Young rams offer next gen performance

December 13, 2022

They practice what they preach at Gemini Prime Lamb, using the best new genetics in their flock, and giving producers a chance to get in on the action.

The high-performance ram lambs being offered at Gemini’s annual summer sale are also sired by the latest and best performing young rams in the flock.

“Last year we used more than 10 young ram lambs in our own stud joining - we trust our own breeding and our own sheep,” Gemini principal Craig Mitchell said.

The Werneth-based stud will offer up 105 June-July 2022-drop White Suffolk rams on the 1st of February.

“All the lots have one or more ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Values) in the top 20% of all terminal sires, with over half boasting one or more ASBVs in the top 5%,” Mr Mitchell said.

There will be six specially selected rams at the top of the sale, picked out on type, performance and structure as the best opportunity for stud buyers.

Flooding has impacted farm infrastructure at Gemini this spring, with plenty of fences still to be repaired, but the weather hasn’t dampened the quality of the stock on offer.

“The rams are all doing well, especially given the season - they have held up well for the past few months of wet conditions,” Mr Mitchell added.

One of the groups of rams which have stood out to Mr Mitchell so far are the sons of a ram used as a lamb itself - Gemini 210377.

“This ram has a number of really good progeny and has bred really well within the stud, as well as having impressive ASBVs,” he said.

These ASBVs include a birthweight (BW) figure of 0.14, weaning weight (WWT) of 12.45, post weaning weight (PWWT) of 20.12, an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 3.43, and fat of .18.

One of the other stand out sires with lambs in the sale is Gemini 200361. The ram itself was sold to Hedingham White Suffolks in Western Australia in 2021 for $18,000.

“We used semen in the ram and this will be the first progeny for sale by him at Gemini - he is breeding exceptional growth, with a PWWT of 21.34,” Mr Mitchell said.

Gemini 200078 - a low birth weight ram at 0.16 - also has a consistent line-up of progeny on offer in the sale.

Low birthweight and lambing ease are a continued focus at Gemini, but so is lamb survival, which Mr Mitchell says you must consider, especially when chasing low birth weight.

“That is why it is critical to use rams that are producing lambs with as positive fat as possible, as this assists in their survivability.”

At the 2022 Gemini summer sale, rams sold to a top price of $4600, and averaged $1467, offering buyers the opportunity to acquire leading genetics at an affordable price point.

“In the current lamb market climate, it is more important than ever to make sure you get your genetics right - those breeding the right sheep will get rewarded for it.”

Gemini Prime Lamb Sires will host its 12th annual summer on-property sale on Wednesday 1st February, with viewing from 10.30am and the auction kicking off at 12.30pm at the stud and online with AuctionsPlus.

Sale Updates full catalogue will be available on the website and on the Gemini Prime Lamb Facebook & Instagram Pages.