Samm lamb weight gain is in the mix

Bunkin Farming Enterprises' strategy of grazing lambs on a mix of canola and clover has not only achieved better weight gains than its feedlot in 2010, it also contributed to the Dumbleyung operation being named WAMMCO's Producer of the Month for September.

Dale Cronin and his father, Terry, also won first and second place in the trade weight section and second place overall in WAMMCO's recent State lamb competition using Samm genetics from neighbouring Rockdale stud.

A line of 111 of their Samm lambs was processed at Katanning on September 8.

They averaged a carcase weight of 24.65kg and were sold to WAMMCO at $5.96/kg to return $146.82/head (including $6 skin value).

A total of 50 lambs, or 45 per cent of the consignment, attracted a WAMMCO Select bonus of $342.19, or $6.84/head - equivalent to an extra 12.5c/kg over the 111 lamb consignment.

Dale had tried grazing lambs on canola in previous years with mixed results but this year's excellent season set the scene for a trial grazing more than 300 lambs, mainly twins, on a canola/clover mix.

With the help of Jonathan England, of the Department of Agriculture and Food's office in Narrogin, Samm ewes with lambs at foot were introduced to a paddock of Losa clover, over-sown with canola.

They went into the trial on July 19 and the lambs were weaned a week later and returned to the trial paddock.

Male lambs of 38kg minimum bodyweight were retained for the rest of the grazing trial.

These lambs achieved growth rates of more than 600g a day.

Dale said the daily growth rates were above those accepted for feedlots and were supported by similar results in their own trial in 2010.

"Grazing a canola/clover mix or a rye/corn/clover mix and other crops in the right circumstances can produce high daily weight gains with the benefit of introducing a legume, a disease and weed break into our cropping rotation at a reduced cost," he said.

"By focusing on fertility, our aim is to profitably produce more lambs from fewer ewes and have more area to concentrate on cropping."

The Cronins have moved from a predominantly Merino ewe flock to a breeding flock of which 70 per cent is Samm.

For the first time last year, they mated Samm ewe lambs at nine to 10 months.

"We tailed some very nice lambs and the young mothers have continued to thrive," Dale said.

"Our experience with Samms is that they are suited to the heavy weight market and offer the potential for early maturity to capitalise on the most favourable prices.

"They also have high feed efficiencies while growing Merino wool."

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For more data on the trial, contact Jonathan England at Narrogin on 0438 958 617