MLA Forecasts

Released in February the Meat and Livestock Association's forecasts make pleasant reading for sheep producers. With global lamb supplies tight the price outlook, at least for the first half of 2011, remains good. Prices in 2010 were 14% up on 2009 and the first cross ewe price in 2011 almost reached $360! With wool and skin prices also improving it bodes well for this year and is an opportunity to put some cash away in reserve.

Chart from "Weekly Times" Dec 23 2010

The Australian flock size will increase from the 67.7 million head in June 2010, probably to a touch over 69 million. The breeding ewe flock in June 2010 was 41.3 million so it has been the wool producing wethers that have declined most. This will be the first time since the 1990s where the flock size has been rebuilding.

For us the decision was whether to buy FX ewe lambs and hold for a year or to buy some Merino ewes and produce our own lambs. A difficult choice given the prices but we were lucky enough to source some good Merinos locally at the right price. It means that our sale in November will only be Border Leicester flock rams but it was the right choice.

The problem with high prices is that they will fall. Butchers and lamb processors are almost break even on a $230 lamb so if they are paying more it is because they are (super) heavyweight stock. We don't buy lamb from the supermarkets but the prices are extraordinary. It all feels to me like the prices are maxing out.
As an aside the market dominance of Coles and Woolworths is a major concern as they drive down for eggs, milk and other foods. As they are profit driven they don't care if they put producers to the wall as they will simply import the foodstuffs from overseas producers like Chile.

Time for some diversity (garlic, studio art glass and so on) and to stick with the best option for our local conditions - Border Leicesters and Merinos.

Still here!!

Despite the almost six month absence in entries we are still here and everything is going well.
Part of the delay was a 4 week holiday in Europe where we stayed in Paris, Pau, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Venice and Cambridge. We had a great time and more on the trip at a later date. We are still going through the thousands of photographs that digital cameras now permit. We missed the Australian summer and consequently the flash floods. While not needing full replacement there is a ton of work to do in the paddocks that have river frontage. It wasn't the rising waters that caused the damage as the Tarlo River broke its banks but the flow of water back with all the debris.

At least now we have a tractor - the mighty Ford CY, a 75 horse power beast that we bought second hand. It is in great condition for a thirty five year old machine and will give us many years of use once we fix the alternator, lights, hydraulics and minor oil leaks!

Since coming back from Europe we have added 80 Merino ewes to the Border leicester Stud flock with the intention of producing Daramalan First Cross Ewes, drenched and injected all stock against Barber's Pole Worm and sown a mixture of Cocksfoot and Turnips on 30 acres. The alfalfa is doing really well despite the waterlogging and should give us feed for the next five years if we manage it correctly.

Next jobs are fence repairs, laying barbed wire strands to keep the Border Leicesters in their paddocks, ploughing up the house paddock, laying irrigation pipes in the same paddock and then planting it out. We will have an orchard, grape vines, olives and vegetables so that we move to self sufficiency. 

Better get onto it so back soon!!

Daramalan's First Sale a Success

From The Crookwell Gazette

The Daramalan Border Leicester Stud’s first annual sale, held in conjunction with Logancrest Poll Dorset Stud on property at Logancrest, Crookwell, was highlighted by solid bidding continuing the recent run of strong Border Leicester stud sales and the attendance of both long term clients of Sylvia Vale Stud and new buyers.

The strong demand for Border Leicester rams reflected the good year to date Border Leicester Merino First Cross Ewe sales and the positive outlook for sheep meat and the prime lamb markets.

All 40 Border Leicester rams offered were sold at auction for an average of $950 with a top price of $1,300 paid by R & M Murray of Netherleigh, Crookwell, long term buyers from Sylvia Vale stud. They also bought one other ram for $1,150.

The outstanding high volume buyer on the day was new client Alex Green of Veolia Environmental Services, Collector, who bought 10 rams to a high of $1,100 and an average of $925. With a yellow cap being given to each individual ram buyer Michelle from Veolia was only three short for the company football team!

Other volume buyers were Brent Medway of Toledale, Gunning who bought 6 rams to a high of $1,150, average $1,058 and Bill Johnson of Goulburn buying 5 to a high of $1,000 and average $890.

Three buyers bought 4 rams each, Murray Slater of Bychance, Laggan with average of $962.50, Ian Cusack of Bywong Holdings, Sutton average $887.50 and Brian Anderson of Lower Sylvia Vale, Binda average $900. R & D Reynolds of Fullerton Station, Fullerton, Shannon Arnall of Carinya, Laggan, Brian Kelly of Kelbri, Golspie and Brian McCormack of Apsley, Laggan completed the impressive list of 11 buyers at auction.

Daramalan Stud owner David Dawes said after the sale that he was “Delighted with the number of competitive bidders and very happy with the prices at our first annual sale. We could not have wished for a more encouraging start”. He also noted, “The results reflected the strength of the Sylvia Vale bloodlines and the current prime lamb market”.

David would like to thank all the buyers and under bidders for their valued support, Craig and Sharon Coggan for hosting the auction and looks forward to the sale next year.

The sale was conducted by Mark Watson and Denis Hewitt of Elders Crookwell with Steve Ridley of Elders Goulburn as auctioneer.

Logancrest Poll Dorset Stud, Crookwell, sold all 29 selected Poll Dorset rams to a top of $850, paid by John Shaw of Rutherford Pastoral Company, Gunning and an overall average price of $555. There were 18 separate buyers with Ian Cusack of Bywong Holdings, Sutton, the highest volume buyer with 4 rams. There were eleven multiple buyers including Archie and Keith Coggan, Doug Cady, G & T Thompson, Robert Collins, Brian McCormack and Brent Medway. Seven of 10 ram lambs were also sold averaging $414. Owner Craig Coggan was “Very pleased with the number of registered buyers and the prices paid”.  Craig and Sharon would like to thank all the buyers for their continued support. The auctioneer was Daniel Croker of Landmark, Goulburn.

Border Leicester Merino First Cross Ewes were also sold on the day, 85 by EGR and DE Robertson, 16 by Daramalan both at $138 and 80 by Logancrest for $165. Fifty four FX Ewes with lambs at foot were sold by Daramalan at $182.50 and 76 by Logancrest to a top of $210 and an average of $198.20.

Annual Ram Sale

Sale day is fast approaching - Monday November 1st at 1pm on property at Logancrest, Crookwell Road, Crookwell - the Coggans residence. It will be a great day and a huge success!

We are offering 40 Daramalan Border Leicester Flock Rams (pictured below), 190 First Cross Ewes, 120 FX Ewes with lambs on foot, 40 Logancrest Poll Dorset Flock Rams and 100 two year old Merinos. A sort of vertical prime lamb market offering with Merinos, Border Leicesters, First Cross Ewes and Poll Dorsets.

Selling Agents for Daramalan are Elders and for Logancrest are Landmark so should get good local coverage. There will be advertisements in the Town and Country and Crookwell Gazette. Also Daramalan will be showing a few rams at the Elders Goulburn "Innovation in Agriculture" store day on October 28th. Come along and meet the rams and me!!

The Humility Block

If only I could machine sew a quilt as beautiful and as complex as the Amish communities of North East America. The designs are inspirational and some may make it onto my glass cutting table as plates, bowls or panels. Some may become small quilted panels, cushion covers or even bedspreads for the farmhouse. Having made two quilts to date and lots of cushion covers I have a long way to go before I can say that I have made a 'perfect' quilt. There is a myth about the Amish putting in a humility block - a block with one mistaken stitch to acknowledge that only God is perfect. Not true at all but a nice story. My quilts are absolutely full of humility!!

There is another myth that black American slaves used quilts as signals when they tried to escape on the 'Underground Railway'. Another great story but not true. Quilts have been made to celebrate, if that is the right word, their lives and escapes but not at the time as signs for safe houses. 

In the spirit of the humility block though I would like to nominate the southern half of Lot 5 as the most unpretentious and mistake ridden block on the property.....Not sure we will ever get it to be as productive as the rest but it does fit in the whole!

Ciao.

Lambing season started

Yes, she did come back to reclaim her third lamb so all's well. The Border Leicester ewes are lambing every day now and we have about 70 lambs on the ground and so another 150 to come. Mainly singles so far but a few twins and triplets too. Our Merino ewe has had triplets too and all are doing well. Luckily no quads yet this year. A few deaths unfortunately - three lambs and two ewes, one from pregnancy toxaemia and the other from unknown causes. The first cross ewes are still doing well and lambs should be dropping later in the month. So far so good and Zing and Zeno seem to be working well as guard animals and keeping the local foxes at bay.


Next jobs are shearing the rams, re-fencing the eastern boundary, sowing alfalfa in the 40 acre river paddock, wood chopping and lamb marking. Challenging and busy time of year but thankfully it is getting slightly warmer and the days are lengthening. We have had some bitterly cold days this winter and about twice the rainfall as last year. Even with better pasture, including the clover and rye grass sown on the eastern 100 acres, we have started to feed the sheep some hay and Triticale grain to keep their weight and condition up for the next few months as we plan for our sale on November 1st 2010. Mark it in your diary! There will be 40-50 Border Leicester flock rams, 30-40 Poll Dorset flock rams and the 275 First Cross Ewes, a vertically integrated sale day!


See you there.

Organic Garlic - first experimental crop

In late April we planted 100 cloves of garlic from three or four different varieties. The garlic plot while small is an experiment to see whether it is possible for us to grow organic garlic successfully. The planting is a direct response to the irradiated Chinese (a staggering 77% of global production) and Argentinian product that is being sold in the major supermarket chains. That just cannot be good for you and since garlic is one crop that can be stored for 9 months and preserved so it can be used all year it has to be a worthwhile effort. Plus we cook with it almost every day.

Allium sativum is a member of the onion family and relatively easy to grow in a temperate climate preferring acid soils - okay so far at Daramalan!! Wild and cultivated garlic has been eaten and used medicinally for thousands of years, by Egyptians, Syrians and Romans. It even gets a mention in the Bible and the Talmud (not sure about the Koran). It was used to treat parasites, digestion, low energy, colds, breathing disorders and was thought of as a cure-all.

Garlic is mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud. Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder, and Dioscorides all mention the use of garlic for many conditions, including parasites, respiratory problems, poor digestion, and low energy. The Romans saw it as a cure-all.
Some studies have found  garlic to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity. It is also claimed to help prevent heart disease and cancers. When crushed garlic yields allicin, a powerful antibiotic and antifungal compound. It also contains sulphur containing compounds and various enzymes, proteins, minerals and vitamins. The sulphur containing phytochemicals responsible for the sharp flavor of garlic are produced when the plant's cells are damaged. The strong odour causes "garlic breath" (garlic is also called the 'stinking rose') and the allyl methyl sulphide "smell" is excreted through the skin. Ever sat on the Paris Metro?!!

Garlic myths and legends abound - after Satan left the Garden of Eden the smell of garlic came from his left footprint and onion from his right. Garlic cloves warded off vampires, werewolves and devils. Hindus and Jains avoid using garlic as it heats and stimulates desire and Islam views eating garlic and going straight to the mosque as inappropriate.

Whatever the myths and health benefits we will hopefully harvest 100 bulbs in early summer and have enough for our needs. All going well then there will be 1000 cloves planted in 2011 and we will supply family and friends and maybe even try a farmer's market.

Ciao.