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September 18, 2012

Bred Well Fed Well Comes to the Monaro

Details

Monaro sheep producers will be given the opportunity to learn practical tools to optimise reproduction and profitability in their ewe flocks at a ‘Bred Well Fed Well’ (BWFW) workshop to be held at ‘Severn Park’ Cooma on 28 September 2012 from 9am to 2pm.

This highly successful initiative, which has been rolled out nationally, will feature three of the leading experts on sheep genetics and nutrition in Australia, Dr Mark Ferguson, Dr Jason Trompf and Luke Stephen.

Chairman of the SRS® Monaro Group, Trevor Ryan, said that they were excited to bring such a successful training initiative to the Monaro.

"The goals of Bred Well Fed Well are closely aligned with those of our group in focusing on improved fertility, low maintenance and feed efficiency, all of which equate to more dollars in the pockets of commercial growers," Mr Ryan said.

"It is not often you get the opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in Australia on genetics and nutrition so we wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible on the Monaro."

The Bred Well Fed Well Workshops focus on:

- improved understanding of how to use reliable breeding tools to improve enterprise profitability;

- how to develop a breeding objective for your sheep enterprise;

- better management of ewe nutrition for reproductive performance and flock profitability; and

- skills in assessing ewe condition and developing simple energy budgets for the ewe flock.

The Bred Well Fed Well workshops are funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) through their Making More from Sheep initiative and supported by the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a part of a national program to increase sheep industry productivity and profitability.

The SRS® Monaro Ram Selling Group work together to promote the many benefits of SRS® Genetics and have built a solid reputation for delivering truly all-purpose Merinos while adhering to a strict code of ethics. They are Aloeburn, BellaLana, Blue Gate, Blyth, Boxleigh Park, Glenwood, Mumblebone, Parkdale, Richmond and Sherwood.

The workshop is free of charge and lunch will be provided.

Media Contact and RSVP for Workshop:

Ian Smith

0417 020 429

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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August 16, 2012

SRS Group Gets Behind Bred Well Fed Well Workshops

Details

Over 90 commercial woolgrowers attended the first two of a series of Bred Well Fed Well workshops to be hosted by members of the SRS® Group across Australia.

The free workshops are aimed at giving producers practical tools to optimise reproduction and profitability in their ewe flocks. East Loddon Merinos of Hay and Blyth Merinos of Adelong hosted the first two workshops earlier this week to rave reviews.

The workshops are funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) through their Making More from Sheep initiative and supported by the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a part of a national program to increase sheep industry productivity and profitability.

CEO of the SRS Group, Ian Smith, said that they had recognised early that the goals of Bred Well Fed Well were closely aligned with those of SRS members.

“Like Bred Well Fed Well, the SRS® Breeding System is focussing on improved fertility, strategic use of breeding values and feed efficiency, all of which equate to more dollars in the pockets of commercial growers’, Mr Smith said.

“It is not often you get the opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in Australia on genetics and nutrition such as Drs Mark Ferguson Jason Trompf, so we wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible utilising our national network.”

The Bred Well Fed Well Workshops focus on:

• improved understanding of how to use reliable breeding tools to improve enterprise profitability;
• how to develop a breeding objective for your sheep enterprise;
• better management of ewe nutrition for reproductive performance and flock profitability; and
• skills in assessing ewe condition and developing simple energy budgets for the ewe flock.

Upcoming Bred Well Fed Well Workshops to be hosted by SRS® members are listed below:

Monday 27 August

Leahcim Genetics, Snowtown, SA

Leahcim Website

Andrew Michael - 08 8865 2085 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tuesday 4 September

Kelvale, Farrell Flat, SA

Kelvale Website

Stephen and Peta Kellock - 08 8755 1761 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Saturday 15 September

SRS Classic Group, Wellington, NSW (Hosted by 7 SRS Studs)

SRS Classic Website

Ian Smith - 0417 020 429 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Friday 28 September

SRS Monaro Group, 'Severn Park', Cooma, NSW (Hosted by 10 SRS Studs)

SRS Monaro Website

Ian Smith - 0417 020 429 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tuesday 9 October

Trambe, Four Mile Creek, NSW

Trambe Website

Tim Christopherson - (02) 6366 4227 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MEDIA CONTACT:

For more information contact Ian Smith 0417 020 429 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo: Dr Jason Trompf explaining the benefits of ASBVs at the Blyth Merinos workshop near Adelong.

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September 18, 2012

Record Crowd at Bred Well Fed Well Workshop

Details

Over 80 commercial woolgrowers heard from three of the leading experts in Australia on sheep genetics and nutrition, Dr Mark Ferguson, Dr Jason Trompf and Luke Stephen. Producers were provided with practical tools that they could immediately put into action to optimise reproduction and profitability in their ewe flocks.

President of the SRS Classic Group (who hosted the workshop), Norm Smith, said the day had far exceeded his expectations with 100% of participants saying they would recommend BWFW to others.

"We were keen to bring BWFW to the Central West as it provides practical tools for improving fertility & feed efficiency, and takes away the 'smoke and mirrors' from using breeding values on-farm. All of which equate to more dollars in the pockets of commercial growers in the region,' Mr Smith said.

"It is not often you get the opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in Australia so we wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible."

The Bred Well Fed Well workshops are funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) through their Making More from Sheep initiative and supported by the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a part of a national program to increase sheep industry productivity and profitability.

The SRS® Classic Ram Selling Group work together to promote the many benefits of SRS® Genetics. All members of the group adhere to a strict code of ethics and display a high level of integrity within their businesses. They are Bella Lana, Boxleigh Park, Glenwood, and Mumblebone from the Wellington region; GullenGamble, Yeoval; Hilltop, Mudgee; and Parkdale, Dubbo.

Now in its 8th year the SRS Classic Ram Sale features 82 'top of drop' rams from seven leading SRS® studs and will be held on Saturday 13 October 2012 at the Wellington Showground.

Photo: Dr Mark Ferguson from Murdoch University provides some hands-on advice about condition scoring at the Central West Bred Well Fed Well Workshop

ENDS

Media Contact:

Ian Smith

0417 020 429

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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May 23, 2012

Battle of the Sexes as 2012 Shearing Encouragement Awards Announced

Details

It was a battle of the sexes as winners of the second-annual SRS® Classic Shearing Encouragement Awards were announced today at the Dubbo Show.

Such was the quality of entrants, the Judging Panel could not separate the joint winners of the   best up-and-coming shearer in the region, Emma Billet of Trangie and David Gordon of Dubbo. Rianne Miles of Gilgandra took out the wool handler gong.

The Awards, which are an initiative of the local SRS® Classic Ram Selling Group, were presented as part of the Invitational Parkdale Teams Shearing Event between New Zealand and NSW. They aim to help talented young shearers and wool handlers get ahead at a time when skilled labour shortages are becoming a real issue in the industry.

SRS® Classic Ram Selling Group Member, Don Mudford, whose daughter Tammy presented the awards, congratulated Emma, David and Rianne for being recognized as the ‘young guns’ of the shearing industry in the Central West.

“With the Merino industry resurgent on the back of good wool and meat prices, we recognize the importance of supporting the next generation of shearers and wool handlers to ensure they stay in the industry,” Mr Mudford said.

“It is great to see more and more females getting involved in the industry with an amazing passion for shearing, wool and the industry”.

The recipients of the annual awards received an open order of $1,500 (shared between shearers) and $750 (wool handler) to be spent on much needed gear and TAFE training. Nominations were provided by leading shearing contractors in the Central West region and sponsors included Shearing Supplies and Muddy’s Quality Shearing.

Mr Jim Murray from TAFE NSW said that the timing of the announcement could not have been better. “It is nice to see the SRS® Classic Group giving young people in the shearing industry a leg up. Even nicer that the winners were announced on the same day as the Teams Event,” Mr Murray said.

The SRS® Classic Ram Selling Group consists of seven Central West Merino breeders who work together to promote the many benefits of SRS® genetics. They are Bella Lana, Boxleigh Park, Glenwood and Mumblebone from Wellington; GullenGamble from Yeoval; Hilltop from Mudgee; and Parkdale from Dubbo.

The 8th annual SRS® Classic Ram Sale will be held on Saturday 13 October 2012.

Background - SRS® Classic Shearing Encouragement Awards Winners

Joint Winners of the Shearer Award

David Gordon Originally from New Zealand, David now lives in Dubbo. He has competed in many shearing shows in Australia and New Zealand and intends to compete in the northern hemisphere this year. He moved up into the intermediate grade this year and made 10 finals and 15 semi finals. David shows excellent maturity amongst the team and always displays a great work ethic.  He has demonstrated commitment to the shearing industry through striving to achieve the best results for the farmer whilst always considering the welfare of the sheep.

Emma Billet Emma Billet has been shearing for 2 years and was recently involved in the first-ever all female shearing team. She is a clean and efficient shearer who is getting more skillful and quicker with every day she shears. Emma is keen to promote more women in the industry and rates her involvement in the all-female team as one of the best things she has done. She currently shears about 120 SRS® type plain bodied sheep per day.

Winner of the Wool Handler Award

Rianne Miles Originally from the Central Coast Rianne Miles now calls Gilgandra home and has been shearing with Muddy’s Quality Shearing since Easter 2011. She is a keen an eager worker who has quickly learned the necessary skills and tasks associated with wool handling. She is keen to learn about every aspect of the wool industry and is always good for a laugh. Rianne is eager to compete in more wool handling competitions to take her current skills further.

Photo of Award Winners

L to R: Tammy Mudford (Parkdale), Emma Billet, Rianne Miles, David Gordon, Bruce Taylor (Boxleigh Park)

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