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Severn Park: A Registered SRS® Stud

Severn Park is in the national top tier of SRS® studs. We have passed stringent criteria for quality and ethical standards to attain this status. It means depth of breeding for advanced skin traits and associated major gene functions that deliver heavy cuts of advanced performing fibres with low fibre diameter.

Severn Park & SRS® context in a revamping industry

The Australian Merino stud structure of the past is no more. It is undergoing the biggest restructure in 100 years as old medium and strong wool parent studs (those producing average wool fibres) fade out. The biggest change in the last 5 years, measured in national stud gene flows, is the rise of SRS® studs. Their collective influence is now of major impact status.

This is because these studs are working with more powerful genetics delivering heavier fleece weights, finer wool, and superior fibres for the new and more demanding textile markets. Severn Park is in the top echelon of this impact stud network.

Fibre Quality & Statistics

900 mature stud ewes, year 2001 joining - average fibre diameter 19.1 (down to 15.2). Average trending down.
300 11/2 stud ewes, year 2001 joining - average fibre diameter 17.4 (down to 13.4). Average trending down.
Current wool status Dec. 2001 shearing fleece lines:

18 month hoggets: 16.0-18.5 micron. AU. 18.4
GFW = 6.2 kg entire, unclassed drop.
Adult stud ewes: 18 - 20.4 micron. AU. 18.9 GFW = 7.6 kg.

Significant premiums are now being achieved for Severn Park SRS® wools. For example 190c/kg more for fine microning wool that was silky soft, aligned, bold and deep crimped, lustrous and full of fibre bundles.

Meat: The quad-purpose Merino

The new mutton and fat-lamb market fundamental is here to stay and cannot be ignored. Attempts in the past, and with current imports, have tried to combine wool and meat traits - but have fallen down in delivering quality in both.
The SRS® major gene effect changes the ground rules, as it allows recombinations without compromise.
After years of development and work with other SRS® breeders, we know we can have a Merino not only with SRS® wool but also with the desired meat quality and carcase traits, and superior fertility and constitution.
Severn Park is well on the way to developing the Quad-purpose Merino of the future, on the platform of major gene effects.
The quad-purpose Merino comprises:
# An advanced fibre - SRS® wool
# High quality, high yielding mutton and lamb products.
# High fertility - including a SRS® -linked major gene effect for 4 teats and higher weaning, higher milking.
# Disease resistance and constitution.
With major gene effects, based on the key SRS® function, we know we can have an animal that is more profitable than any other in either the wool or meat industry, because it produces the highest quality of both.

See section: The Quad Purpose Merino of the future: High quality wool, meat, fertility & constitution

Fertility and Toughness

Rams foraging in snow.

Severn Park Merinos are run commercially hard in the tough Monaro. Therefore they:

Have hardy constitutions and are good doing, efficient feed converters with fine to fine-medium wool on large constitutions.
Are highly fertile and strongly maternal, following decades of selection pressure.

Long term lambing percent stud ewes (on joining) = 110%
flock ewes - 94%.
1999 stud ewe lambing = 139%; 2002 = 128%
1999 flocks = 103%. (2002 NA as yet)

Severn Park Merinos perform across a range of environments: from the Tasmanian midlands, NSW western division; 100mm rainfall country in North Eastern Victoria; the rich cropping country of Riverina and slopes of NSW; and SA, WA and the tough Monaro.
Outstanding wether trial results across this wide area confirms Severn Park performance (see Wether Trials).
Sheep run under rigorous commercial conditions: no ram sheds and false feeding nor show activity.

Snapshot Statistics

Direction • 40 km (24 miles) SW of Cooma, on Bobundara Road then Berridale Road.

Area • 2068 ha (5000 acres)

Type • 60 / 40 Basalt / granite

Pastures • 65 / 35 improved / native

Enterprise • grazing and specialist fibre and genetic production

Rainfall • 475mm (19")

Rainfall range • 200 to 900mm (8 to 35")

Stud ewes mated • 1200 to 1300

Land is managed for environmental sustainability, with planned rotational grazing. 6% Farm reserved for remnant Vegetation increasing.

Aims

Continue improving bone, structure, body length, neck extension and constitution - with ewes averaging 80 - 90 kgs by 2008.
Maintain/improve fertility and maternal traits: To reach 135 - 140% weaning.
By utilising major gene effects in body growth, meat traits and skin biology, to increase prepotency and predictability of breeding ewes.
By combining improved physical traits with the uncomplicated SRS® structure, to deliver quad-purpose animals producing advanced SRS® fibres with a carcase and non-ribbed skin suitable for the meat/hide industry.
By 2006 to reduce fibre diameter, with no other compromises, to 16.5 u at 11/2 and 18.5 micron adult ewes.
To maintain/improve average wool cuts to 7 kg in 18 month, and 8 kg in adult ewes by 2006.
To maintain selection for fleece - rot resistance, and thus the delivery of environmentally clean fibres, requiring minimal or no external chemical treatments.
Via the SRS® pathway and the saturation of associated major gene effects:

to increase secondary derived (compound) follicle number and density;
to have stud ewes s/p ratios at 45:1 and sires at 60:1.
to have rams growing wool at the rate of 0.5mm/day and ewes at 0.4mm/day on thin skins (below 0.5mm).

To lift percentage of A-grade SRS® wool to 75% in all fleece lines.
To double clients' wool returns within 8 years, by delivering SRS® genes for lowering micron and increasing cut, plus advanced quality fibres for premiums. To be underpinned by close client servicing.
To increase clients' multi-purpose options through improving meat carcase & quality traits & maturity & fertility levels - opening options in the mutton, fat lamb & maternal-genetic replacement ewe market.

Health Status MN3

Severn Park has attained MN3 status for OJD.
Severn Park is Brucellosis Accredited Free.
Severn Park is a Footrot Declared Free flock.
Drench tests reveal Severn Park is free of worm resistance.

History

Charlie Massy founded the stud in 1976 - basing it on Wonga bloodlines between 1979 and 1986.
In 1988, in conjunction with Dr Jim Watts, a concerted shift was made to instil advanced skin and fibre qualities whilst still concentrating on constitutional and maternal traits.
Following trials, a range of fine wool and SRS® genetics were used between 1989 to the present.
Severn Park has concentrated on developing its own prepotent SRS® type in the harsh Monaro environment.
In 12 years since 1990, average stud micron has reduced by 3, and hoggets by 3.5.

Profile Stud Master: Charlie Massy

Charlie Massy and Jim Watts

B.Sc. in Zoology from ANU.
Formed Severn Park Merino stud in 1976.
Mentored by Tom Culley of Wonga. Has had a close association with Dr Jim Watts since 1981.
Author of the book 'The Australian Merino' (1990 Penguin-Viking O'Neil, 1088 pp), and numerous other articles on the Merino and wool industry.
Served on the Boards of IWS and AWRAP from 1993 - 1995.
Has had an extensive involvement in Australian and international wool processing and marketing since 1990, when he co-founded Quality Softwools Australia.
Has a strong belief in the future of high quality Merino fibres for a segmented market.
Since 1995, been a Member and ex. Chairman of CAMBIA (Centre for Application of Molecular Genetics to International Agriculture