Lamb growth a targeted trait
Our lamb sale strategy is to finish as many of our lambs as possible off mum. This means we are focused on lamb growth rates before and after weaning.
Growth statistics for the recorded flock are:
Weaning weight (average): 33kg
Growth rate: 300g / day
Days to weaning: 100
This is achieved on hills with ewes scanning 180% plus.
Lamb Growth a Paparata Priority
All meat processing companies are now signalling they want heavier lambs for slaughter. At Paparata now all lambs supplied for slaughter are over 40 kg live weight. This provides a carcass in excess of 16kg. Producing an August born 40 kg live weight lamb before Xmas is not easy. Live weight growth rate is a trait Paparata has prioritised.
This year, Paparata has undertaken ultrasound eye muscle scanning to gather better meat yield data. All sale rams have been scanned in late August, in conjunction with their live weight at 12 months of age measurement.
The graph above shows the genetic progress that Paparata has made for lamb growth
Paparata Te Moata station manager Rach Law has been judged Te Kuiti Meat Processors 'Supplier of the Year' 4 times.