March 2025 Newsletter
WSBA Farm Forum
June 14, 2025 | 10am – 3.30pm
Nikki and Geoff Lomman, Pine Hill, Robertson NSW
- Specialist Vet presentation – lambing tips and tricks
- LLS – worms and pests
- WSBA update
- Farm and Lamb shed tour
- Great networking opportunity
- Fabulous spot for a weekend away in NSW Southern Highlands
- Catering provided
Please register via email to wsba1996@gmail.com or contact Nikki on 0418 238 088 to reserve your place.
What does MMFS stand for?
Making More from Sheep is a best practice package of management information and tools for Australian sheep producers, developed by AWI and MLA.
MMFS is designed to help sheep producers increase the productivity and profitability of their enterprises and the personal satisfaction of operating a successful farming business. There are 12 modules providing extensive information and knowledge.
Module 1 – Plan for success
Module 2 – Marketing focused Wool Production
Module 3 – Marketing focused lamb and Sheep meat
Module 4 – Capable and confident people
Module 5 – Protect your farm's natural assets
Module 6 – Healthy Soil
Module 7 – Grow more Pastures
Module 8 – Turn pasture into product
Module 9 – Boost Business with breeding
Module 10 – Wean more lambs
Module 11 – Healthy and contented sheep
Module 12 – Efficient Pastoral Management
Click to access: Making More From Sheep
Personal Profile: Towyn Jones of Delawarra Wiltipoll Stud
Towyn runs both sheep and cattle on his property in the Yass District of NSW. He has been involved in the sheep industry his whole life, as a shearer, a woolgrower and producer of meat sheep. Originally Towyn ran Merinos and a White Suffolk Stud and decided to make the change from wool sheep to shedding breeds to focus on meat production. He started with a couple of the more prominent shedding breeds, then stumbled across a Wiltipoll dispersal sale purchasing his initial Wiltipolls — and that was the beginning of the end for those other breeds.
Wiltipolls outperformed the other shedding breeds and Towyn decided to establish his Delawarra Wiltipoll Stud. His aim is to convince others that Wiltipolls have much to offer, particularly as a mother of fat lambs, and he believes the strength of the Wiltipoll breed is as a maternal animal. They are fertile, have a high level of fecundity and are great mothers. In addition, they can rear a lamb on poor feed better than traditional meat breeds, making them suitable for a wider range of operations. Towyn is confident the shift to shedding breeds will continue and sees a place for Wiltipolls in that growing demand.
Towyn runs both stud and commercial flocks and his hope is to build his stud numbers up to 600 ewes and phase out his commercial flock. His two most important selection criteria are twinning and growth rate. A ewe must be able to conceive twins and rear them successfully to weaning. In addition, Towyn selects for early maturity, hoping to achieve an average growth rate of 500gms per day off pasture. This equates to being able to produce a 50kg lamb at 100 days.
When asked what advice he'd give new breeders, Towyn's first response was to buy the best ewes you can find. Recent scientific genetic studies have suggested there is truth to the long-held belief that the strength of a stud breeding operation is in the female line — the way to capitalise on this is to start with the best ewes you can find. Secondly, animal nutrition is of paramount importance, and the best way to produce good quality feed is to understand and focus on soil health. It takes time and money, but the most sustainable and holistic approach to growing good feed — and hence good stock — is to build healthy soil with a good balance of available nutrients. Thirdly, measure everything and be observant. Learn how to manage your stock well in your location and to suit your aims.
Congratulations Martin May on Your Meat Competition Success!
Member Martin May has been entering Wiltipoll lambs into the Braidwood show for the last few years to promote the breed. "We don't have stud sheep; they are commercials based on a maternal flock of stud and commercial ewes joined to stud rams." On Saturday 1st March, Martin entered 2 pens of 3 lambs in the 2025 Show and came away with 3 first prizes.
The three categories were:
FIRST – Prime Lambs – Pen of 3 Shedders (Light)
FIRST – Prime Lambs – Pen of 3 Shedders (Heavy)
FIRST – Champion Pen of Trade Weight Lambs
There were 12 entries, with Martin's the only Wiltipolls.
"We select on polled, shedding, robust frame, length, and depth. Size is our main game."
Upcoming Events
Seymour Alternative Farming Expo — 4–6 April 2025
Sydney Royal Show — 11–22 April 2025
Dubbo Show (ASSBA Centenary event) — 30 May – 1 June 2025
WSBA Farm Forum, Pine Hill Wiltipolls, Bowral NSW — 14 June 2025
Mudgee Small Farms Field Day — 11–12 July 2025
Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show (ASSBA Centenary event) — 17–20 July 2025
EKKA Brisbane Show — 9–17 August 2025
Adelaide Royal Show (ASSBA Centenary event) — 30 August – 7 September 2025
Melbourne Royal Show — 25 September – 5 October 2025
Perth Royal Show — 27 September – 4 October 2025
Longford TAS Show (ASSBA Centenary event) — 18 October 2025
Brunswick WA Show (ASSBA Centenary event) — 25 October 2025
Australian Field Day Schedule: agshowsaustralia.org.au/shows
Contacts
Email: wsba1996@gmail.com
President — Richard Parker — 0412 250 193
V. President — Julie Huie — 0488 188 772
Secretary — Kerstin Fraser — 0407 712 709
Treasurer — Christine Aughey — 0414 898 727
Committee — Loris Denyer — 0429 846 424
Committee — Towyn Jones — 0447 483 840
Committee — Andrew Owen — 0448 720 222
Committee — John Toll — 0438 871 340