Sustainable Sheep Systems

We’re excited to announce that after a long run of webinars with some brilliant speakers, the project is to have its first on-farm event.

Join us at Viewfield to hear how the Maxwell family have developed a progressive low input sheep system with a focus on functional genetics and optimising production off forage.

Alongside 120 Luing cows, the Maxwells run 2,800 NZ Romney ewes across 1,214ha on a forage based system with ewes wintered on deferred grazing, forage crops and silage before lambing outdoors on grass alone. Ewe lambs are retained or sold for breeding with male lambs finished off grass and red clover leys.

Breeding is focused on selecting a robust efficient maternal ewe that lambs herself (<1% assistance!), maintains condition whilst run in large mobs, achieves strong lambing percentages and lamb survival with good lamb growth potential.

On the morning farm tour we will be joined by independent consultant Charlie Maclaren and Drew Hutton of Nutriscot Ltd who work closely with the Maxwell’s to improve the productivity and sustainability of their operation from the ‘ground up’.

The farm tour will be followed by a complementary lunch and an afternoon of expert speakers:

• Fiona Lovatt, Flock Health Ltd – Sustainable parasite control
• Janet Roden, Geneticist – Welsh Hill Ram Scheme
• Poppy Frater, SAC Sheep and Grassland Specialist – Autumn grazing management