Connewarran breeds plain bodied, fine wool merinos highly adapted to wet and cold environments.  Connewarran merinos have:

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• Low fleece rot and fly strike thanks to long stapled, well aligned, free draining, very white wools.

• Strong lamb survival and livestock trading profits thanks to DNA identification of, and selection for, cold tolerant gene markers.

• Higher wool returns thanks to productive wools that test and present extremely well.

• On a non-mules sheep.

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Connewarran is one of the southernmost studs in mainland Australia.  Average annual rainfall is 24 inches. Wet years see up to 32 inches, with the majority typically falling in a cold winter.  Our environment demands a robust, well conformed sheep.

 

Our genetics have been benchmarked for 15 years through AMSEA Sire Evaluation Trials with Connewarran sires featuring regularly in the top 3 or better of trial indexes.

 

OUR BREED OBJECTIVE

 

Connewarran merinos prioritise traits that support profitability throughout the price cycle, promote environmental resilience, and meet the expectations of consumers and legislation.  The basics of our methodology are as follows:

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1. "Never miss lambers”.  All stud ewes must raise at least one lamb annually or be culled. 

2. Connewarran Wool. All Connewarran Merinos, ewes and rams, must have long stapled, white, well aligned, productive wools that can withstand a high rainfall environment

3. Mid-sized, plain bodied. We seek to maintain our average stud ewe weight of 65kg.  This helps ewes to conceive as a maiden and boosts lamb survival.  Our sheep must also be “relatively plain”, maintaining their productivity but capable of adapting to a non-mules operation if management seeks to follow this path.

4. Productive. In the end, we're wool producers, and we want to produce as much as we can.  Our sheep consistently produce above average cuts of below average micron in sire evaluation trials.  We think we can push this further.

5. Resilient. We promote sheep that have the characteristics required to survive and thrive, particularly as lambs.  We promote ewes that consistently produce high litter weights and rams with the carcase characteristics that support lamb survival. We measure individual WECs in rams and include this data in selection decisions.

 

OUR CREDENTIALS

 

Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association

 

Connewarran sires are regularly tested in AMSEA managed Sire Evaluation Trials, generating objective evidence regarding the quality and performance of the genetics the stud produces.  15 trials have now been completed by 10 sires, 8 of whom have featured, in the top three of one or more indexes.

 

Click here for the AMSEA website's data on Connewarran sires or here for the same information on this website.

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ASBVs

 

All annual on-property sale animals are offered with a range of wool, carcase, WEC, and index ASBVs.    

 

To search the Sheepgenetics website for Connewarran rams and their ASBVs click here.

 

​OUR HISTORY

 

Connewarran Merinos originated from Bindawarra Omeo blood.  The Stud was first registered after the purchase of 25 inseminated ewes from Bindawarra in 1992. We join approximately 750 ewes annually through ET, AI and natural programs.  Our genetics are predominantly Connewarran based with infusions of Charinga, Wallaloo Park and Willandra.

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OUR FUTURE

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We will continue to use and refine the approach which has delivered our success so far:

 

1) Gather a range of relevant information through visual and objective means

2) Use this information to select promising young sires and eliminate poor performing ewes

3) Test our most promising sires and measure the results

4) Breed on with the outstanding performers

5) Benchmark Connewarran sires against the industries best through sire evaluation trials.

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In addition, we continue to seek new technologies and breeding methodologies which can enhance the pace of our genetic gain.  For instance, we are currently working with the University of Lincoln in New Zealand on "Cold Tolerance Testing".  This uses DNA technology to analyse genetic markers associated with improved lamb survival in cold weather.  We are also interested in developing better selection methods regarding a sheep's feed conversion capacity.