BREEDING and feeding sheep for drought and post-drought conditions will be covered in a Bredwell FedWell workshop at Forbes in New South Wales on Friday.

Jemalong Wool regional manager and organiser David Quirk said consultant Jason Trompf and Meat & Livestock Australia will deliver the updated Bredwell Fedwell ‘The Next Phase’ workshop.

The workshops is one of a series of three being run in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia over the next three weeks. The Forbes workshop is being hosted by Jemalong Wool for all sheep breeders – Merino and non-Merino. Topics to be covered will include breeding better ewes, improving ewe nutrition, developing a breeding goal and a feed budget and feeding ewes for drought conditions.

Mr Quirk said a record number of about 70 producers have already registered for the workshop, but more are welcome. He believed the region’s sheep producers are “looking for answers” to ewe feeding and breeding questions to survive the current seasonal conditions.

“What have I got to do to stay afloat? What am I going to do to get these sheep through?”

“There is only one way for the grower that can come out the other side of the drought stocked and ready to maintain or increase production, and that is up.”

The workshop organisers have also promoted the event as an opportunity for farmers to get off the farm for a day.

He said the workshop will includes sessions on Australian Sheep Breeding Values and reading selection data. The ‘next phase’ workshop’s new content has been upgraded as research and development improves.

“We’re not just focussing on just Merinos, but all maternals; we will use a cross-section of sheep on the day, including Poll Dorsets, Border Leicesters and Merinos.”

He said the day will be beneficial for producers interested in improving their sheep flocks as wool and sheep meat prices maintain at record levels.

Also speaking at the workshop will be Sheep Connect NSW program manager Megan Rogers.

The workshop at Jemalong Wool’s Forbes store on Friday at 10 Tobias Street will start at 8.30am and run until 3.30pm. Cost will be $55 per head including GST. Lunch will be provided with the compliments of Jemalong Wool.

A meeting of the Jemalong Merino Breeders Group will be held on Thursday September 20 to discuss flock survival under the current difficult conditions. Mr Quirk said JMBG members are thriving on the group’s development as a vehicle for networking ideas.

For more information please contact David Quirk on 0428 749 878 and RSVP with Megan Mclauchlan on 02 6851 4000 or email [email protected]

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