Curlew Valley Suffolks
Curlew Valley Suffolks was founded in September 2002 with 5 stud ewes from Updown Park and 2 stud ewes and a ram from Letts. In 2006, Stratford Lachlan Lad was purchased from Statford Suffolk Stud for $6000, along with 20 stud ewe hoggets. As Champion Suffolk Ram at the 2006 Royal Adelaide Show, he was 1 of only 2 rams to receive 100 / 100 in his objective measurement in the classes 14 year history. Lachlan Lad has breed incredibly well and has produced a solid base of sound structured ewes, with terrific muscling and overall evenness for the stud to base its breeding program on. Over the years since, a strong “CVS” type has been developed using specific genetics from leading studs right across the country. Our ‘type’ is a moderate sized animal, with rapid early growth, heavy muscling, adequate fat and excellent carcass traits.
The stud now lambs down 120 mature ewes and 40 ewe lambs each year. The goal is to breed a sheep that is profitable and easy care. The majority of rams are sold as terminal sires, hence our main objectives are rapid early growth, high yielding carcasses with excellent meat eating qualities. This means their progeny can be sold as suckers off mum, or fattened quickly in a feedlot. I am a firm believer in stock needing to be structurally sound so they can perform well in the environments they are run in. Hence, structural soundness is critical, with stock going through strict selection process to be retained in stud.
Sheep Genetics is used to evaluate stock against the recognized industry standards for benchmarking. This is the only way of ensuring that the animal you see / buy has the genetic traits you want, and isn’t just looking that way because of environmental factors. It’s important to remember that no matter how ‘great’ an animal looks, you are paying for it’s genetic potential.
We have been using Sheep Genetics since 2008, and in that time have seen an increase in growth (PWWT) of 12kgs. This means that genetically those animals have the potential to be finished much earlier. We have also had a significant improvement in muscling with no sheep kept that are below 0, and most +1 or better. This is well above breed average, as is our eating quality traits.
We take biosecurity seriously, with only stud stock run on the property. We have been in an OJD program since 2004 and maintain a status of MN1 – V (Certificate No. S385-V) and have been Brucellosis Accredited Free since 2004 (Certificate No. 1218)
Missy wins the trifecta of shows – 2019
In 2019, “Missy” won Supreme Suffolk Exhibit at Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show, the highly coveted Supreme Shortwool Ewe at Hamilton SheepVention, and Champion Suffolk Ewe at the Royal Adelaide Show, and a plethora of other awards in group classes.
Peter Olsen’s Fellowship in 2010
AGRICULTURE may be plagued by an ageing farmer population but the 2010 recipient of the Peter Olsen Fellowship Rachel Chirgwin is among a talented new crop of farmers.
The Kangaroo Island Suffolk breeder and livestock agent who has youth, enthusiasm and a keen eye for good sheep and cattle on her side was thrilled to win the prestigious Agriculture Bureau Award last month.
