The day was supported by the Leading Sheep Central West regional committee for sheep and wool producers interested to see what others are doing with regard to innovative management and on-property initiatives.

Leading Sheep is an Australian Wool Innovation project in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and supported by AgForce, which targets the adoption of new technologies and practices to increase the productivity and profitability of the Queensland industry.

The Chandlers join 12,000 ewes and are keen to use the best genetics available to them to support their breeding objectives. However they find it is too expensive to buy the large number of individual rams of the quality to fulfil their breeding objectives.

Although AI is not a cheap procedure, the Chandlers see it as an economical way of rapidly and effectively introducing improved genetics into their flock.

Mr Chandler believes ewes provide the best production focus at the moment and his objective for them is to cut at least 5kg of wool and produce 80 percent lambs to be efficient and cost effective.

In consultation with AI specialist Mike Rival from Goondiwindi, the Chandlers use information obtained from Merino Superior Sires to select ram semen.

Superior Sire information is gathered by progeny-testing rams and benchmarks are then set with link sires that have been extensively tested in many trial sites.

As part of the on-property day, the Chandlers had ewes on display from previous AI programs and the winning team of flock merino ewes from the Barcaldine show.

Local producers, interstate visitors and Australian Agricultural College Longreach students viewed the AI process in action for 300 ewes.

Contacts: Leading Sheep Central West regional coordinator Jenny Keogh, 07 4657 5983, or DPI&F extension officer Ian McConnel, 07 4658 4425.