Trevor and Alan Rissman breed robust, unmulesed, fast growing and fine micron Merinos for Queensland conditions. Image Rissmerino
Easy care Merino sheep genetically selected to thrive in the harsh environment of central and northern Queensland whilst producing superior wool is the focus of the Rissmann family.
The Queensland based growers select for wools that are soft to touch and bright white featuring a deep bold horseshoe crimp and highly aligned fibres, with many of their younger sheep growing over 13mm of wool a month.
Trevor, Linda, Alan and Kaylee Rissmann operate the Rissmerino Stud at Yelarbon, and will offer 70 rising two-year-old drought hardy, long bodied, white wooled stud poll rams on Friday, July 21 from 1pm at the Longreach showgrounds.
The auction will be hosted by LRW Rural and interfaced with FarmGate Auctions.
Last year Rissmerino’s Longreach sale topped at $2300 and averaged $1240 with 100 per cent clearance and gained new clients.
The stud and commercial flock are run in a 550mm rainfall zone on brigalow-belah clay loam soils, with the adult ewes averaging 18.5 micron and cutting an average of 6-7kg with a 70 per cent yield. Lambs averaged 16.7 micron at seven months of age.
Co-principal Alan Rissmann said the family aimed to unmulesed poll Merinos with the ability to thrive in the harsh environment while producing soft, white and breathable wool able to resist fleece rot and fly strike.
“We want exceptional wool on an animal which doesn’t require much looking after,” Mr Rissman said.
“They have wide, deep bodies and good early growth so the lambs hit the ground running.
“The sale rams averaged a staple length of 90mm on an eight-month shearing and can handle the hot, humid and wet summers.”
Pre-joining weights and condition scores are collected on ewes.
“Condition score is one of the most important indicators of survivability of animals. The easiest way to manage sheep wean twins and regain all their condition,” Mr Rissmann said.
“Those most efficient ewes can convert grass to energy, recover quickly from lambing, and store that fat and muscle for use during lactation with the next lamb.”
All animals are scored on wool colour and character, feet structure, hocks, face cover and overall classing grade.
Body weights, fleece data, fat and muscle depth are all collected using the BreedELITE autodraft and fleece weigh system.
Dr Mark Ferguson, NeXtgen Agri, helps class the ewes and design the joining plan at Rissmerino.
“Each ewe is individually assessed on body structure, wool type, and breeding values and hand mated to a sire based on combination of visual traits and ASBVs to push the envelope on what is possible with fine woolled merinos,” Mr Rissmann said.
“We are particular about what rams go with what ewes to make the best genetic gain possible from every sheep.”
This year, exceptional ram lambs were selected to be used in an early joining trial at five months of age to accelerate genetic gain.
Pregnancy testing revealed 160 per cent lambs in the commercial ewes and a 73 per cent conception rate in the AI ewes.
The stud DNA tests a portion of the lambs during weaning and young ewes, allowing a greater accuracy of breeding values and faster genetic gain on important traits.
In conjunction with running superior genetics, the family has been focused on using regenerative principles to enhance pastures and fencing off riparian zones to heal scalded areas.
Mr Rissmann said the family chose to interface their ram sales with the digital selling platform FarmGate Auctions.
“You can’t have a sale these days without an online component and FarmGate Auctions have always made everything fairly seamless and have been easy to work with.”
The first of the 2022 drop rams will be available for sale on-property on September 20, interfaced with FarmGate Auctions.
The Rissmann family will hold a free workshop on-property featuring guest speaker Dr Mark Ferguson, NeXtGen Agri, on August 25.