Farm Weekly Thursday, April 16, 2015 By TAMARA HOOPER THERE will always be areas of, any farming operation that, cannot be measured, economically, but managing, your breeding program to optimise your profit is something every sheep breeder can achieve with the right information available to them. Aiming to bring this information to fellow WA Merino stud and commercial breeders, Challara Poll Merino stud principals Peter and Emma Wilkinson again … Continue reading Managing your way to better sheep profit
High animal welfare practices when electing to give lambs a small mules
Even though many of our lambs don't need to be mulesed with breeding a plainer bodied animal, we had to make the financial decision to mules again. Challara didn't mules lambs in 2011 & 2012, but the sheep were being discounted by up to $30/head in the saleyards. There was also no premiums made from … Continue reading High animal welfare practices when electing to give lambs a small mules
The Ovine Johnes Disease national system has changed
The Ovine Johnes Disease national system has now been changed. There is no longer a points system to be accredited. Challara Merino Stud has been vaccinating their lambs since 2012 with Gudair & was accredited with 4 points or declared OJD free before the national system changed. Challara would need to go through a certain … Continue reading The Ovine Johnes Disease national system has changed
Stud ewe hoggets as a measurement in the Merino Select system
For the first time, this year Challara has muscle scanned their stud ewe hoggets as a measurement in the Merino Select system. This will help identify ewes which have better fat reserves & early maturity traits.
First of a series of national SRS workshops hosted by Challara Merino Stud
There was a recent event was hosted by Challara Merino Stud & held at the Morawa Town Hall on Tuesday, March 25th. It was the first of a series of national SRS workshops called "Redesigning the Merino". There was a high standard of speakers & sheep on display. ADJUSTING the way we regard and traditionally … Continue reading First of a series of national SRS workshops hosted by Challara Merino Stud
Strategies outlined to control OJD
VACCINATION combined with sound management and biosecurity measures is the best control option to combat the common condition of Erysipelas Arthritis and the now endemic Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD) in sheep. This was the foundation of Zoetis northern area manager Gavin Craig’s presentation at the Challara on-property open day. The Erysipelas bacteria survives in the … Continue reading Strategies outlined to control OJD
Parasites most expensive sheep disease
VACCINATIONS, parasite control and nutrition is effectively the foundation for the health of an animal for the whole year, according to Virbac Animal Health area manager Murray Green. Mr Green was speaking at the Challara stud’s on-property open day and his presentation focused on pre-lambing nutrition and parasite control. Mr Green said according to Meat … Continue reading Parasites most expensive sheep disease
Something for everyone at Challara’s day
A SMALL but enthusiastic group of sheep producers attended an informative on-property open day at the Wilkinson family’s Challara Merino stud at Badgingarra last week. In addition to the line-up of industry speakers, visitors had the opportunity to view displays of Challara stud sheep including stud reserve sires, sale rams, stud ewe hoggets and scanned … Continue reading Something for everyone at Challara’s day
Challara breeding for the future [September]
THE Wilkinson family, Challara Merino stud, Badgingarra, is quite excited about the genetic progress they are making in 2012. Steady improvement has been made with their breeding objectives. And benchmarking the flock on the Merino Select program is further evidence that progress has been made at the stud. This year's lambing percentage was 107 per … Continue reading Challara breeding for the future [September]
YouthCare sponsored ram at recent ram sale
BADGINGARRA farmer Peter Wilkinson voiced his support for YouthCARE school chaplaincy in a creative manner by donating a Challara Merino stud sale ram for auction at the stud’s onproperty sale on September 7 in support of YouthCARE school chaplaincy in Moora. It is expected the Moora Chaplaincy fund will be boosted by up to $1500 … Continue reading YouthCare sponsored ram at recent ram sale
Challara Merino 