ON FARM SHEEP Backing instinct with science Victoria Archer chairs the productivity, which we’re achieving. As We’re operating a commercially viable Performance Corriedale a group, we’ve made great productivity sheep enterprise, producing both meat Group and advocates gains in lambing percentage, growth, and wool on a consistent basis. We’ve for using genetic evaluation muscle and fat. However, we also need seen great improvement in the ratio of to drive on‑farm productivity to balance the traits we’re selecting number of lambs to ewes joined, and and profitability. for, which will be helped by the new we’ve been able to turn off lambs more LAMPBLAN index, Maternal Wool quickly, either directly off mum or off Victoria is the fourth Archer to hold theProduction Plus (MWP+). MWP+ has a the crop. reins at the 102‑year‑old Quamby Plains focus on improving wool quality and We’re achieving higher weaning Corriedale Stud, taking over from her quantity while simultaneously improving weights and carcase weights and father Richard in 2013. reproduction and carcase traits. are meeting our target market Richard began recording the Are there benefits to having specifications, which is supermarket performance of the Quamby Plains genetics and science to back supply lambs at 22–24kg. flock and submitting data to LAMBPLAN up your on‑farm decisions We’re conscious of the shape of our in 2006, when he co‑founded the and direction? lambs, which we measure by scanning Performance Corriedale Group. for muscle and fat, which helps Since becoming involved within the Feedback spoke to Victoria about the Performance Corriedale Group, and in selection. ■ group’seating quality genomics project. recording data and using LAMBPLAN, we’ve seen significant gains in our flock, Victoria Archer What are you hoping the E: archer@quambyplains.net research will deliver for the resulting in higher profitability. Corriedale breed? Our group believes one of the strengths of the Corriedale is the eating quality, but this is anecdotal, so we’re hoping the trial will back up our belief. There’s also been a concern that selecting for more growth or other maternal traits could cause us to lose our eating quality, so ensuring we keep that trait is another aim. What about for your own flock? We want to be known for producing an article the consumer wants – that is, Corriedale lambs and commercial ewes producing terminal lambs that are known for their eating quality. Tell us about your flock’s particular genetic challenges and what direction you would like to take Victoria Archer and her father Richard, from Quamby Plains Corriedale Stud at Hagley, Tasmania. your enterprise in. Victoria chairs the Corriedale Performance Group, which Richard co‑founded in 2006. Corriedales need to continue to lift Photo: ‘Tasmanian Country’ SNAPSHOT:Victoria Archer, Quamby Plains Corriedale Stud, Hagley, TasmaniaS Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 1,200ha Corriedale stud, 450 stud ewes, Perennial Sandy 680mm self‑replacing commercial 3,200 commercial ryegrass mix loam Corriedale flock, prime ewes, 940 ewe with white and lambs, Poll Hereford stud, weaners, 200 red clover and commercial Poll Hereford stud cows, 170 sub‑clover herd, cropping commercial cows 29