CARWELL POLL DORSET SHEEP STUD

Phillip and Julia Rose

Middle Farm Road ARMIDALE N.S.W. AUSTRALIA 2350

Telephone 61-2-67-753767

Fax 61-2-67-729492

Email pfrose@ozemail.com.au

STUD DATA AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Australian Lambplan GOLD status data collection

• Ovine Brucellosis accredited free N 81/3

• Ovine Johnes MN1 status, with two blood tests of all sheep on property over 2 years old

• Australian Poll Dorset Association Flock 2320 established in 1975

• Lambing percentages consistently above 130%(even when A.I. used)

• 1999 drop rams average EBV 60:20:20 , all sheep, 125.11

• 1999 drop ewes average EBV 60:20:20, all sheep, 127.4

• Performance recording for lambing ease since 1975

FOR SALE 

SEMEN available for immediate delivery in Australia Sires 86-89, 65-92, 132-96

SEMEN available for immediate delivery in New Zealand Sires 22-94, 65-92, 132-96

SEMEN available for immediate delivery in Canada Sires 86-89, 65-92

RAMS 1999 drop rams , available as stud and flock rams; see EBV and pedigree details below.

EWES Due to rapid genetic progress and our need to maintain the flock at a set level, we will have ewes available at the end of the year.

 HISTORY

Carwell Poll Dorset Stud is the home of the natural muscle gene now commonly known as the Carwell gene throughout the sheep industry. Established in 1975 and from the outset was developed on objective measurement criteria for growth rate and lambing ease, using the N.S.W. Meatsheep testing service and its successor Lambplan.

As a supporter of the first Poll Dorset Central breeding scheme in 1990, ten young rams were offered for use in the scheme, which involved amongst other things, cat scanning eye muscle area at the University of New England. In a report dated 27^th March 1990, 35-89 was described as " the largest EMA we have seen to date". This ram was closely followed in EMA by 86-89 and 1-89. These rams went on to be used in "Meat Elite 1"and their progeny proved what the cat scanning had suggested, a clear advantage in eye muscle area.

In the meantime 35-89 was entered in the Central Progeny test at Glen Innes N.S.W. where he established an EBV for eye muscle area adjusted to weight of 2.56 and still holds one of the highest scores for Retail Index. When the Australian Poll Dorset Association, established a breed central breeding scheme at Walcha("Meat Elite 2"), 86-89 was offered for use. The story repeated itself ; EBV's for eye muscle showing through in Meat Elite sires such as 69-92, who went on to sire 411-93.

From different bloodlines, 65-92 was born. Now with an EBV for EMD of 3.28 he still earns a place in the top 150 in his breed. He allowed concentration of the gene without inbreeding. Surprisingly, widely used in hybrid breeds and overseas, he has rarely been used in the Australian Poll Dorset. Since then Carwell rams have been placed in trials in the South of Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

BENEFITS OF THE CARWELL MUSCLE BOOSTER GENE 

SEEDSTOCK PRODUCER

The Carwell gene has demonstrated the potential to lift, within one year, the EBV for eye muscle area of 2.5 square cms at slaughter weight. This is equivalent to 5 years genetic improvement in an intensively selected high performance terminal sire flock.

COMMERCIAL LAMB PRODUCER

Eye muscle depths can be up to 30 % greater. Eye muscle areas potentially up to 40 % bigger. Yields have been shown to be up to 5 % higher.

PROCESSOR

Lambs from Carwell Muscle Booster rams have shown improved yields of up to 15 % of high price cuts. That is an extra 0.6 kg of high price cuts. Backstrap weights are up to 8 % higher. Australian Lambplan results indicate that larger eye muscles yield $0.56 per square cm per kg CWT.

SPECIAL COMMENTS TO ALL PRODUCERS

Some trials suggest that the gene needs a trigger to come into effect. The most likely requirement is sufficient protein of a level normally expected to operate a productive prime lamb enterprise. Demonstration of the effects of the entirely natural gene can not be guaranteed to result in all cases due to widely different environments, feed conditions and genetic backgrounds.

The constitution of the sheep has certainly not been affected. For example 86-89 is still alive and well.

Meat Quality; The Callipyge gene of the US Lamb industry is also known to produce double muscling in lamb, but lambs from this gene are known to have reduced meat quality. The Carwell Muscle Booster gene may come from the same family of genes but DNA marker studies indicate that the Carwell gene is not the Callipyge gene. To date there is no evidence to suggest that the Carwell gene affects meat quality.

At this stage we are unable to reliably establish whether the rams are homozygotes or heterzygotes. The gene may therefore only transmit to half of the progeny.

The benefit of the gene can be captured immediately without a change to your present trait selection within your own flock.

PEDIGREES AND EBV of SEMEN SIRES and 1999 RAMS

All quoted EBVs are Lambplan Across Flock as at March 2000

CARWELL A.I. SIRES

1999 DROP TOP RAMS- AVAILABLE FOR SALE - STUD AND FLOCK

GRAPH OF CARWELL PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE AUSTRALIAN POLL DORSET BREED