Rams thrive on easy care

Poll Dorset rams are rounded up on John Frizzell's property at Tamumu.

For more than 10 years Kiloran Poll Dorset stud has been offering rams for sale by public auction.

Owner John Frizzell said he liked this method because it enabled all parties equal opportunity to buy the sheep of their choice.

He's been farming at Hautope Rd, Tamumu, since 1967, starting off with sheep and beef before establishing the poll dorset stud with original ewes from Tasmania and Australia in 1971. Over the years he said the stud had attracted a wide variety of purchasers who in most cases had been return clients.

"It's very satisfying that they like them enough to come back." The rams are bred under completely easy-care conditions, raised on natural grass on medium coastal hill country.

Their shifting abilities and constitution developed after rigorous culling are a feature with the belief that during tupping time "peaches and cream" are hard to find, he said.

A 10-year, very minimal dosing regime of the replacement ewe hoggets had been a real eye opener.

"The spectacular improvement in worm resilience becomes more apparent every year with obvious drenching efficiencies."

Mr Frizzell said an emphasis on purchasing superior growth rate sires is showing excellent results in both Kiloran's own prime lambs, and those of clients.

A particular draft from long-time clients, all by Kiloran rams, is worth noting, he added.

Most of the lambs were born in the first week of June 2013.

Five hundred were killed on October 14 this year at 22.7kg, and 500 killed on October 22 came in at 20.9kg. The average was 21.8kg.

In another draft from the same district, killed at the end of October, just under 1100 lambs averaged 21.8kg, says John.

"Our home lambs last year with a draft of 1632 at 18.49kg in early November off the medium coastal hill country was a very pleasing result," said Mr Frizzell.

"Our poll dorset romney cross twin ewe lambs scanned 114 per cent and we drafted over 50 per cent of their lambs to weigh 20.4kg in the first week of January. Not bad for hoggets."

This year's Kiloran rams are by high growth rate sires promising similar results. All rams guaranteed.

Auction date December 4, Stortford Lodge saleyards, 3pm.