Our Kiranda Maternal and Prime breeds were sourced from the very best of the New Zealand Highlander and Primera Nucleus flocks.
These flocks were large scale, run in challenging conditions, and intensely recorded for over 20 years. Final selection was based on unique indexes developed to deliver production efficiency and quality, and we continue to take advice from the key people that established our core breeds.
Having adapted our breeding direction to Australian conditions, our ram breeding flock now numbers over 3,000 ewes.
ELITE NUCLEUS
Our Elite Nucleus has been incorporated into Lambplan including Australia based genotyping. The flock was previously recorded on the New Zealand SIL database along with our parent flocks.
Our Nucleus flock features:
- Scale – allowing plenty of selection pressure
- Run commercially – to identify performance under pressure
- Complementary genetics – Kelso maternal widens the genetic base,
while maintaining type and breed direction and improving wool type. - Link sires – Chromedale rams strengthen linkages to industry flocks.
- Data – Concierge Genotyping, Sapien KoolCollect, Lambplan.
- Higher indexing, younger ewes – reduce generation interval.
- Use proven mature rams base – structure, type and performance.
- Positive genetic gain – in traits that improve production efficiency.
VERSATILE SHEEP BREED
Our Kiranda Maternal is used to improve mothering ability over our mainstream Australian breeding systems.
Mate Kiranda Maternal rams to:
Merino Flocks
- Better conception
- Tighter lambing spread
- Less stress on lambing ewe
- Better survival rates (small, high vigour lambs)
- Create an alternative 1st X ewe as
a diversification (meat & wool) - To run in harder conditions
- Finer Xbred Fleece (<2 micron)
- Better maternal and mothering traits
Traditional 1st cross flocks
To close your flock and self replace to:
- Avoid expensive ewe replacement purchase cost
- Increase fertility, mothering ability and flock productivity
- Take control over the annual genetic gain in your flock producing a better ewe than you can buy
- Improve flock biosecurity
Composite dual purpose flocks
To reduce ewe size and maintenance feed requirement while increasing carrying capacity.
- Increase fertility, lamb survival and output
- Stabilise flock to a consistent type
- Improved feet and structure
- Happier shearers and less handling risk for staff
Kiranda’s Breeding system
A self-replacing system to maximise lamb production
from your breeding flock.
As a prime lamb breeding flock your goal is to maximise the kilograms of lamb weaned and plan to increase that annually with better management and genetics. By creating a flock structure based on a self-replacing Kiranda Maternal flock, mated to Kiranda Prime terminal you can achieve this.
Using this system approximately 75% of lambs sold will be terminal X. These lambs have better finishing ability, sale weights, market options and eating quality.
Kiranda Maternal are also a viable option for growing your existing flock, especially with unrelated breeds, and running ewe lambs through unmated.
Ewe lambs
Ewe lambs mated at 7–8 months of age (avg. 45kgs) to Kiranda Prime, weaned early at 70 days to ensure 2th mating weights of 62kgs are achieved. Lambs can be sold as stores at weaning or carried on to be finished.
We promote mating our Kiranda Maternal X ewe lambs to our Kiranda Prime rams for lambing ease, maximum hybrid vigor, zero inbreeding and to facilitate early weaning.
When starting ewe lambs of unrelated breeds can be mated to Kiranda Maternal maintaining 100% hybrid vigour with a smaller lamb for easier birth. The resulting ewe lambs are generally taken through unmated due to their later birth dates and liveweight at mating.
2th ewes
Mated to Kiranda Prime. These ewes are still growing and will wean more lambs if mated later than the older ewes. They will produce a smaller younger ewe lamb than the older ewes.
If you are growing your flock or weaning less than 140% from your ewes, then mate 2ths to Kiranda Maternal for replacements.
3 & 4 year ewes
Mate to Kiranda Maternal for your
replacements. Having proven themselves, these are your most viable ewes and can be culled for faults. They will produce good ewe lambs that are older and easier to get up to weight for mating.
You can safely use rams for 3 years and avoid mating rams to their daughters so reduces inbreeding and/or requires a lower number of replacement rams annually.
5 & 6 year or faulty ewes
Ewes mate to Kiranda Prime. They will still be high performing and can be mated early, with good results.
In poor seasons, this is your exit mob. They can be sold in lamb, with lambs at foot or weaned early, and ewes and lambs sold store or slaughtered. This will maintain your breeding flock for the next years mating.
Flock Planning Assistance
As well as offering genetics, Kiranda also offer free assistance to farmers, if of benefit, to help set and achieve targets as part of your ram purchase.
To discuss your breeding objective and flock targets, get in touch with the team.
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