A farming program to sell lambs as suckers means Poll Dorsets fit perfectly into the mix for producers Andrew and Cathy Branson.

The Bransons run a mixed farming operation near Colbinabbin, Victoria, where Poll Dorset rams are used across Border Leicester-Merino ewes.

Pastures are irrigated in early autumn for ewes to lamb down onto, so feed is assured, Andrew said.

But lambs need to come off those pastures so the paddocks can be locked up to cut for hay, so early growth is vital to make sure those hay paddocks are empty by late winter.

The pasture paddocks are a mix of sub clover, balansa clover and ryegrass, and the lambs are purely grassfed.

And the mild winter, which did not become too wet, was good for turning off lambs, Andrew said.

This year, their suckers sold to a top of $400, and the draft of 680 which hit the market during late winter averaged a whopping $371.

“The $400 price was the most we have ever got,” Andrew said.

“We did get $306 a few years ago and that was a record at the time and held for quite a few years, but this was well above that and so was the average.”

Rams come from the Mitchell family’s Ronobri stud at Lockington, Victoria, and Andrew said he looked for sires with good hind legs and clean heads.

“I want those rams to be long - we need good rams but we also need to feed the lambs well too.”

This year, the best of the April-drop lambs averaged about 30kg carcass weight at about 16 weeks, with some up to 32-33kg carcass weight.

All lambs from the operation are sold as suckers. There’s no need for shearing and Andrew said it’s a combination of management and genetics that ensures it happens.