“The role of Leading Sheep is in helping producers optimise their production by keeping abreast of changes and refreshing their knowledge of tried and proven aspects of production, such as animal nutrition,” Mr Roberts said.

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

Will Roberts, from “Victoria Downs” at Morven, said whether the core business is wool, meat, or both, “the most important message is that sheep are very responsive and the more you put into them the more you get out of them”.

“It is possible to focus on the meat side without changing your flock but just changing how you are looking after the sheep. Merinos are very adaptable and have always been dual purpose sheep.

“If producers put effort into classing and selecting their sheep, they can make a lot of genetic gain in the Merinos that is rewarded in the market place.

“You can wean lambs then put them on supplements to keep them growing well and make the most out of the lamb market.

“There’s more money in the prime lamb market than there is in store sheep, and it can mean an extra $20-$30 in your pocket.

“You can have a bet each way with the Merino, however the critical thing is to watch their nutrition.

“Sometimes the Australian Merino genetics aren’t expressed to their full potential because of limitations with sheep nutrition.”

He said Australian Merinos were about 50-50 in terms of their meat and wool potential, whereas breeds such as the South Africa Meat Merinos had evolved to be valued at about 75 percent meat and 25 percent wool.

“As Graeme Peart said at the Leading Sheep day at Cunnamulla earlier in the year, a high performing Merino flock is still a profitable and competitive enterprise.”

Leading Sheep has hosted several sheep nutrition sessions in south west Queensland and is planning more specific sessions in future, targeting various stages of the animals’ development.

“Nutrition is the key to everything to do with productivity. Meat and wool is only excess protein after the animal has run its body,” said Mr Roberts.

“If you feed your rams and ewes to keep them in good order, the ewes ovulate better and you achieve better conception rates. The nutritional issue then is raising those lambs.”

In addition to being a Leading Sheep south west regional committee member, Mr Roberts is also president of the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders and attended the recent World Merino Conference in Perth.

For more information about Leading Sheep, contact Will Roberts on 07 4654 8118 or project manager Geoff Knights on 4620 8121.