May 2, 2008
Good Merino breeding paying dividends at Balaklava
Quality Wool Dublin agent John Sherman with Balaklava Merino producer John Higgs during last year's Yorke Peninsula Field Days at Paskeville. |
YEARS of hard work, building up good breeding lines, is paying dividends for Merino producer John Higgs.
In particular, it is helping to overcome the tough drought conditions so many growers in South Australia have been struggling with in recent seasons.
John runs a self-replacing flock of 800 Merino ewes on a 1200-hectare property near Balaklava, about 120 kilometres north of Adelaide, and he has been getting the best possible price for his 20-22 micron wool clip by working with Quality Wool Dublin agent, John Sherman.
"Dad started the operation in the 70's, so it has taken a while and a few changes with ram breeders, but now we are pretty much where we want to be with the breeding lines after all these years," John said.
"We stuck with the Merinos through the 90s when they were worth absolutely nothing, but that has got us to the stage we are at now.
"We are happy with the rams and last year we were making good money with the wool."
For the past 15 years, John has relied on Quality Wool and agent John Sherman to deliver the best return for his clip.
"Quality Wool is a smaller company and they are focused on just the wool. We do well with the price through them. In terms of results, you can only go by the price you are getting and we got a very good price last year," he said.
"They work for us to get the best price and that takes a bit of pressure off me - I virtually leave it to them now.
"They ring me with a reserve price. I don't even reserve it now, I leave that to them. We have been with Quality Wool long enough, so they know what our clip will be each year."
John's biggest challenge now is the ongoing drought conditions affecting the State.
He said the good price he is achieving for the wool is helping him keep afloat.
"The wool is the only thing that has kept us viable - the wool and the price we have been getting for the livestock."
The personal on-farm service delivered by John Sherman and Quality Wool, along with the consistently high prices, means John will be using their services for a long time to come.
"John Sherman knows his stuff. He is switched on and he gives us feedback and on-farm visits. He is available pretty much whenever we need," John said.
"John will drop in mid-shearing just to see how everything is panning out - to see how we are classing and that sort of thing.
"We have been with Quality wool for about 15 years and I don't see any need to change."
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