Troy and Nette Fischer look at constantly improving their flock to continue their breeding aims and they’re able to do this thanks to the in-depth animal information made available to them.

The Kernick family, of Field SA, based in a “pretty reliable rainfall area” of about 450mm on average, runs two flocks of ewes.

They run a dohne ram over their first class ewes to produce self-replacing breeders and a White Suffolk ram over the second class ewes to produce prime lamb production.

The Kenrick’s have worked closely with Nette and Troy to optimise their selection prior to each purchase.

This allows them to purchase rams that will complement their two ewe flocks and continue to achieve their breeding goals of a quick turn-around lambing to market.

Prior to Ashmore’s 2022 on-property sale, Celia received all breeding data from Nette, giving her full insight into what rams they should look to pick up and add to their enterprise.

They go through all ASBVs and sort accordingly but look heavily at post-weaning weight.

“When we first opened up this year’s (catalogue) we couldn’t believe the colours that were associated with the top five, 10, and 20 percent of it and were very impressed with the catalogue right away, ” Celia said.

“Post-weaning weight is very important to us because as soon as we can get them up and gone then they are as profitable as can be,” Celia said.

Producing prime lambs at their mixed enterprise property, Celia and Neville have an April drop (from late March to early May) and begin selling their lambs in late August.

“(we are) Getting that early growth figure which is what we are chasing…you don’t have to compromise carcass traits for early growth,” Celia said.

Typically their lambs sell at about 50kg live weight, fitting them into the heavy trade section - all achieved with the help of the Ashmore Ram bloodline which produces a quick maturing lamb.

“The Ashmore rams are delivering the traits we are looking for.”

For more information or to chat with Troy or Nette Fischer at Ashmore Rams, give them a call on 0439 933 111.

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Endorsement from Leith Tilley

Nette Fischer — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:46:06 +0000

Endorsement from Leith Tilley

Leith Tilley and his family have privately purchased their team of White Suffolk rams from the Ashmore bloodline for many years.

With a long history of working in the meat industry - with time spent at Meat & Livestock Australia, Rangers Valley Feedlot and Thomas Foods - Leith knows what he is after when it comes to his team of rams.

Leith and his wife Kirsty are part of Greenwith Farms which is operated by his parents Robert and Dianne Tilley, along with his brother Jarred and wife Alice.

Greenwith encompasses 3000Ha of land, spread across properties Invermay at Kapunda and Anama at Booberowie.

Amongst that 3000Ha they run 3000 Merino ewes with 600 mated to White Suffolk rams - all of which have come from Ashmore.

Leith said the aim of incorporating the White Suffolks was to produce an early sucker lamb in spring thus reducing the number of sheep and lambs they run over summer stubbles. "We will increase the number of ewes we mate to White Suffolks in the future to around 1000 - 1200 as we further refine our sheep program to be inline with pasture growth and availability" Leith said.

Having known Troy and Nette since University and since remaining great friends, Leith said it was a no-brainer to work with them.

"We've purchased rams from Ashmore the last 8 years after we purchased Anama and started to grow our sheep numbers from 800 ewes to 3000 ewes" he said.

Typically coinciding with their shearing time, Leith said they've historically purchased their rams through private selection rather than attend their sales.

"We've been really happy to rely on Troy to select the rams on our behalf - he's the professional!" Additionally, there's been times when we've decided in October and November to hold onto excess older sheep and mate to White Suffolks so we've had to rely on private selections."

Nette said it has been a pleasure to work with the Tilley family and they looked forward to selecting their rams each year.

"We pick rams out for them that suit their operation and deliver them to either their Booberowie or Kapunda property", Nette said.

2/9/22

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Endorsement from Bec Hamilton

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 05:32:30 +0000

Endorsement from Bec Hamilton

July 6, 2022

Every breeder - no matter what the animal - has a reason for choosing the stock they have and it’s no exception for the Hamilton family of Bradford Hills, Victoria.

Bec, husband James and children Claire (17), Alice (15) and Tom (13) are merino sheep breeders and, more importantly, they’re repeat clients of Ashmore White Suffolks. Buying rams to put over their flock has allowed Bec and her family to breed the sheep necessary for their conditions in central and western Victoria.

“I married a Merino wool grower and never had a background in sheep breeding, but I did study agricultural science at university and took an interest in genetics my first job out of university within the Australian dairy genetics industry. That’s where I developed a love for breeding.”

While at university Bec worked in a butcher shop at the Queen Victoria Markets and developed a passion for meat quality.
This passion led her to follow and study the science behind meat quality. With all of this behind her and now a Merino wool breeding husband by her side and children at foot, Bec immersed herself in the local school and kindergarten, and picked up the farm’s bookwork.

“James said to me one day, I wish you would spend more time in the business with me,” Bec said. When that time came, Bec said it was a by-chance opportunity for her to attend a Bred Well/Fed Well seminar that lead her to seek high performance studs using search tools in Australian Sheep Genetics LambPlan. She looked at the data and analysed what was important and which rams she wanted and from that point on, Bec hasn’t looked back.

“I went to my first ram sale with my analysed spreadsheet of data and was hooked. I do love ram sales.”

On-farm they have a self-replacing Merino flock and this year have joined 16,000 Merino ewes. Upon buying a farm in western Victoria about 14 years ago, it was evident Merinos couldn’t be easily managed there. That’s where Ashmore White Suffolk rams come into the picture. Being the keen researcher she is, Bec looked at the Australian Sheep Genetics database and searched her preferences which included rams throwing low birth weight and a high growth rate.

“Running down that list of individual animals there was a number that were in the top 100 but the Ashmore name continued to come up.”

It was 2016 when, out of the blue, Bec called Troy and Nette to talk about their rams. “I didn’t know them from a bar of soap. I said ‘Hi, you don’t know me, we are Merino producers but we are really interested in your genetics’,” Bec said.

Troy and Nette were busy rebuilding from the devastating Pinery fire which took a huge toll on their farm - something Bec didn’t know anything about.

“We knew nothing of what had happened with their business and the fire, they were so kind, gracious and inviting. They are passionate breeders.”

She flew in for the Ashmore ram sale that year where she purchased 21 rams. “We were the bulk buyer and I just keep going back to the Fischer’s each and every year,” Bec said. Following the devastating effects of the Pinery Fire in 2016, the Fischer family have rebuilt and continue to put their Ashmore White Suffolks on the map.

“In my opinion, they stepped away from that horrible experience in a positive manner.
The strategy they took to rebuild and get on with things, they are a wonderful young couple who deserve to be supported,” Bec said.

But what is it about the Ashmore rams?
“I’m looking for ease of lambing and growth rate; at present we only get paid on the weight of the carcass. I think it’s really important that Troy and Nette are behind the scenes working out the flavour and meat characteristics. I’m looking for a good carcass weight and growing performance, really.”

The Hamilton’s breeding program includes first crossing their younger cull Merino ewes to white suffolks and then to Border Leicesters on subsequent joinings. Bec said they were now looking at becoming a breeder for commercial restockers looking for productive performance ewes.

“Some first cross White Suffolk/Merino ewe lambs fetch good prices as weaners - there’s a market for that composite, we have people chasing that progeny. It’s largely Ashmore breeding, they’re competitively priced.”
“What Troy and Nette have been doing is speaking my language, I increasingly see myself as a scientist. How can we be more productive, reduce generational intervals and advance breeding technology to get more from our animals?”
Bec said the progeny were performing really well and they are securing repeat buyers for their ewe lambs.

“The rams are settled, really calm, easy to manage; they tick the box with regard to the ease of lambing and growth rates, which is what we were chasing.”
“They’re just beautiful animals that are good to handle and most importantly they perform well on their genetics.” Bec said.

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Endorsement from Andrew Jaeschke

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 02:21:35 +0000

Endorsement from Andrew Jaeschke

June 24, 2022

It was five years ago when Andrew Jaeschke, of Hilltown, began using the Ashmore White Suffolk sires and he hasn’t looked back.

Already running Merino ewes, Mr Jaeschke wanted to diversify his flock to help allow for quicker maturing, better meat producing lambs - that’s where the White Suffolks came into play.

Mr Jaeschke, wife Michelle and son Lachlan, run 2000 breeding ewes at Hilltown and over some eastern country at Robertstown.

Since supporting Ashmore White Suffolk, following their purchase of a number of sires from Wheetlande’s dispersal sale, Mr Jaeschke hasn’t looked back.

“We have been very happy with what they have been doing,” Mr Jaeschke said.

With Merino ewes already on property, the family have crossed the white suffolk breed with about 40 percent of the flock to allow for better meat production and an early maturing lamb.

“We added in the white suffolk for the meat side of things and we were looking for an early maturing lamb with good growth rates to try and capitalise on the early sucker market and the Ashmore sires have enabled us to do that,” he said.

He said the Ashmore White Suffolk sires were a “very good” fit with their own ewes and were predictable with their breeding figures - their ABVs.

“Lambing percentages are consistent, they’ve all been at the 120 per cent mark, which is great for our program,” Mr Jaeschke said.

With a May-June lambing, Mr Jaeschke said they were able to effectively meet their target of late-October to early-November sucker market by using the white suffolk breed.

A quick and effective turnover of lambs allows the Jaeschke family to keep stock rates up and preserve feed for the ewes in early autumn.

“We are not trying to grow an overly big product, but a fast-growing one. We have been working with their figures for a number of years and feel that they are heading in the same direction. I feel they are at the forefront of white suffolk breeding and their (Ashmore) figures support that.”

He said the Ashmore White Suffolk sires were a “very good” fit with their own ewes and were predictable with their breeding figures - their ABVs.

“Lambing percentages are consistent, they’ve all been at the 120 per cent mark, which is great for our program,” Mr Jaeschke said.

As relatively new clients of Ashmore White Suffolks, Mr Jaeschke said Nette and Troy were great people and really easy to deal with.

“They are doing a great job with what they are doing. I think their breeding figures support that. They’re certainly not static, they are very progressive thinkers on their ASBVs,” he said.

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