Gemini Prime Lamb Sires

White Suffolk | UltraWhite

Young rams offer next gen performance

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Young rams offer next gen performance

December 13, 2022

They practice what they preach at Gemini Prime Lamb, using the best new genetics in their flock, and giving producers a chance to get in on the action.

The high-performance ram lambs being offered at Gemini’s annual summer sale are also sired by the latest and best performing young rams in the flock.

“Last year we used more than 10 young ram lambs in our own stud joining - we trust our own breeding and our own sheep,” Gemini principal Craig Mitchell said.

The Werneth-based stud will offer up 105 June-July 2022-drop White Suffolk rams on the 1st of February.

“All the lots have one or more ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Values) in the top 20% of all terminal sires, with over half boasting one or more ASBVs in the top 5%,” Mr Mitchell said.

There will be six specially selected rams at the top of the sale, picked out on type, performance and structure as the best opportunity for stud buyers.

Flooding has impacted farm infrastructure at Gemini this spring, with plenty of fences still to be repaired, but the weather hasn’t dampened the quality of the stock on offer.

“The rams are all doing well, especially given the season - they have held up well for the past few months of wet conditions,” Mr Mitchell added.

One of the groups of rams which have stood out to Mr Mitchell so far are the sons of a ram used as a lamb itself - Gemini 210377.

“This ram has a number of really good progeny and has bred really well within the stud, as well as having impressive ASBVs,” he said.

These ASBVs include a birthweight (BW) figure of 0.14, weaning weight (WWT) of 12.45, post weaning weight (PWWT) of 20.12, an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 3.43, and fat of .18.

One of the other stand out sires with lambs in the sale is Gemini 200361. The ram itself was sold to Hedingham White Suffolks in Western Australia in 2021 for $18,000.

“We used semen in the ram and this will be the first progeny for sale by him at Gemini - he is breeding exceptional growth, with a PWWT of 21.34,” Mr Mitchell said.

Gemini 200078 - a low birth weight ram at 0.16 - also has a consistent line-up of progeny on offer in the sale.

Low birthweight and lambing ease are a continued focus at Gemini, but so is lamb survival, which Mr Mitchell says you must consider, especially when chasing low birth weight.

“That is why it is critical to use rams that are producing lambs with as positive fat as possible, as this assists in their survivability.”

At the 2022 Gemini summer sale, rams sold to a top price of $4600, and averaged $1467, offering buyers the opportunity to acquire leading genetics at an affordable price point.

“In the current lamb market climate, it is more important than ever to make sure you get your genetics right - those breeding the right sheep will get rewarded for it.”

Gemini Prime Lamb Sires will host its 12th annual summer on-property sale on Wednesday 1st February, with viewing from 10.30am and the auction kicking off at 12.30pm at the stud and online with AuctionsPlus.

Sale Updates full catalogue will be available on the website and on the Gemini Prime Lamb Facebook & Instagram Pages.

Demand from the West tops Gemini sale

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Demand from the West tops Gemini spring sale

October 24, 2022

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L to R – James Brown, Ray White GTSM with Emily, Chloe & Craig Mitchell & the $5,000 Top Priced Ram, Lot 3.

SALE SUMMARY

* 86/113 White Suffolks sold to a top of $5,000 with an Average of $1724.

A repeat buyer from Western Australia proved Gemini White Suffolk rams are worth the extra kilometres when they paid the top price on Wednesday.

Warren Thomson of Hedingham White Suffolk stud, Wickepin, WA, was the top-price purchaser for the second spring Gemini sale running when he paid $5000 for lot 3.

G210215 was a June 2021-drop sire with weaning weight, post weaning weight (PWT) and Terminal Carcass Production (TCP) index Australian Sheep Breeding Values in the top five per cent.

It was by Farrer 190001, a ram Gemini purchased in 2020 for $14,500.

The Thomsons also purchased that second-highest priced ram in lot 9, G210134, a triplet son of Anden 190083, with a TCP in the top five per cent at 157.57, and PWT in the top five per cent at 20.32.

Both rams were purchased online.

Mr Thomson said it was the sheer performance of the ram they purchased from Gemini in 2021 that had them returning to stud for more sires.

“The one (ram) we purchased last year is as good a ram as I’ve ever seen and what he is producing is at the top, “he said.

“Their (the lambs) structure, they are really long and they have the figures…probably end up using some of them ourselves this year.”

Mr Thomson said he was confident purchasing online after seeing extensive videos, as “when Craig tells you something you can believe him”.

“The ram bought this year is a very similar type, with a slightly smaller birthweight, a structurally sound ram, with good growth rate and good eye muscle,” he said.

“We select sheep with plenty of length, really like sheep that are well structured - to find sheep that are in the 20s for post weaning weight and 3 for eye muscle there are not a lot about - but the two we got this year are both up there.

“The second one was not as long and tall of a ram but has a lot of meat on him, it's a solid meaty sheep.”

Gemini principal Craig Mitchell said the top-priced ram had been used heavily in the stud as a ram lamb.

“It had good phenotype and genotype, excellent performance data and was a very correct sheep, a good White Suffolk type with all the commercial attributes you are looking for as well,” he said.

“I was really happy with the lineup of rams across the sale, they presented well with structure and carcass quality backed by some of the best performance figures in the industry.”

Mr Mitchell said both new and return clients supported the sale, with long-time regulars playing an important role.

Also going to stud duties was lot 7, G 210018, picked up by Annette Shoefield of Gaerloc stud, Tallangatta Valley, Vic, for $3800.

Her first time purchasing from Gemini - and first time operating through AuctionsPlus - Ms Shoefield selected a ram which was also by Farrer190001, with a PEMD and TCP in the top 10 per cent, as well as birthweight, PWT and post weaning fat in the top 20 per cent

“This ram took my eye in the video…I liked his muscling and good clean head,” Annette said.

“I have been watching Craig’s sheep over the years and they are a style of sheep I like and similar to what I breed.”

The sale saw 86 of the 113 White Suffolks offered sold to average $1724, slightly below the last spring sale ensuring there was plenty of value and opportunity for regular and new flock ram clients to buy in bulk.

Of the 12 specially selected rams, 11 sold to average $2727.

Ray White GTSM auctioneer James Brown said the average was impressive at Gemini, with solid local demand and WA interest on the selected sires.

“Craig’s got a very good program with great data behind his sheep, obviously people selected on data as well as phenotype and the reputation of the Gemini flock keeps bringing people back,” he said.

“Generally, all over the state while we have seen a reduction on the high of the lamb and mutton prices it is still historically very good and confidence has been proven in sales across the board with solid results right through.”

Plenty of producers purchased in bulk, including Turkeith Homestead of Birregurra, picking up eight rams to a top price of $2000.

After purchasing eight rams last year, Mondilibi Pastoral, Mortlake, was back for another six at this sale, paying a top price of $1600.

Gordon Brown, manager at Junray Pty Ltd’s “Shelburn”, Shelford, has been a long-time supporter of Gemini and operated at the top end, selecting six rams, four of which were between $2400 and $2700.

Also picking up six rams was Wishart Partnership of Inverleigh, topping at $1200, while A&R Everett, Dereel, paid to $2000 for their seven White Suffolks.

James Hepburn of Bryarah Pty Ltd at Moriac, has been purchasing from Gemini for close to 30 years and picked up four rams at the sale.

Longevity and data reliance are what keeps him coming back, he said.

“The data on Craig’s rams is spot on - I buy rams because I know his data is accurate and the quality comes through into our lambs.

Mr Hepburn joins his White Suffolk rams to crossbred and Highlander-cross ewes, turning off about half his lambs as suckers and growing out the other half.

“I select first on birthweight and PFAT and then look at PWWT and WWT - the higher the better,” Mr Hepburn said.

Performance rams pay dividends for producers

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Performance rams pay dividends for producers

August, 2022

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The focus is simple at Gemini Prime Lamb Sires - lamb survival and fast growth.  Principal Craig Mitchell has been breeding White Suffolks for nearly three decades, so he knows what matters to industry and his commercial customers.

“Our focus doesn’t change - low birthweight, lambing ease, fast growing, structurally correct heavy yielding - and performance recorded backed with DNA testing,” Craig said.

The Werneth based Victorian stud will offer 120 White Suffolk rams and 10 Suffolks, all 1.5 years, at its annual spring sale in October, Wednesday 19th, held on-property and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.

Gemini rams have above average terminal Australian Sheep Breeding Values and include plenty in the top 5% of the analysis according to Craig, and their performance data is supported by genomics.

“We have been taking DNA samples for many years and this year we will complete around 300 DNA tests across the progeny of our flock,” Craig said.

“This information helps build the accuracy of our breeding values and allows us to add accuracy to meat eating traits such as IMF (Intramuscular Fat) and shearforce.”

Craig says Gemini clients are making more enquiries about eating quality traits as they come to the forefront of industry advancements.

“As a stud you need to be aware of what the future is, and still keep in mind that the consumer is king,” he said.

“We need to be improving all the time to meet the needs of the consumer and eating quality traits are becoming more and more important now processors are beginning to adopt measuring and payment of these traits.”

Despite some recent price movement in the lamb market, Craig believes the long-term general outlook for red meat is very positive.

“The outlook for the lamb industry is really good, and the future will be favourable for those producers who are chasing the right profit drivers, as well as quality and quantity,” Craig said.

“Numbers per head is important, but so is the quality of those lambs.”

And “you can’t market a lamb that doesn’t survive beyond birth”, Craig adds, which is why lambing ease and lamb survival play a vital role in the Gemini breeding program.

“The amount of time consumed by people who have to assist ewes and the loss of ewes - eliminating that out of your breeding program commercially adds to your bottom line,” he said.

The Gemini stud has a strong focus on structure and Craig said he was “very particular” about ensuring structural correctness across the flock.

This whole operation focus means Craig isn’t keen to highlight any specific rams or family lines that will be offered at his sale in the spring, with the entire sale ram group worthy of buying attention.

This was certainly the case in 2021, when the stud achieved a new record high price of $18,000 at their spring sale.

Topping the sale was Gemini 200361, which sold to Hedingham White Suffolks, WA.  The ram had a TCP rating in the top 1% of the breed at 163.44 and was sired by one of Gemini’s home bred rams.

Craig said Gemini-bred sires also featured heavily in this year’s sale draft.

Gemini Prime Lamb Sires will host its 24th annual spring on-property sale on Wednesday 19 October, with viewing from 10.30am and the auction kicking off at 12.30pm.

Updates about the sale and a full catalogue will be available at www.geminiprimelamb.com.au

Gemini’s $4600 Summer High

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Gemini's $4600 summer high

Courtesy of
Annabelle Cleeland, Stock & Land
February 7, 2022

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Ray White GTSM James Brown, with Gemini's Craig and Chloe Mitchell, with Ellie McDonald (centre), Dadswell Bridge. Photo by Janine Elen, Outriders Media.

*63 of 104 rams sold to $4600, av $1476

Prices hit $4600 at the 11th annual summer White Suffolk ram sale for Gemini Prime Lamb Sires, Werneth.

The sale averaged $1476, which principal Craig Mitchell said was an opportunity for new and returning clients to acquire affordable leading genetics.

"Our rams' performance and structure are some of the best you can get, with figures in the top 10-20 per cent of terminal sires, so the sheep presented value on the day," Mr Mitchell said.

Ellie McDonald, Hopea White Suffolk, Dadswells Bridge, purchased the top-priced Lot 5, a ram lamb son of Gemini 170470.

The ram recorded Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 0.34 for birth weight (BWT), 12.05 for weaning weight (WWT), 18.81 post-weaning weight (PWT), and 2.41 for eye muscle.

"We were pretty happy with the day," Mr Mitchell said.

"While clearance was back, the average was good and there has been plenty of demand since.

"We sold eight stud rams to clients, including four into NSW."

This included the second-highest price of $3600, paid by Jono Hicks, Hanaton Partnership, Kaniva, for Lot 6 - another son of 170470.

The ram lamb measured 0.19 BWT, 11.6 WWT, 18.19 PWT, and a Terminal Carcase Production (TCP) index of 150.42.

The stud offered 100 per cent of the sale price of Lot 10 to the Inverleigh & Districts Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, which fetched $1600.

Another feature of the sale included the May 2021-drop ram lambs of Farrer 190001, a sire purchased by Gemini and Bundarra Downs White Suffolks for $13,500 in September 2020.

His progeny topped at $3000, paid for Lot 29 - a ram with a TCP index of 155.21, 0.19 BW, 11.36 WWT and 18.61 PWT.

Volume buyers included Glenample Pty Ltd, Princetown, who purchased seven rams to a top price of $1800, and average price of $1360, the Keating family, Werneth, with five rams to $1200, averaging $1100, and Peel Trading, Wingeel, with nine rams to top price of $1500, averaging $1120.

"It has been a very good season and the future for lamb prices looks bright," Mr Mitchell said.

"We will continue to focus on breeding sheep with high lamb survival, easy lambing and low birth weight."

Gemini sale to highlight first-drop progeny

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Gemini sale to highlight first-drop progeny

December 14 2021

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The first progeny of Farrer 190001 are expected to be a major drawcard at Gemini Prime Lamb Sire’s Annual Summer sale on Wednesday 2 February, 2022.

The 11th annual sale will feature about 110 White Suffolk ram lambs and Gemini stud principal Craig Mitchell expects Farrer 190001’s first-drop progeny to attract strong interest.

Farrer 190001 was purchased by Gemini and Bundarra Downs White Suffolks for a sale-high $13,500 at in September 2020.

Sired by Super Whites ram Felix 170842, Farrer 190001 has tremendous figures; boasting a 2.8 birthweight, 21 for post-weaning growth, +0.2 for fat and 2.8 for PEMD and is ranked in the top 5 per cent for LEQ.

“We’re waiting for the data to come back but we expect the first of his progeny to be tremendous sheep,” Mr Mitchell said.

The February 2 sale will feature a strong group of June 2021 drop ram lambs including progeny of Gemini 170470; an exceptional White Suffolk ram with birthweight around .2, growth of 20, positive fat with muscle 3.2.

Another lower birthweight ram whose progeny is expected to impress, is stud sire Gemini 190450, a ram that has been used extensively in the SuperWhites Suffolk program in a number of studs throughout Australia.

Mr Mitchell said he had strong expectations for the sale on the back of a good season and a very strong lamb market.

“The industry is looking pretty good,” he said. “We’ve had a very good season to date and the future for lamb prices and red meat in general looks pretty bright, with strong demand for red meat locally and worldwide.”

Gemini’s reputation for quality and the highest health status in Victoria continues to hold the stud in good stead.

“Our focus is still around high lamb survival, easy lambing, low birthweight, strong growth and heavy yielding progeny, which are the positive genetic benefits people want,” he said.

Gemini’s focus on DNA testing to improve on meat eating traits including verification of the yield, intermuscular fat and tenderness, remains a core part of its breeding program.

“We’re continually working on it and verifying our data through LAMBPLAN and using DNA to build up the accuracy of our stud group and progeny we sell,” Mr Mitchell said.

Troy Keating, a long-term client who farms nearby in Werneth, says he will be returning to buy more rams on February 2 to boost his breeding program.

“We use Gemini rams over all our first-cross ewe lambs and mature ewes and have done so since Craig moved here about 15 years ago,” Mr Keating said.

Mr Keating is drawn back to the stud by the ease of lambing. “You’ve got to get them on the ground before anything else and we’re always impressed with the ease of lambing,” he said.

“Craig also has good balanced figures across all his sheep, from muscle fat and IMF as well. His figures stack up against any other sheep in Victoria, even Australia.”

“I’ll definitely be back for the 2022 sale,” he said. “We use Gemini on all first-drop lambs and we’ve had a lot of success over a long period of time. Craig is easy to deal with and backs up what he produces.”

Craig Mitchell said “It’s encouraging to see the results clients are getting at market from the rams they have purchased from us.  We are looking forward to kicking off a great year at our February sale”.

The auction will be on-farm in the sale barn at Werneth starting at 12.30pm and online via Auctions Plus.  Visit www.geminiprimelamb.com.au for more information.

Stud record tumbles at Gemini Prime Lamb Sires

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Stud record tumbles at Gemini Prime Lamb Sires

October 20 2021

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L to R – Top Priced Ram Lot 1, G 200361, with Chloe Mitchell, Michael Glasser, Ray White GTSM, Emily Mitchell with principal Craig Mitchell.

The Gemini Prime Lamb Sires 23rd annual spring sale achieved a stud milestone setting a new record price of $18,000, the highest ever paid for one of their White Suffolk rams.

A large gallery at the Werneth property witnessed Lot 1, G 200361 make history as spirited bidding from both the sale barn and online bidders saw the hammer fall at $18,000 with the ram on his way to Hedingham White Suffolk Stud in Western Australia.

Principal Craig Mitchell said “I’m really happy with the level of interest in Lot 1 from some high-profile studs around Australia. We had a lot of enquiry leading into the sale on this ram and to break our own record is a great achievement”.

A quality catalogue of 124 Lots were offered at the October 20 auction last week with 91 rams to a top of $18,000, and average of $1990 to a range of interested buyers from across the country including NSW, Western Australia and Victoria.

13 specially selected White Suffolk rams achieved an average of $3711 while the flock ram draft sold to a top of $3,000 with an average of $1700.

Mr Mitchell said, “It was really big crowd on the day and I’m happy with the support we got from all buyers both locally and interstate. There was great value buying across the draft with high performance rams selling down to $1,000”.

Successfully purchased by Warren Thompson, Hedingham White Suffolk, Wickepin in Western Australia, the sale-topping ram, Lot 1, G 200361, is a son of Gemini 170470 and has a TCP score of 163.44, the Top 1% of the breed.  He also sits in the Top 1% for WWT, 14.63, PWWT 21.94 and Top 20% for PEMD.

“I had my eye on him for about three weeks as I have been chasing that style of sheep”, said Mr Thompson. “He is a very upstanding ram, plenty of meat on him and good PWWT.  Just a really, really good ram”.

“We went above what we intended to pay but I’ve had a semen order on him already” he added. “At Hedingham we breed for flock ram clients and this is the style of sheep they are after”.

Mr Mitchell said, “Lot 1 is a great breed type, his figures, structure, muscling are all outstanding and his sire, 470’s pedigree is very solid in meat eating traits, tremendous carcase, a really top performer that carries through his progeny”.

Also headed across the border is Lot 6, G 200080, the 2nd top priced ram in the draft for $5,000, who was picked up by stud buyers, Guy Treweek, Induro White Suffolks, Wakool, NSW.

Lot 6 is a “great White Suffolk type with plenty of thickness” said Mr Treweek.  “He is pretty balanced ram across his figures”.

“We are introducing different bloodlines into our breeding program and this ram will add a bit more thickness” he added.

The largest volume buyers were long term clients Junray Pty Ltd, Shelburn, Shelford who have been buying from Gemini Prime Lamb Sires for over a decade, snapped up thirteen White Suffolk rams to a top of $2600, 5 times, with an average of $2084.

Shelburn Farm Manager, Gordon Brown said “I bought what I was looking for. They are very, very good rams”.

“We use these rams over maiden ewes, as the lambs have an excellent survival rate, are birthweight controlled with good growthing lambs and processors like the product I deliver to them”.

“Craig is a very good operator and they are very good sheep. He is very committed to the industry, and I like to support Gemini every year”, Mr Brown added.

Rams also sold to the Ford family’s Anneleigh Stud, NSW who picked up Lot 64, G 200410 for $3,000.  Other volume buyers include the Beach Family, Birregura who snapped up eight rams with a top of $3,000 for Lot 8, G 200056, and another eight rams including are on their way to Mondilibi Pastoral, Mortlake.

The sale was conducted by Ray White GTSM, with Michael Glasser as auctioneer.  “It was a very favourable result, and the prices people were willing to pay for flock rams is in keeping with where the industry sits”.

“The sale-topping $18,000 specially selected ram is a testament to where the Gemini stud sits within in the seed stock industry”, said Mr Glasser.

Mr Mitchell said, “Overall the sale reflected pretty good value for money for the quality of the sheep sold”.

“The strength in repeat buyers came through even though we didn’t have a full clearance”.

“I really thank everyone for coming along.  To have a top of $18,000 is a fantastic outcome and for our commercial clients to get the sheep they wanted it was a great day.  We wish everyone well with their purchases”.

DNA testing pays dividends at Gemini Prime Lamb Sires

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DNA testing pays dividends at Gemini Prime Lamb Sires

August 2021

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Selection of Gemini October Sale Rams 2021

Highlights of stud breeding advancements including DNA testing will be on show at the Gemini Prime Lamb Sires 23rd annual on-property spring sale.

120 White Suffolk rams and 20 Suffolk rams including15 specially selected rams across both breeds are up for auction on Wednesday 20 October in Werneth, Victoria.

Gemini stud principal Craig Mitchell introduced DNA testing about six years ago and intensified the program in the past two years to further improve meat-eating traits whilst maintaining the stud’s performance benchmarks for all other traits, including lamb survival, lower birth weight and high growth.

The data has been invaluable for buyers like Bryan and James Hepburn have been happily buying from Gemini Prime Lamb sales for more than 20 years, but changes in their selection process in recent years have taken their success to a new level.

The introduction of DNA testing has allowed the Hepburn’s Bryarah cross-bred commercial operation at Mt Moriac to select their rams based on data, not just looks, and the results have been stunning.

“We’ve been buying rams from Craig since he started and have always been happy, but we’ve been getting happier,” James said.

“Dad was picking rams based on their look but we’ve changed to selecting them based on the data,” he said. “Now we’re selecting the right rams for our needs. It has changed us 10-fold. Our survivability is up, our percentage is increasing, we’re weaning more lambs now and they’re great.”

Bryarah usually buys five or six lambs at each annual sale. “We’re not a massive player but we get what we need and we don’t buy rams from anywhere else,” James said.

“Craig’s rams are getting better every year and now that we know what we’re looking for, backed by data, it’s even better for us. We’ll be bidding again this year.”

James added that Craig Mitchell had worked closely to help them change to data-based buying. “Craig is a great person to deal with – always available to help you out,” he said.

Gemini’s breeding program is aimed at the commercial producer who seek a style of sheep for progressive flock development enhanced by performance data.

“The majority of our buyers look at dollars per hectare rather than dollars per head,” Craig Mitchell said.

“DNA profiling benefits for the stud means we continue to breed sheep for a range of traits including lambing ease. We place a heavy importance on maintaining high levels of lamb survival rates and this flows through to our sale rams, and that translates into better returns for our clients”.

A range of performance sires’ progeny are featured across the sale catalogue with the now sold star White Suffolk sire Gemini 170470’s retained semen progeny headlining the sale.

“170470 ticks a lot of boxes with his data highlights being in the Top 5% TCP, Top %5 PWT, Top 10% PEMD of the breed and a low birth weight .22”

“He is a very structurally correct ram with great breed type, and it is great to see his traits and attributes coming through the flock,” Craig said.

Another standout AI sire used through the studs’ Super Whites program is Farrer 180178.  He is a ram with a high TCP score with traits of note including Top 5% TCP, Top 5% for PWT, Top 10% PEMD, Top 10% LMY, and in the higher end of the range for IMF.

With a low birth weight .21, Craig said Farrer 180178 has bought consistency to the breeding flock whilst maintaining Gemini’s focus on turning off structurally sound, balanced sheep.  A few of this sires’ progeny will feature in the annual sale.

Gemini Prime Lambs are also offering a new line of American Suffolk genetics the stud has used in their embryo transfer program.   These ET Suffolk sires present a range of different performance traits and will add value to Suffolk breeders looking to advance their flocks.

Buyers will be able to bid on a small offering of these ET sires’ rising18 month progeny in the sale line-up.

“The 15 specially selected rams have unique attributes and there are some stud ram potentials amongst the group for interested bidders”.

“We welcome all interested buyers and valued clients to Werneth to inspect any of the sale rams prior to the auction”, Craig said.

The auction will be on-property at Werneth, Wednesday October 20 and online through AuctionsPlus.

For sale updates and the latest news, visit www.geminiprimelamb.com.au or the Gemini Prime Lamb Facebook page.

Gemini sale to highlight performance and breeding advancements

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Gemini sale to highlight performance and breeding advancements

30th July 2021

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Selection of Gemini Prime Lambs high performance flock rams.

The 23rd annual on-property Gemini Prime Lamb Sires spring sale will offer a draft of rams highlighting the breeding advancements and many improvements the stud has introduced in recent years.

120 White Suffolk rams and 20 Suffolk rams are up for auction at the Wednesday 20 October sale, including 15 specially selected rams with unique attributes and stud ram potential.

For stud principal Craig Mitchell, the stud’s 23rd sale represents another step forward in showcasing the successful breeding and performance recording program the stud operates.

“We focus on the top end of performance with emphasis on lambing ease and low birth weights with high growth and positive fat,” he said.

“We’ve always been a very performance-focused stud and we’re now focusing on traits like lean meat yield and intermuscular fat through DNA testing.”

Gemini introduced DNA testing six years ago but has intensified the program over the past few years to further improve meat-eating traits whilst maintaining the stud’s performance benchmarks for all other traits, including lower birth weight and high growth.

“I think we’re improving every year because of our performance recording and DNA testing,” Craig said.

“We’ve focused on improving birthweights, lamb survival, our ASVBs, and also structure; the rams have to be structurally correct, robust and strong to get the maximum number of live lambs on the ground.”

For the first time, Gemini Prime Lambs will be offering a new line of American Suffolk genetics the stud has used in their embryo transfer program.  The two ET Suffolk sires present with different performance traits and will add value to Suffolk breeders looking to advance their flocks.

Selected progeny of the ET sires will feature in this year’s line-up of sale rams. “These Suffolk rams present a very different bloodline and a different style of sheep,” Craig said. “We look forward to presenting those rams in a few months”.

Progeny by Gemini 170470, one of the leading performance White Suffolk rams in Australia is also a sale highlight.  Gemini Prime Lamb sold 170470 to Bundarra Downs but has retained this sire’s semen and expects strong interest in his sons.

Buyers can be assured of the Gemini’s health status with all rams’ brucellosis accredited and MN3 and vaccinated for Johne’s disease. “We’re very particular about the health status of our sheep. We’re basically a quarantine farm – only sheep with the same health status come on our property,” Craig said.

The auction will be on-property at Werneth, Wednesday October 20 and online through AuctionsPlus.

For sale updates and the latest news, visit www.geminiprimelamb.com.au or the Gemini Prime Lamb Facebook page.

Gemini lifts top to $7000

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Gemini lifts top to $7000

Courtesy of
Ian Turner
October 2018

Feature-Image-Sale-2018

Pictured with the $7000 top priced ram at the Gemini sale are GTSM auctioneer Myles Pfitzner, Chloe, Craig and Emily Mitchell and purchaser Greg Funke (2nd right), Bundara Downs, Western Flat, SA.

SALE SUMMARY

WHITE SUFFOLK RAMS

2018 2017
Offered 102 74
Sold 91 74
Top $7000 $6000
Average $1360 $1604

POLL DORSET RAMS

2018 2017
Offered 20 12
Sold 1 9
Top $800 $1300
Average $800 $989

SUFFOLK RAMS

2018 2017
Offered 11 8
Sold 4 8
Top $1000 $2000
Average $850 $1513

OVERALL

2018 2017
Offered 133 94
Sold 96 91
Top $7000 $6000
Average $1333 $1501

Agents: GTSM

Auctioneer: Myles Pfitzner (GTSM)

The emotional trauma over the past 12 months through losing co-principal, wife and mother Rosalie in a level crossing accident not long after last year’s outstanding Gemini spring ram sale still weighed heavily on the minds of Craig Mitchell and daughters Emily and Chloe at the staging of their 20th annual three breed ram sale on Friday. The big crowd that included many fellow stud breeders who attended in support helped ease emotions.

Craig said that the tragic event certainly had some effect on the preparation of the rams, but the buyers present still appreciated the quality of the White Suffolks on offer in particular, producing a very solid overall result, with 96 rams averaging $1333.

The highlight was the $7000 top price for the lot 8 White Suffolk ram, Gemini 170470 paid by Steve and Greg Funke, Bundara Downs stud, Western Flat, SA. It was sired by Gemini 160103, the high indexing sire that was used as a ram lamb and has already had sons sell to $20,000.

Like its sire its figures were also impressive, including 17.8 for Pwwt, 2.5 for Pemd, 0.2 for Pfat and 217 on the Carcase Plus index.

Steve Funke said, “The ram really appealed from his initial presence and structure, plus he was by a proven successful sire. It has very good breed type and balance all round and his figures complement his appearance.”

The underbidder was Warren Thompson, Hedingham stud, Wickepin, WA who then compensated by purchasing G170117Tw, another G160103 son with a 212 C+ index for $2500. Clive, Deb and Caitlin Shillabeer, Wingamin stud, Karoonda, SA also picked up another G160103 son with a 224 C+ index, also for $2500, while the fourth ram to go to stud duties, G170065Tw, sired by Bundara Downs 122261 went to repeat buyers, Hobson Farming, Banjanda stud, Weatherboard, Vic.

The balance of the 12 specially selected rams went commercially and like last year’s very strong sale, those who got in early gained the rewards. The best example was Rodney Beach, Birragurra. Buying through HF Richardson Geelong’s Matt Scully, he was able to purchase lots 1 and 6 for just $1500. He then added two more White Suffolks before lot 30 at $1200 and $1000 and later added the top two Suffolk rams at $1000 and $800, his six rams averaging a great value $1167 in very astute buying.

Tony Noble, Fairholme Pastoral Co, Warncoort and his son in law Brent Harwood are long term Gemini supporters. Tony chooses the higher performing rams on offer and is prepared to pay for them, knowing they pay dividends with faster growing and better-quality lambs.

By also jumping in at the earliest opportunity, his five purchases were secured for an average of just $1480, including two at $1000 each with one of these being lot 5, G170023 with a Pwwt EBV of 20 and a C+ index of 221.

Brent took their combined purchasing up to eight rams by selecting three top rams at an average of just $1000 for his family account, BG & JA Harwood, Irrewarra.

Also, a strong repeat buyer, Gordon Brown, Junray Pty Ltd, Bannockburn twice went to the $2400 top price for commercial White Suffolk rams, while purchasing six of the best at an $1850 average. Both these top rams were sired by Leith 150828, his first progeny for Gemini after being purchased primarily for his combination of positive fat and tremendous muscling. Gordon’s six purchases averaged 2.75 for muscle and +0.41 for fat.

Also purchasing six top rams each were Bryan Hepburn, Bryara, Moriac (paying to $2000 and averaging $1317) and Paul Trainer, Rumler Trainer and buying through Landmark Ballarat averaged $900. Two of these six were Suffolks offered at the end of the sale. Patrick Smith, Pretty Lane, Dereel went to $1500 and averaged $1100 to also be prominent.

However, the biggest volume buyer this year was Doug Laidlaw, Dweal Pty Ltd, Tatyoon. Demonstrating the value on offer if patient, he purchased eight rams, going to $1000 once and averaging just $825. He made his first purchase at lot 70 and such was the depth of quality in this offering these eight rams averaged 14.09 for Pwwt, 2.53 for Pemd and 196.12 on C+ index. He was able to achieve this in this sale because there was a tapering of demand in the latter third of the sale as orders were filled, with 11 of the 102 White Suffolk rams passed in at auction.

The addition of 28 more rams than last spring, to ensure buyers on all budgets could purchase, plus a buoyant summer ram lamb sale were strong contributing factors in demand not being sustained to the end.

Consequently only one of the 20 high indexing Poll Dorsets that followed sold at auction and just four of the 11 Suffolk rams sold at auction to $1000 and at an $850 average.

With many spring lambing ewes amongst those left in the region, there is likely to be late demand for the good selection Gemini still has for sale once producers have worked out ewe numbers and ram number needs.

Craig Mitchell said post sale in summary, “Overall it was a strong sale with a big crowd which was very pleasing. There is definitely a buying trend towards the better performing sheep which was evident in this sale, but overall we are very happy with the result.”

Prominent buyers at the Gemini ram sale, Rodney Beach, Birregurra (six rams ave $1167) and Tony Noble, Warncoort (five rams ave $1480) are pictured with Gemini’s Emily Mitchell.

Spring ram buying guide: Technology puts Gemini up with stars

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Spring ram buying guide: Technology puts Gemini up with stars

Courtesy of
KATE DOWLER, The Weekly Times

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WITH a focus on performance and animal health, Werneth stud sheep breeders Craig and Rosalie Mitchell have worked up from a humble start to selling 200 rams a year.
The White Suffolk, Suffolk and Poll Dorset breeders are big believers in performance recording and are using DNA testing and electronic identification to accelerate the genetic gain of their flock. 

But older comparison and marketing tools — such as showing — remain an avenue to put the stud’s name, Gemini, out there.

As Craig puts it, he and Rosalie “weren’t fortunate enough to inherit a farm”.

“We leased blocks to start with, we even leased house blocks around Geelong until we were able to lease a bigger place,” he said.

After buying land at Inverleigh, which then rapidly increased in value, they were able to buy a 170ha property at Werneth, 12 years ago, where they run the three studs.

“For many young people who want to get into farming it can be very hard, we were fortunate in the timing of when we bought land,” he said.

Craig started the stud 28 years ago.

Daughters Emily, 18, and Chloe, 17, have recently become more involved and have taken an interest in the Suffolks.

Spring ram buying guide 

Gemini has been involved with performance recording and used LambPlan “since its inception”.

“I’m a firm believer in performance recording; it plays a big part in what we do, along with structure,” he said.

“You can have the best figures but if the ram can’t walk, you’ve got problems.”

Craig said in all three breeds he had a focus on structure, lambing ease, high growth rates and higher yielding capabilities.

Or, as he puts, the traits that make up “functional and highly productive sheep”.

He is also using the latest DNA technology to chase breeding objectives — through prior involvement in Sheep CRC Projects — and is using EID to its potential.

“There will be more and more opportunities to get carcass feedback in future, so I am a big believer in using EID,” Craig said.

He has used the technology for six years and has his laptop hooked up to the “wand”, or electronic tag reader, in the woolshed to scan each animal as he classes it.

“It instantly brings up all that animal’s pedigree, EBV data and I can make a decision then and there, looking a the animal in front of me,” he said.

“I don’t have to go back to the office and sort through paper to find the information, it is all right in front of me.

“It has produced huge gains in efficiency, using EID has saved me a week’s work per year, and it is more accurate.”

His clients are also starting to use EID to trace their ewes’ performance and bloodlines.

DNA testing is also helping Craig better track performance.

“We are using DNA tests, too, to get a snapshot of where we are at, but as the price for the tests comes down we will use it more,” he said.

He said it could be used to more rapidly improve lean meat yield, intramuscular fat and shear force.

Craig said he was looking forward to processors being able to give producers more direct feedback on their animal’s meat eating quality.

“What we are getting back now is probably going to be insignificant compared to what we will get in five to 10 years,” he said.

And, in his view, weeding out under-performing stock could only be a positive move.

“I don’t have a problem with whether we get paid for it (meat quality) or not, or if the producers not doing the job right get penalised,” he said.

“At the moment a lot of people (producers) are probably getting rewarded for lambs that are not that great and they probably don’t deserve to be. We have to produce a great quality product consistently to compete against other meats; we need to make sure we are in a position to do that and that the consumer has an enjoyable eating experience with lamb, consistently.”

Gemini has 400 breeding ewes. The focus is White Suffolks, but there are also 20 Suffolk ewes and 50 Poll Dorset breeders.

The Suffolk interest came from a family friend, Murray Dolman, who had a Suffolk stud.

Gemini sells 200 sale rams at two on-property sales, in October and February.

Showing is still part of the stud’s marketing efforts.

“It doesn’t hurt to compare your sheep (visually) to other people’s,” Craig said.

“But we don’t produce sheep for the show, our sheep are all the one type.”

Despite this, Gemini has won champion ribbons at every major Victorian show and Adelaide — a competitive arena for White Suffolks.

Craig is upbeat about the industry, but worries about consolidation of processors.

“We all need to survive and have a piece of the pie, we want everybody to be viable so there is plenty of competition.”