In the beginning...
In 1975, ten sheep producers from the Gulargambone - Warren region were fed up with buying grain fed rams that fell over as soon as they got them home. They began G.R.A.S.S. - the Gulargambone Rural Association for Sheep Selection - to breed rams raised under commercial conditions and selected intensely for measurable economic performance.
Built on performance...
The farmers contributed their own flocks to start the stud and for 20 years all maiden ewes born in the co-operative - some 15,000 - were fleece weighed and classed by the stud classer with only 250 "Olympic Champions" entering the stud each year.
Legacy of genetic gain...
In the early days of the stud there was a 70% selection emphasis on clean fleece weight and every maiden had to raise a lamb in order to stay in the stud. Although we have a more balanced selection emphasis now, the legacy of those years still produces some of the heaviest cutting and most fertile sheep in the country.
The G.R.A.S.S. Merino flock is situated in Central West NSW at "Sunnyside," 35 km north of Gilgandra, and is still run by a diverse cooperative of progressive farmers. Building on a reputation for accurate measurement, the stud has been using EID technology for over a decade now and following the development of the Sheep Genetics central database, has been using ASBVs to select rams for nearly as long.
Our index each 10 years will improve your flock by:
Ewe clean fleece weight +0.57 kg
Ewe fibre diameter 0.4µm
Hogget body weight +3.0 kg
Staple strength +1.2N/kt
Reproduction rate +1.6%
- Buy G.R.A.S.S. genetics
- Order grade rams for mid October collection at fixed prices
- Rams & semen available NOW!
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