Geoff Crabb.

The Wellard Group's investment in prime lamb genetics and breeding has positioned the company's farming division, Wellard Agri, for the changing market.

Wellard Agri chief executive Tim Macnamara said its Dongara-based Afrino stud, The Grange, has fast-forwarded its breeding program with last year's 400-head acquisition of the Golden Hill stud from the Ditchburn family.

"The 200 ewes, 180 ram and ewe lambs and six stud sires we picked up from the Golden Hill dispersal sale in October last year has put us three years ahead of schedule," he said.

"This has given us the opportunity to expand the stud to 290 ewes, 190 lamb weaners, 30 ram hoggets and six stud sires."

Mr Macnamara said when Wellard acquired The Grange in 2010, it retained the commercial Afrino line being managed by Grange livestock manager Geoff Crabb because Wellard was keen to utilise and expand on the genetics already in place.

This flock has now developed to about 14,000 commercial Afrino breeding ewes at The Grange.

"The breed has superb growth genetics and delivers profits quickly," Mr Macnamara said.

"It has easy-care wool traits, good fertility and quick growth. Plus the breed has a low birth weight, which makes delivery easier, reducing lambing mortality and animal stress."

Mr Macnamara also said they tested the market for the breed last year, with excellent results.

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Afrinos primed for market

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