Quality genetics on offer
DAVID Curtis said his ideal dorper was easy doing with good body fat.
David, his wife Robbie and their daughter Sophie run the Bellevue Dorper stud at Millmerran on the western edge of south-east Queensland’s Darling Downs region.
David adheres to a South African visual selection criteria for head, balance, structure, feet, colour and cover.
With the ewes, he pays close attention to birthing ease.
David also makes good use of Lambplan, enabling him to accurately measure his flock.
“To me it’s like a rain gauge. When we get rain I want to go out and measure whether I’ve got 10mm or 50mm, and I need to know the difference to know how I can manage my cropping land,” he said.
“It is the same with Lambplan data, knowing the birth weight, weaning weight, post-weaning weight, fat, eye muscle, all the maternal things from the ewes.”
But he cautioned against over-selecting for traits such as high growth and “not checking that the animal has length and width and depth and balance”.
On September 15 the Curtis family will hold their annual on-property Bellevue Dorper and White Dorper Ram Sale.
This year Bellevue has increased its offering to 180 rams.
“We understand many of our producers are experiencing dry conditions, however, when the season breaks, they will want their rams in the paddock ready to work,” David said.
Bellevue’s breeding objectives are soundly based on prime lamb production, with Bellevue ‘ground truthing’ its stud rams and ewes in their commercial operation.
“All rams on sale day will have a full Bellevue Ram Evaluation Guide to assist buyers in their purchases,”
David said.
“In addition to the catalogue, the guide, along with Lambplan ASBVs, include objective visual scores on each ram including structure, balance, feet, colour and cover, head, horns, scrotal circumference and live weight.”
Landmark are again entrusted with this sale, along with online bidding through AuctionsPlus.
Mark Scholes from Landmark will conduct the auction.
For catalogue details head to www.bellevuedorpers.com. au.
All rams on sale day will have a full Bellevue Ram Evaluation Guide to assist buyers in their purchases. — David Curtis