At Corynnia Station, our sheep farming operation is a year-round process that requires attention to detail, as well as precision, and careful planning. With 4,200 breeding ewes and 2,000 followers ( maiden ewes), the station is a hub of activity throughout the year. The key to our success lies in our carefully managed sheep husbandry practices, which include shearing, lambing, weaning, joining, and sales. Each step is vital to ensuring the health of our flock and the profitability of our operation.
Joining and Lambing: Starting the Cycle
Every year, we begin our breeding cycle by joining our ewes on November 1st. This process is a very important step in sheep farming. It lasts for six weeks, during which we introduce the rams to the flock. After the six-week period, we removed the rams. The ewes undergo a process known as pre-testing. Pre-testing involves scanning each ewe to identify which ones are pregnant and, more importantly, which ones are carrying twins or singles.
Once we identify the pregnant ewes, we divide them into categories based on whether they carry twins or singles. This division allows us to provide extra care and attention to the ewes carrying twins; as they are feeding two lambs instead of one. We aim to have our lambing season take place between the end of May and early June. This ensures the lambs are born during optimal conditions.
Lamb Marking: Early Care and Vaccinations
Once the lambs are born, we focus on lamb marking, which typically occurs at the end of June. Lamb marking involves several critical procedures to ensure the health and identification of each lamb. We dock the tails of the lambs, castrate the males, and assign an identification tag to each one.
During this time, the lambs also receive important vaccinations to protect them from diseases like black leg, scabby mouth, malignant edema, and pulpy kidney. The latter is a disease that can occur when there is an excess of nutrition due to favorable seasons. It can cause the kidneys to fail. The vaccinations help prevent such health issues and ensure that the lambs grow strong and healthy.
Weaning and Nutrition: Ensuring Growth and Health
In August, we conduct our general shearing, we shear all the sheep on the property. Furthermore, as another important step in sheep farming, we also wean the lambs off their mothers and administer a booster shot of vaccinations. The weaning process is crucial for both the lambs and the ewes, as it helps promote independence and ensures the lambs’ continued growth.
After weaning, we place the lambs into a special paddock with high-quality feed. This also helps them recover from the stress of weaning and promotes healthy growth, particularly in the bones. Just like human children, young animals require proper nutrition at an early age to support strong growth and development. The better the nutrition, the more profitable the operation becomes in the long run.
Shearing Shed Upgrade: Improving Efficiency and Well-Being
In addition to lambing and weaning, shearing is one of the most important tasks at Corynnia Station. We have recently invested in a state-of-the-art, six-stand shearing shed. This new, costly facility replaced our old shed. Together with the previous owners, we used it for over 90 years. The new shed was built with the health and safety of the shearers in mind, as well as to improve efficiency.
The design of the new shed minimizes strain on the shearers’ backs, knees, and hips. The sheep are brought into the shed with minimal drag, and the raised board ensures that staff can pick up wool without having to bend over. This design reduces fatigue and improves production by about 40%. The new shed is an investment that will last for another 100 years, ensuring that shearing operations are both more efficient and more comfortable for everyone involved.
Lice Prevention and Wool Quality: Protecting the Flock
After shearing, we backline the sheep with insecticide to prevent lice infestations. Lice can cause sheep to itch, which leads to rubbing and results in “cottoning” of the wool. Cottoned wool becomes matted and difficult to shear, significantly lowering its value. By backlining our sheep, we prevent lice and ensure the wool remains in top condition, ready to be processed.
Sales: Auctions Plus and Market Opportunities
At the end of the shearing season, we turn our attention to the sale of older sheep. We remove from the flock ewes that are six years or older and sell them to other producers. We use the Auctions Plus platform for these sales, which allows us to list our sheep online for national buyers to bid on. Auctions Plus is a modern alternative to traditional auction yards, eliminating the need for transportation and reducing stress on the animals.
Our agent drafts the sheep, weighs them, and takes photos and videos for the online listing. The sale occurs every Thursday, and buyers can place bids until the auction closes. If the sheep reach the reserve price, they are sold. This system allows us to set the price, not just take whatever is offered, and it provides a more humane way of selling sheep without the added stress of traditional sale yards.
Classing and Flock Management: Ensuring Quality and Growth
Moreover, after the sales, we focus on classing the maiden ewes (the young sheep that have not yet lambed). A professional classer is brought in to assess each animal based on its constitution, wool quality, and overall health. We aim to produce high-quality sheep that can thrive in our operation, and the classing process ensures that only the best animals remain in the flock.
The classer evaluates each ewe for size, growth potential, and wool characteristics. We cull from the flock those that don’t meet our standards and sell them for meat production. We place the remaining ewes into a better-quality paddock to improve their nutrition and fatten them up for market. This process ensures that our flock remains healthy, high-performing, and ready for the next cycle of lambing and joining.
The Cycle Continues: Preparing for the Next Season of Sheep Farming
As soon as the lambing season is complete, the process begins again in sheep farmig. In early November, we put the rams back with the ewes, and the cycle of breeding, lambing, and shearing starts once more. The ongoing management of our sheep operation is a year-round effort that combines tradition, innovation, and a deep understanding of animal welfare. By continuously improving our practices, we ensure that Corynnia Station remains a successful and sustainable operation for years to come.
Conclusion – Succesful Sheep Farming
At Corynnia Station, we carefully manage every step of the sheep farming operation, from breeding and lambing to shearing and sales. Through investment in technology, careful flock management, and a commitment to animal welfare, we ensure the health and profitability of our sheep enterprise. By adopting innovative practices like Auctions Plus for sales and investing in a new shearing shed, we continue to push the boundaries of modern farming. Our goal is not only to produce high-quality wool and meat but also to create a sustainable and humane operation that will thrive for generations.
