Name:
B. Bond and Ken Bond
Property Name:
Lorokie
Property Location:
Torrens Vale, Yankalilla, South Australia
Annual rainfall:
650mm
Tell us about your property
Our property is 450ha of Rye grass, clover, phalaris and cocksfoot pasture, running 75 White Suffolks, 580 Polwarths, 400 first-cross ewes and 120 head of cattle.
How long have you been breeding Polwarth Sheep and what got you into the breed?
We have been running a Polwarth flock for 50 plus years, after first running Corriedales and wanting to improve wool quality and still wanting a dual-purpose ewe with a higher lambing percentage.
Tell us about your Polwarths and your property aims
In the last 12 years we have tried to improve our wool quality going from 23 micron to currently 21.5 micron. We are still aiming to improve without losing cut volume of around 5kg of clean fleece wool. We have also been working on lambing percentages improving them from 100% of total ewes mated, to current lambing percentage of 120% of total ewes mated. We have achieved this by culling non fertile and non maternal ewes.
Why do you run Polwarths?
The Polwarth as a dual-purpose sheep have suited our climate and conditions. Also suits our farming program over the year as we have changed direction the Polwarths have fitted in with us.
How do Polwarths perform in your climate?
The Polwarth’s wool stands up to our climate with little to no stain in the staple and also producing a quality sale lamb.
What is your favourite thing about the breed?
We enjoy their soft handing wool and the ease of handling and temperament of the animal. They have also shown us that in the hard years the ewes hold on and still produce.
Special thanks to Talisa McArdle from Taljade Polwarths for initiating this story on Lorokie Polwarths.
