Prime SAMM lambs shine in feedlot

CAM and Jenny Lindsay have been in constant drought since introducing Prime SAMMs into their commercial Queensland property two years ago.

While the lambs hadn't had the chance to reach their potential on the ground at the Yuruga property 90km south of Longreach in central Queensland, lotfeeding them had generated the results the Lindsays had been looking for.

Initially selected for their hardiness, growth rate, conformation, mothering ability and to maintain wool quality when bred back to Merinos, the Prime SAMMs had already shown their worth on the feedlot but Cam and Jenny would have to wait to observe their performance in the paddock in a good season.

Cam said the F1 lambs were sent to the feedlot out of necessity, as the poor season had left them with severe feed shortages.

(Above: some of Cam & Jenny Lindsay's F1 Prime SAMM

wether lambs in the Opal Creek feedlot).

The mob of lambs was turned off to the Opal Lamb sheep feedlot 110km west of Toowoomba. "They had to go off Yuruga to the feedlot as our season ran out and we wouldn't have been able to get them to the lamb market unless they went to the feedlot before they cut two teeth," Cam said.

While it was still early days for the Prime SAMM component of the Lindsay's sheep mob, Cam was already impressed with what traits he had seen.

"It's too early to comment on the fertility of the first cross yet but I am happy with their growth rate and their performance on the feedlot," he said.

"They dressed around 46pc and the buyer was very happy with their carcases."

It was not only the buyers that were impressed with the lambs, with the Opal Lamb feedlot operator Richard Lane liking the lambs for their conformation and suitability to lotfeeding.

The feedlot, which has an annual throughput of up to 20,000 lambs, runs several breeds including Merinos, Suffolk cross, Dohne cross and Poll Dorset cross, but these were the first Prime SAMM lambs to go on feed through Opal Lamb.

The Lindsay's lambs were put on feed for 42 days, gaining a total of 5156kg, or about 250g per day for a conversion rate of 5.3pc and at a ration cost of $20.82 per head in what was a climate of high grain prices.

Richard said while the conversion rate sat around the average mark, the lambs had endured unseasonable wet weather, which had slowed their growth down for a couple of weeks.

"That particular mob was challenged with wet weather during the feeding period, so the figures didn't truly represent how the lambs would have performed," he said.

"If they didn't have that bad weather during that feeding period I would expect them to have easily done about 350g per day."

Richard said he expected to see more Prime SAMMs on Queensland properties and in Queensland feedlots in the future.

"Western Queensland lends itself very well to Prime SAMMs, whereas the lighter country down towards the border is probably better suited to Dorpers," he said.

 "I think the breed has great potential to be used in feedlots here, especially the first cross lamb from traditional Merino flocks, which is what most commercial Prime SAMM production systems will be geared for in Queensland.

"Purer Prime SAMMs would be an even better article to feed, but getting a continuity of supply in the next few years would be difficult."

Richard said the Queensland feedlot industry was relatively young but was beginning to play a bigger part in the lamb business, despite the challenges of burgeoning grain prices.

"The industry is still very small and there are very few feedlots around, but it's really growing," he said.

"There is a bit of a stigma against Queensland because we have always been Merino orientated, but we are slowly changing."

Part of this transition was embracing breeds like the Prime SAMM, which Richard said was an ideal animal for the feedlot.

"They are probably a bit more sensitive to some other sheep to weather and change, but conformation-wise they are fantastic and they have a very good carcase," he said.

Richard said Prime SAMMs would also do well out of developing their own brand.

"I would imagine the marketability of Prime SAMMs is as good if not better than any other breed.

"It's definitely a growing breed, and I think it lends itself very well to branding," he said.

"They present very well and the people involved in the Prime SAMM lamb industry are fairly committed to driving it, so I think we will see a Prime SAMM brand pretty soon."

Photo and editorial courtesy of Farm Weekly, Western Australia.