Pepperton offers quality ewes from high performance flock in second stage dispersal
January 15, 2025
Thirty years of stud breeding along high performance lines will go under the hammer with the second stage dispersal of spring lambing ewes and 2024 autumn drop ewe lambs from the central Victorian Pepperton flock on February 26.
Fifth generation farmer Roger Trewick and his wife Dianne, Pepperton Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks, Elmore, run 400 stud ewes, achieving an 82 per cent conception rate to AI last year.
The stud will hold the second stage dispersal of spring lambing ewes scanned in lamb and unjoined autumn drop 2024 ewes online with AuctionsPlus Helmsman Sale on February 26 from 12 noon to 4pm.
Pepperton will also offer 2024 spring drop ewe lambs and top indexing 2024 drop Poll Dorset and White Suffolk rams at the final ram sale in October.
There will be 125 Poll Dorset and 95 White Suffolk ewes available at the February dispersal, all July/August shorn, drenched, vaccinated and accredited.
“We are firm believers in quality over quantity and in order to produce the best rams, we believe you need to start with the best ewes,” Dianne said.
“To begin with, our stud ewes mostly have a minimum of 150 TCP (terminal carcase production) before their physical attributes are thoroughly screened.
“This high threshold for what we accept in our stud has resulted in an even spread of high-quality ewes that dependably produce some of the best rams in the breed, year after year.”
The Poll Dorset stud ewes have been sired by Pepperton, Illfracombe, Felix, Jewsharp, Woolumbool, Melton Vale, Bruan, Linton and Derrynock rams.
The White Suffolk stud ewes carry Pepperton, Ashmore, Farrer, Bundara Downs, Felix, and Ella Matta blood lines.
Stage one of the ewe dispersal on October 16, 2024, resulted in 110 Poll Dorset ewes selling to a top price of $4600 with an average of $654 while 44 White Suffolk ewes sold to a top price of $3200 and an average of $489.
With the industry shift to lamb brands focused on eating quality, the stud is trending well above breed average for intramuscular fat, shear force (tenderness), muscle and weaning weight.
Roger and Dianne have been breeding Poll Dorsets under their prefix Pepperton since 1994 and were early adopters of LAMBPLAN performance recording, concentrating on growth, muscling, and moderate fat levels.
Adding White Suffolks in 2004, Pepperton produces each year around 200 rams grazed on dryland lucerne with minimal grain feeding during dry times.
In recent years Pepperton has made consistent genetic advancements towards improving the key profit drivers for their Poll Dorset and White Suffolk flocks.
Post weaning weight and post weaning eye muscle depth are both trending above the breed average and Australian Sheep Breeding Values analysis target.
Pepperton began DNA testing rams for IMF (intramuscular fat) in 2017 and sources leading industry sires for the trait to increase marbling and eating quality in carcases.
During the past decade shearforce has also been rapidly decreasing and lamb eating quality increasing resulting in more tender lamb cuts and a better consumer eating experience.
Released by OutCross Media (Kim Woods)
Caption: (image Pepperton) Roger Trewick, Pepperton Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks, will hold the second stage ewe dispersal on February 26 at Elmore. Image Kim Woods
