The two major outlets for Nerstane rams is the on property sale usually held on the last Friday of January each year, and the private treaty sales commencing in February. Nerstane also takes a team to the Armidale housed sale in early February, mid July to Bendigo, in early August to Hamilton Sheepvention, Victoria, followed by the Dubbo National show & sale usually late August.

The on property sale team consists of over 200 top performing rams and includes both 2 and 4 tooths. Nerstane has recently been using Auctions Plus so you can actually bid on the sheep live on the internet. The remainder of the sale rams are divided into three grades based on performance.

At sale time all performance details including recorded visual assessment to data, are available to buyers to assist them with their ram buying decisions. All rams are sold in paddock condition ready to work.

 

 

Every Nerstane ram buyer is provided with the Nerstane Certificate for each ram purchased. The certificate provides details of the performance and genetic origin of the ram and validates the results Nerstane has achieved through its breeding program. Click here to see Nerstane Certificate.

 

 

In recent years Nerstane has decided to show sheep on a limited scale. Rams and ewes have been entered in local shows as well as the major venues such as Sydney, Bendigo and Dubbo. The major aim of showing is to have another important comparison as well as promote the Nerstane sheep and to provide opportunities for commercial and stud breeders to become familiar with the Nerstane bloodline. In 1999 Nerstane was awarded the Supreme Exhibit at the Sydney Royal Easter Show with N142, an Embryo Transfer lamb by N58. N142 and his full sister were awarded Best Ram and Best Ewe respectively. Since then Nerstane has been awarded many other broad ribbons including another Supreme exhibit in 2005, Grand Champion Fine Wool Ram in 2002 and 2008(N10 below), Best ewe of the show in 1998,1999, 2005, & 2008. In 2008 Nerstane was awarded first place in the Stonehaven Cup  for the best exhibit of 5 merinos (3 rams and 2 ewes). Nerstane won Supreme Exhibit in 2011 with N318 who was Grand Champion Fine Medium Wool Ram. At Bendigo the same year N318 was sold to a Tasmanian stud and two Victorian studs for $26000.

 

 

At sale time all performance details including recorded visual assessment data, are available to buyers to assist them with their ram buying decisions. All rams are sold in paddock condition ready to work.

 

 

   Click here to see Nerstane N10.

   Click here to see 2008 Winning Stonehaven Cup Team.

Pedigree Recording

To obtain added value from their performance recording system Nerstane commenced pedigree recording in 1993. The pedigree of an animal, particularly sire and dam, can contribute significantly to the estimation of breeding value.

The adjustments due to the pedigree are performed when the performance data from each drop is analysed. The adjustments are based on information from the performance of an animals relatives eg the sire and dam.

An animal with high performing relatives is most likely to have a higher breeding value then an animal with average performing relatives.

The Use of Advanced Breeding Technology

At Nerstane every opportunity is seized to increase the rate of genetic gain. Breeding technologies such as artificial insemination (AI) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) have been used for some years to capitalise on superior genetic material both from within the Nerstane stud and from other studs in the industry.

AI is a very efficient strategy to spread the influence of superior sires and MOET in a similar manner is used to make the best use of high performing ewes.

The program has proven to be very successful over the years with some of our best sire including N2, N142, N43, And N949 all being ET born lambs.

 

The Quest for Accuracy

The aim of all selection programs should be to identify those animals with the best genes for the traits in the breeding objective rather than those animals which simply look the best. An animals performance is determined by its genes and by how it is managed ie nutrition and health and by other non genetic or environmental effects. Examples of non genetic effects include the difference in age due to the spread of lambing, the age of a lambs dam (maidens lambs do not grow as well as those from adult ewes), the birth status of the lamb ie single or multiple or the paddock effect if a drop of lambs is not run as one mob until assessment.

At Nerstane both the ram and ewe selection programs are organised to account for these factors so that all selection decisions are based on accurate and unbiased data. Ewe and ram weaners are managed as separate mobs and receive equal management until shearing when performance data is collected on measured traits. The effect of the differences in age due to the spread of lambing is eliminated by weaner shearing; damage is recorded for all lambs and appropriate adjustments are made to the progeny of maidens. Similarly twin and single born animals are identified and their performance adjusted.

The use of a two stage selection system for both stud ewes and potential sires has been incorporated into the Nerstane system because it has the potential to improve the accuracy of selection by as much as 25%. This system involves combining the fleece weight and fibre diameter performance from two shearings and re ranking the animals in relation to the whole drop.

The recently drafted Australian Standard for collection of performance records will be adopted to ensure the present high standard is maintained at an industry standard of excellence. All fibre testing is performed at a Rampower accredited laboratory.

The analysis of all performance and pedigree records at Nerstane is carried out by NSW Agricultures Advanced Breeding Services based at Orange.