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Beltex – improved performance + efficiency = better returns

If you want to improve your flock’s overall performance and efficiency new season, and also achieve better returns, then talk to Oliver Brannigan. A couple of years ago, Oliver swapped two different Continental terminal sires for the Beltex to use over his Blackface flock, and he says the breed newcomer is leaving a crop of quality lambs that not only finish to target weight off milk and grass and within the specification, but they also fit well in to an easy care system.

Oliver Brannigan

“Nowadays, we are able to reap the rewards of finishing around 60% of my Beltex cross wether lambs within 20 weeks and without any meal. They are averaging up to 21kgs deadweight and we’re finding the majority grade in the U bracket,” he explains. “Before we introduced the Beltex, our Continental cross lambs grew at a slower rate and we didn’t have the facilities to grow them on to finishing, so they had to be sold through the store ring in September.

“In addition, we’re finding we are also able to add value to the gimmer lambs which are finding a ready demand as flock replacements from commercial producers. Beltex cross Blackface ewes are proving to be a brilliant damline; they combine conformation with good motherability and milkiness and when crossed with another terminal sire, they leave a very high performance lamb.”

A full time plasterer, Oliver also finds the time to run a 150 ewe Blackface flock alongside 50 pedigree Texel ewes on the family’s 85 acre unit based at Galbally, near Pomeroy, Dungannon. “While the Texel ewes lamb in February and are managed on a higher input system, we aim to maximize output from the commercial flock with fewer inputs. And to maximize output, it’s not only the terminal sire that counts, but also the damline.

“We had no qualms about investing in a Beltex ram because we’d heard from first hand experience that it left good butchers lambs with an accompanying high killing out percentage. However, we are also firm believers in keeping a big, strong framed ewe, and in my opinion there’s nothing that beats the Perth type Blackface.

“Our Blackface ewes can look after themselves, and require little attention. They run outdoors right round around the calendar, and lamb in April and May,” he says. “We’re finding that their Beltex cross lambs are very lively, in fact you’d hardly believe they could be up on their feet and sucking so quickly. Overall they are a lot easier to manage than the Continental crosses we used to breed.

“While I still check every ewe scheduled to lamb twice a day, nowadays very little if any assistance is required to actually lamb the ewes,” he explains. “The lambs are born with tight enough skins and I’ve found I’m able to leave them to motor on over the season and make the most from grazed grass.” Last year, the flock achieved 1.75 Beltex cross lambs reared per ewe.

To the future, and Oliver Brannigan says the Beltex has a firm future at Galbally. “Beltex is leaving both wether and gimmer lambs with that added value. What’s more, these lambs’ low maintenance requirements and ability to fit in to an easy care system are perfect for a profitable part time farming operation.”