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PRIME SAMM

Facts

The Jeancourt South African Meat Merino (SAMM) Stud started in September 1995. The principals found that the traditional South East crossbreeding program, using Border Leicester F1's as prime lamb dams, meant that the almost complete dependence on the returns from sheep meat was not maximising the advantage that sheep have over cattle: their wool. 

In 1997, the principals contacted the SAMM Stud Breeders Society in Bloemfontein, South Africa and attended field days in different regions of South Africa in July/August that year. Upon seeing the many different SAMM studs, we negotiated for embryos from Clynton Colletts' La Rouchelle Stud. Importation was delayed for almost a year. This was because we had to wait not only for the selected stud ewes to finish lambing, but also for quarantine processes to be completed and the ET Programme to be completed.

Jeancourt's first SAMM lambs were born in September 1998. In 1999, Studmaster Allan Haggett completed in South Africa his level 2 qualification in judging SAMM sheep. Allan was the SAMM judge at the Royal Perth Show in September 2000 and was the second judge at the Nationa1 Championships in Bloemfontein in March 2001. He judged SAMMs at the Dubbo Show in 2002 and in Bloemfontein in 2003.

Jeancourt SAMM Stud is the largest importer of SAMM embryos from South Africa since the first SAMM importations by SABCO.


Genetic Information

Jeancourt’s SAMM genetics form the basis for many studs. These include Ivanhoe in the Western Division of NSW; Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills; Laura, Eudunda, and Burra in the Mid-North of South Australia; Yumali and Keith in the upper South East of South Australia. We are also export accredited, having made sales to China and with the New Zealand Meat Merino group, sponsored by WRONZ (Wool Research of New Zealand).

Jeancourt Sire 98 - 046 was the SAMM representative in the completed Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Maternal Sire Central Progeny Test trial. The F1 progeny are within range for weight gain: they had 130 % weaning rate in their first lambing, rising to 160% in their third. The difference between SAMMs and other meat breeds is that their wool goes into a main line, and so is branded AAAM SAMM with Jeancourt F1 SAMM/Merino ewe wool having most value in this meat breed based trial.


Statistical Figures

Jeancourt SAMMs are noted for having wool with lower micron than average for SAMMs. In addition to this, the coefficient of variation (the standard deviation) is acceptably small. We have tested numerous lots of wool from both SAMMs and F1s. In 1999 the stud cooperated with CSIRO & G. H. Michell and Sons to show the Merino qualities of SAMM wool. The end result showed that SAMM wool is of the same quality as Merino wool, and is used mixed with traditional Merino wool in Topmaking.

Tests on the Jeancourt SAMM wool showed that the diameter of the fibres lie within the range of 20.5 µm - 24.5 µm. Other companies such as Quality Wool, Lempriere Fox and Lillie, Elders, and Adelaide Wool have also indicated their interest in buying this wool. Additionally, F1 SAMM/Merino Ewes will only cut between 2 % to 3 % less wool that traditional Merinos and will perform the same function as Merino/Border Leicester or Merino/East Friesian crossbreds. Feedback from clients is that the Jeancourt ram sired SAMM/Merino ewes’ hogget wool has tested at 20.1 µm.

Jeancourt JC98 046 was the Prime SAMM entrant in the Maternal SiresTrial conducted by MLA/ NSW Department of Agriculture: he was ranked fourth and had solid returns for meat and wool production in his progeny. The most significant finding was the fertility of his daughters—from 125% in their first lambing to 160% in their third. This report may be accessed on
www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/sheep-meat/dynamic-dams.html.

You will need to download using an Adobe Reader: the point is that Prime SAMMs are capable of delivering needed carcase weights to the section of the Merino industry not needed for Wool production.

Testing at the University of WA under the direction of Dr John Milton has indicated excellent feed to body-mass conversion efficiency of crossbred lambs, with SAMM/Merino being the most efficient converters when compared to traditional crosses, such as East Friesians, Dorset, and Border Leicester. Numbers of clients have had returns per hectare in excess of those provided by cropping.

Ongoing Stud Evaluation

Jeancourt tests all rams for EMD and wool figures: it is imperative that the genetics selected are capable of ongoing productivity gains. Jeancourt stud ewes are  selected for fertility and ease of lambing.  Stud practise  insists on lambs weaned as a benchmark of stud inclusion. The result of this in July 2008 JC03 0214 progeny was 195% at marking.

Client Results

Pastoral zone clients have been selling their wether lambs from “on station". Anecdotal feedback from processors is that they appreciate SAMM dressing percentages and are anxious to source more. Local graziers have sold their SAMM/Merino wether lambs for $86.00 in the Naracoorte Market and $115.00 on hooks. Greg and Jaquie Barr have sold their Jeancourt bred lambs for $136 at Dublin with $111 for secondary types. Russell Dunn has sold his SAMM/Mo wool into the organic wool market (17/18 micron) for 780cents.  

Pastoral zone clients have also reported the ability of the SAMM/Merino-cross to survive during the past years of drought: reports from South Africa indicate that SAMMs take approximately 4 weeks to return from drought/store condition to saleable sheep. .

Client feedback has indicated that SAMMs do not put extra pressure on fencing and that the Maternal qualities of protectiveness and fertility in the pure SAMM are passed on to the F1 crossbred ewes. SAMMs breed low-micron prime lamb dams and have a quality merino wool clip, as well as Estimated Breeding Values for impressive weight gain. With SAMMs it is possible to grow quality second cross lambs with two markets either as export lambs or as SAMM Breeders.

Stud Directions

Studmaster Allan Haggett returned from South Africa in November 2003 having organised phenotypes from the Greyling, Niekerk, and Smith Studs. Allan also looked at the Albertyn Broers Stud flock near Cape Town. Embryo lambs from Van Aardt Greyling’s Stud have been born recently; the figures for growth and wool are very promising. 2005 saw Stud Principal Megan Heddle and Allan at the National SAVM (Zuid African Vleis Merino) Sale in Bloemfontein—we bought Lot 120 GZ 3017. This ram was placed 5th overall at the National Championships in March being second placed in the Wool section and third for Conformation: he is the ‘type’ of SAMM Jeancourt are looking for –long, well-muscled, white-wooled and a twin. We paid 34000 Rand for him as well as also buying three ewes, from the Lombard Family Trust, the De Wets SAVM Stud, and Gerrie Muller, paying to 7000 Rand for a Lombard ewe.

Stud Codes - Translation of Sire codes

JC Jeancourt Prime SAMM Stud: Established with the organisation of importation of embryos from Clynton and Dora Colletts' 'La Rouchelle' Stud at Bethulie in South Africa in 1997. Our first SAMMs dropped in 1998. We found the Collett SAMMs had the carcase, fertility and wool covering we needed to achieve our aim producing good mid micron wool as a by product of the meat industry.
VAG = Van Aardt Greyling
GZ = Greyling and Son (Faanje Greyling)
GJS = George Smith
WY = Wyvern
Cullam = Cullam Brothers Jerramungup
ERP = Esperance Rural Properties
Romilly Hills = S and P Dorman of Beverley WA
HVN = Manie van Niekerk
AFJ = Fouche Jordaan
CRC = Clynton Collett “La Rouchelle” SAMM stud, South Africa;
Bigga = Grant Picker’s SAMM Stud at Hillcreston NSW (ram owned by T & J Oldfield/Toldu)
JVB = Jan van Biljon. Jeancourt has a number of JVB ewes as part of our South African SAMM stud interests due to the fact that we can only import genetics in the form of frozen washed embryos. They are currently at Ramsem, an export accredited ET Facility in South Africa. Sires Used

Stud Sires

VAG 96111 This ram weighed 140kg at 15 months, with his wool testing 19.3 micron at 12 months. The donor ewes were aged between seven and nine years old, with a history of twinning and white wool.

GJS 1099 This sire and the donor come from one of South Africa’s most respected SAVM Studs and shows fast growth rates and quality white wool. Our initial impression of quality in his progeny has been borne out this year with heavy muscling covered by wool with comfort factor that will assist the commercial F1 ewe breeder to add to their wool cheque.

JC 99 126 This ram has ranked well in Lambplan and has quality mid-micron wool with his progeny showing good weight gain. His semen has been used in a number of interstate SAMM and Merino studs. This ram is now deceased and no further semen will be released.

WY 990216 Used in an AI programme. This sire was sold to the New Zealand Meat Merino Group as part of their foundation SAMM purchases in Western Australia. Jeancourt Studmaster saw him at the SAABCO dispersal sale prior to his leaving for NZ and judged that he had excellent Conformation, together with length ,meat characteristics and a white, acceptable wool. His progeny have made good weight gains in paddock-reared sheep, with 19 out of 20 ewe lambs pregnant at 12 months.

JC 01 146 This ram won as a junior ram at the 2002 Royal Adelaide Show. He has length, weight gain and quality white wool covering. He is typical of the Jeancourt style of SAMM with excellent ‘a’ muscling in his rear end. An ET son of his is one of the NZ meat Merino Group’s  sires.

JC 99-007 This ram won at the 2003 Royal Adelaide Show. His semen has been exported to NZ, Argentina and Western Australia. He was selected for the stud at seven weeks due to his outstanding growth rates. His midmicron wool is acceptably white but this really is a case of ‘check the carcase’ and not take too much note of the CV- this is definitely wool as a by-product of the meat industry. This ram is now deceased and no further semen will be released.

JC 98-036 This ram is, in our opinion, one of Jeancourt’s top SAMM sires in the Dual Purpose line- he had growth rates of 53kg at 136 days and 87kg at 10 months, with quality conformation and white mid micron wool (last tested in 2002 at 22.5 micron with 98% comfort factor) Given his age he is still robust, and is still used in the stud. He has sired some excellent progeny who are typical of the SAMM we understand we need- fast growing, fertile with wool covering that really is worth shearing

HVN 9133 This is a Niekerk sire with a long well muscled body, free growing white wool, designed for consideration by Pastoralists who are thinking of transferring part of their wool production toward a meat focus. The Niekerk SAMMs assume that they will be used in larger pastoral contexts and will need to justify mustering and other associated wool harvesting costs. Initial figures from Lambplan suggest that he has a high SAMM index for both meat and wool

Bigga 02 0029 This is a sire purchased by Tim and Joan Oldfield from Grant Picker’s Bigga SAMM Stud, based at Bigga, NSW. He shows that length, meat quality, together with wool that can be expected to add to the value of a first cross SAMM/Merino ewe flock.

AFJ 1041 This ram won the Junior Ram Championship at Bloemfontein in 2002. He also won the wool Championship. He has a long, lean meaty style of body, with excellent rear muscling. He is currently at stud and has progeny which are fast-growing, well-muscled with acceptable wool

GZ 1001 This ram is another of the typical “Greyling”, or dual-purpose ram, with growth of 137 kg at 14 months. His pedigree includes significant twinning and his covering is acceptably white with excellent comfort factor. Double muscling, good pasterns and shoulders.

2008-9 Plans

Jeancourt will be at the following Field Days: Lucindale;  Kapunda; Broken Hill, Ag Fest,Launceston, Speed and Cleve EP Field days as well as the RAHS in September.

Stud Objectives

One of our stud objectives is to allow merino phenotypes to yield efficient meat and wool growth, eliminating part of the necessity for the ‘boat wether’ trade. Consider a merino base flock whose ewes have been classed out on wool grounds. These would be mated to SAMMs. The resulting wether lambs would go either as sucker lambs or on to feed-lots; the ewe lambs could either be sold as meat or—should their wool be acceptable—be retained as breeders. Even in the first generation, these ewes ere capable of delivering significant increase in weaning percentages. On the assumption that SAMM/Merino ewes are retained, and that Prime SAMM rams are used, and that all F1s and other SAMM crosses are mated to SAMMs, then all of these ewes will be able to supply the kg of lamb per Ha needed to assist the enterprise cash flow, and all wool can be labelled AAAM, within AWEX classing parameters.

For confirmation of this please check the July 2004 report of the maternal sire Central progeny test at www.lambplan.com.au/mcpt/. The Ram used was JC 98-0046, sold to Rockdale Prime SAMM. Dumbleyung W.A. At Jeancourt we have sourced SAMM phenotypes with a heavy dual-purpose emphasis, as we believe that the SAMM fits into a ‘whole sheep industry’ approach.

We competed at the 2005 Royal Adelaide Show and were awarded the Reserve Champion Ram ribbon, together with other blue and minor placings, this ram was sold to Laurie Ellery . 2005/6 will also see the use of AI Sire JC 99-007 in Argentina, and we also look forward to the results of this. Numbers of studs, both Merino and SAMM, have been using semen from the Jeancourt Stud. We wish them well and also ask that they report their results back to us.

In August, we attended the National SAMM sale in Bloemfontein. We hope to locate further stock for our SAMM stud’s “Cape” family. This is a high fertility (146 - 175% weaning) flock which we are developing for our local clients (in the South-East of S.A.) who are dedicated prime lamb producers. These sheep are selected on performance records, and, due to their fertility and lactation, need specialised production systems. We are of the opinion that these F1 ewes from this family will be able to deliver weaning rates of 130 – 140%, together with quality maternal traits and white merino wool which will also add to the ‘whole sheep enterprise’ bottom line.

To summarise our plans for 2008 and 2009:

  • we will continue to inform people about the use of SAMM phenotypes;
  • we will continue to source quality SAMM genetics from South Africa: we are currently awaiting the birth of our latest South African ET lambs(dueAugust 08)   
  • we trust that our 2008 sale rams will continue to do the job that our other SAMM rams have done.

Conclusion

We believe that it is possible to run a grazing enterprise with acceptable returns for your wether lambs using all Merino genetics, retain acceptable merino wool in  your ewe flock, cease Mulesing and increase your flock’s profitability with 25 to 70%* increase in lamb weaning rates.

Megan Heddle (Principal)
Allan Haggett (Studmaster)

* with appropriate management and predator control 
 

jeancourt Afrino