colin earl @colinearl2

Reproductive Physiologist. Breeder of Prolific sheep containing the Booroola gene. Naracoorte Joined January 2012

Tweets

868
Followers

747
Following

942
Likes

222

colin earl @colinearl2

9 months ago

Trying shedders. Expect 20% less lambs and slower growth. A Prolific White ram will increase scanning rates by 60% and using a terminal sire , White Suffolk or Ultrawhite will enhance growth. Self replacing shedders will disappoint.

3 1 4 1K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

9 months ago

Prolific White ewes. Homozygous for the Booroola gene. 75% Nudie genetics. Male progeny produce single gene carriers which will scan at 200%. Call Colin on 0428647457.

0 1 13 1K 1

Download Image

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

Should you want to try some clean shedding rams which will lift your scanning rates by 60% or fine wool composites which will do the same as well as produce 23 crossbreds contact me.

0 1 4 1K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

My apologies to Nick and David. The caption in my last effort relates to this graph. Sorry for the confusion.

0 0 3 761 0

Download Image

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

The graph below shows how the inherently low fecundity of the Australian sheep flock can be overcome to increase the efficiency of production.

1 0 4 1K 0

Download Image

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

I am a great advocate of early weaning and conducted several experiments on this topic. The reason for early weaning should be to enhance lamb growth not create fat inefficient ewes. I instruct clients to aim for CS2.7.

3 0 6 2K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

All the composite breeders are now breeding shedders. Why, they have 20% less lambs and grow slower. One cross with a Prolific White ram and you can mark 30% more lambs.

9 4 23 9K 2

Download Image

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

For all the money spent by MLA on reproduction, LTEM etc, scanning rates are less than 130% (Refshauge). Our sheep have inherently low fecundity. little increase has occurred because producers know the cost of feeding outweighs the returns.

1 0 6 1K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

Search “An analysis of fertility and fecundity in the Australia sheep flock” to discover the true levels in reproduction in our sheep flocks.

1 0 5 1K 0

Gordon Refshauge @GordonRefshauge

a year ago

@colinearl2 @RepHealthOz @MadisonGolledge @Sydney_Uni @woolinnovation @nswagriculture Hi Colin, this link is to the article. It is Open Access, meaning it is free to download. nature.com/articles/s4159…

1 1 6 490 1

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

Be wary about accepting recommendations of feeding levels of sheep from those who don’t pay the bills and who have no experience of how sheep cam maintain condition at very low FOO levels.

2 0 21 4K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

Advice on mating ewe lambs based on MLA funded research 25 yrs ago. (1) > 40 kgs, (2) gaining 100 gms/ day, (3) 8 mths of age, (4) mate in Feb. (5) mate for 6 wks if not using teasers. This advice has been on the Multimeat website for 20 years.

1 0 6 1K 2

colin earl @colinearl2

a year ago

The onset of the breeding season in sheep varies by up to 6 wks. What works one year may fail in another. One of the determinants of this is the hrs of sunlight in Nov. The more hrs the earlier the onset.

1 1 3 1K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

2 years ago

On Tuesdays lamb sale Nudie ewes made $295. Ewe lambs out of the same Nudie ewes but sired by Prolific White rams sold for $252. These ewes wean 30% more lambs but sold for $42 less. Go figure.

3 0 6 2K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

2 years ago

Unique in the World. A Dorper carrying two copies of the Booroola gene. All his daughters will scan 60% higher than those without the gene.

1 2 18 2K 0

Download Image

colin earl @colinearl2

2 years ago

LTEM - we have developed a ewe condition score profile which will give the best economic outcome under most conditions. A highly questionable claim. Time to bring the trainers in for another 2 week school.

0 1 4 2K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

2 years ago

Sheep producers will now have to closely examine their profitability. Have maternal indexes which produce massive ewes with no wool value served us well ? Does LTEM cost more than it returns ? Good prices have hidden many inefficiencies.

5 2 30 10K 2

colin earl @colinearl2

2 years ago

After years of selection I now have Multimeats with 27-29 u wool. Client wool results are 23-25 u and $5-6 per kg gfw. Marking rates are between 150%_180. Normal shedders can’t compete with this. Prolific Whites can get close.

0 0 13 2K 0

colin earl @colinearl2

2 years ago

A variant of a gene which adds 60% to scanning rates has been identified. It can be modulated by mating weight, + or - 10 kgs gives a 20% change in SR. It is used around the world but our industry leaders advise against its use. Feed instead.