Glenlea Dohne Merino and Glenlea Poll Studs
Growth Rates
Weaning weight (100 day weights) have increased by 29%, post weaning weight (200 day weight) by 46% and yearling weight by 94% over the past 10 years. Small increases in monthly growth rates of lambs can dramatically reduce mortality rates. An increase of 0.25 to 0.5 kg per month can reduce mortality risk by 74%. Lamb and weaner growth rates at these stages have been Glenlea objectives since the first Dohne lambs arrived in 1998. The aim is to improve weaning percentages through increased growth rates to reduce lamb and weaner mortality and to get lambs to market weight as soon as possible. The quicker lambs reach sale weight the faster they are turned off and feed resources can be diverted to the ewe flock to improve reproductive performance next year.
Post Weaning Weight
Muscle & Fat
Muscle and fat have been two of the primary selection traits for Glenlea over the last 9 years. Over this time eye muscle depth has increased by 79% and fat depth by 83%. For every extra mm of YFAT there is an increase of the number of lambs weaned in tough years of 18%. Higher muscle ewes maintain their condition for longer during pregnancy and lactation.The focus on fat and muscle has seen strong results, particularly over the last three years. PEMD is 13.8% above the Dohne avg and PFAT is 26.3% above the avg.
Post-Weaning Fat Depth
Post-Weaning Eye Muscle Depth
