ON FARM NATIONAL GENETICS h How to shop for a high‑performing sire There’s no doubt a breeding program. 5. Confirm your sire is working once high‑performing sire must 6. Develop a primary list of potential joining commences by watching him be structurally sound and sires to purchase at the sale. service in the paddock. reproductively fit, but what 7.Develop a secondary list of potential 6. Conduct annual animal health you can’t see is just as important. sires to purchase at the sale. treatments including an annual Looking ‘under his hood’ helps build a 8. Decide on your budget. BULLCHECK™ (a standardised better picture of all the traits a ram or examination developed by Australian bull can pass on to his progeny; traits During the sale Cattle Veterinarians) on all bulls such as fertility, carcase weight, worm 1.Visually appraise your shortlisted sires.before joining. ■ egg counts and eating quality. 2. Make a purchasing plan. When it’s time to shop for your next 3. Bid on sires on your shortlist that BREEDPLAN: high‑performing sire, here’s a handy list meet your physical assessments breedplan.une.edu.au of what to do before, during and after and your budget. Sheep Genetics: the sire sale. sheepgenetics.org.au After the sale BULLCHECK: Before the sale 1.Treat incoming animals according 1.Identify or reassess your breeding mycattlevet.com.au/bull‑testing to your own biosecurity plan, such objective. as using quarantine paddocks to MLA’s genetics hub: reduce the risk of spreading weeds, genetics.mla.com.au 2. Identify the relevant indexes that align with your breeding objective. parasites or disease. For subscribers to Feedback, 2.Record the sire’s tag number and check out the handy 16‑page 3. Identify the breeding values that pocket guide included with align with your breeding objective. appropriate animal movement records. this edition. 4. Search the printed sale catalogues 3. Allow six to eight weeks for your and online BREEDPLAN and Sheep new sire to de‑stress before joining. Genetics databases to find sires that Check on him frequently in these first match your desired indexes and few weeks. breeding values. 4.Feed a high‑protein diet before 5. Contact the stud for more information joining to ensure your sire is in about the sires and the stud’s condition 3.5 at joining. 22