with thanks to Rob and Hilary Tucker, Tavistock, Devon
Rob and Hilary Tucker have one clear objective – to maximise kilos of lamb produced per acre, and swapping Continental terminal sires for the Abervale was key towards helping them to achieve that goal. “The breed really suits our system,” he says.
“We stagger lambing over eight weeks starting with mixed age ewes in February/March and ewe lambs in April. Lambs grazing our low input herbal leys are averaging 20kg to 22kg deadweight from 12 weeks; 85% are within our contract’s spec, while 80% of those grade R and the rest are in the E and U bracket. If we have any left by October, then we consider we’ve failed,” he says.
the Abervale is truly fit for purpose and doesn’t lose any condition having been bred and reared by Innovis in a large population in a commercial forage-based system.
“We found the Abervale to be a breed that combines the right commercial traits – growth and conformation, while the lambs have plenty of get up and go; it’s a meat sire offering real hybrid vigour and a complete contrast to the Charollais and Texel we used to buy from the NSA South West ram sale. Those rams were very well fed and looked absolutely amazing, however that feeding regime left them lasting a maximum three seasons. In contrast, the Abervale is truly fit for purpose and doesn’t lose any condition having been bred and reared by Innovis in a large population in a commercial forage-based system.
“Our Abervales are typically working for an average five seasons. We’ve a string of 15 rams and run one with 80 ewes and ewe lambs, previously the ratio was one Continental to 40 or 50, and since they’ve been specifically selected for narrow shoulders, intervention at lambing is minimal. In fact, we usually have casual lambing help from a couple of vet students who frequently leave disappointed not to have had the experience of difficult lambings.”
The Tuckers used to finish and sell their entire crop deadweight to their abattoir until the lamb buyer approached them to supply Waitrose and the Abervale lamb scheme, through Pilgrims UK formerly Dalehead Foods.
“While it meant we were putting all our eggs into one basket, we liked the opportunity to be part of a scheme and its benefits including the security of a premium over the average weekly market price. Ten years on and I’m quite confident that figure couldn’t be matched elsewhere.
“Commitment to the scheme involved swapping our Continental sires for the Abervale, rated by the supermarket for its lean meat and taste,” Rob explains. “Buying these rams at Innovis’s annual selection days was a whole new ball game. Previously it was a lottery buying rams in the mart without EBVs and then knowing which lambs were sired by which ram. Nowadays aware the Abervale has been properly performance recorded so Innovis can accurately predict how the sheep will breed, we can confidently select rams on their genetic potential and in particular, EBVs for lamb growth and muscle depth. The price is fixed and the whole event very well managed. If you wish, the Innovis team will recommend the ram to fit your system.
“Each ram is accompanied with a warranty which we consider is brilliant. In the event something does go wrong in its first breeding year, then Innovis will credit the ram value. It’s all part of the trusted long-term partnership we’re investing in with Innovis – something that’s common place in New Zealand, but not in the UK.”
