Forest Range Station

Clayton Station

Charing Cross Farm

The Poplars

Marterri

Ngata Stud

Grasslands

C. E. Harper

Michael Peak

Forest Range Station

We have been associated with Alan Dyer of Genetic Enterprises for over 10 years now through his artificial insemination programme and during that time excellent results have consistently been achieved on Forest Range Station.

Personally we have found that undertaking an A1 programme has been a major factor in reducing fibre diameter and increasing clean fleece weight, plus improving wool quality for our super-fine merino wool production.

The cost effectiveness of his Natural Cervical A1 programme must be most attractive to anyone serious about genetic improvement.

Clayton Station

In 1991-92 Clayton Station was involved in a large scale AI programme for sheep using just released Texel and Oxford Down rams.

In 1991 7000 Romney ewes were inseminated over a 42 day (two cycle) period. In 1992 6000 Romney ewes were inseminated in a 21 day period.

6 rams were used using fresh semen, incorporating the cervical AI programme.

We used Genetic Enterprises for both programmes and the results exceeded our expectations. In 1991 we tailed 108% from those ewes inseminated expecting 85% and this was repeated in 1992.

Genetic Enterprises employs skilled Technicians and without their organisation we would not have contemplated the exercise.

Charing Cross Farm

To make rapid genetic progress we have been selecting top rams and by utilising the Genetic Enterprises team operated by Alan Dyer, found we could mate each ram to more than 1000 ewes during one cycle. With this system we have inseminated approximately 3500 to 4000 of our merino ewes each year for the last three years and recorded conception rates of around the 80% mark.

Genetically, the result has been outstanding with a reduction in excess of 0.5 microns and an increase in wool weights of 1/2kg being recorded in our hogget flock, compared to the previous season.

The Poplars

By combining resources with other farmers and coordinating tupping dates, we were able to fully exploit Alan Dyer's AI programme to run three Natural Cervical AI programmes finishing in the first week of May. With this system 5300 crossbred ewes were easily inseminated with two East Friesian rams.

Marterri

By using Alan Dyer's AI technology and three or four superior super-fine rams from Russell Emmerson's Forest Range merino stud across approximately 2500 of our merino ewes, we have been getting 80% plus conception rates and given a huge genetic boost to our super-fine merino operation.

The progeny from the first AI programme produced some of the finest wool presented for sale in New Zealand in 1996 at 14.2 microns and made $120.00 per kg.

Ngata Stud

Our objective was to produce the highest quality 1/2 bred East Friesian flock possible. To do this we first purchased or leased the best of the breed. Then we wanted to spread these genetics as far as possible. Genetic Enterprises was the most cost effective way of achieving this. In two years 5000 ewes have been AI'd with semen from just 4 rams, achieving 84% conception and at a cost of approximately $2.60 per lamb weaned.''

``Now we are scanning 148% from 1/2 bred East Friesian hoggets and 217% from 2 tooths.''

Grasslands

In an effort to improve dramatically and quickly the overall quality and performance of our merino flock, we decided to run a large-scale trial using Alan Dyer, of Genetic Enterprises and his Natural Cervical A1 programme. 3000 ewes were trialled using three selected superior performance rams, over a 19-day period. Follow-up rams paddock marked only 12% of the trial mob and scanning showed a 119% conception rate.

Careful preparation prior to the start of the programme resulted in a very smooth running operation and totally reversed our initial concerns at the size and complexity of the programme. The technician was courteous and professional and involved our staff fully in the process through his explanations and helpful attitude.

C. E. Harper

We have done two AI Programmes in 1996/97 consecutively with Alan Dyer. Both of these programmes were a huge success.

In 1996 we bought one East Friesian Ram and we AI'd 1575 ewes and got approximately 81% conception. This programme produced nearly 1600 lambs weaned at a cost of about $5.60 per lamb. These AI costs included set up costs of vasectomising teaser rams, harnesses and crayons etc.

In 1997 we bought an additional East Friesian rams and we AI'd 2420 ewes (and got approximately 79% conception). Because we had less set up costs and more ewes in the programme, the total cost this year was only $2.50 per lamb weaned.

As you can see from the above this is a very cost effective method of getting large numbers of lambs on the ground from very small numbers of top quality/value rams.

The service that we received from both Alan and the technicians was excellent, nothing was a problem, and the whole programme ran very smoothly. They were a pleasure to deal with, and we recommend them very highly.

Michael Peak

When buying top performing merino rams, I became increasingly frustrated that the progeny of the rams was limited to the number of ewes they would serve naturally.

Alan Dyer's Natural Cervical A1 programme was exactly what I had been looking for, in that our elite rams successfully served up to 1000 ewes each and the conception rate according to scanning was 70-75%, therefore giving me genetically superior stock and an improved rate of return for my investment.