Glen Iris Polls established its reputation as progressive with a breeding program that adopted eye muscle and body fat scanning technology more than 20 years ago. Identifying critical traits that drive profitability, we have nurtured and developed genetics that produce high performing sheep to give producers a multi stream income.
This commercial approach has been tried and tested by Glen Iris Polls. Our ‘risk management’ enterprise has evolved into one producing high value wool and more lambs resulting in a reliable income stream.
Although scanning for eye muscle and fat depth has only become a recognised tool during the past 10 years, ‘Glen Iris’ sheep have been scanned for muscle and fat measurements since 1994.
Wanting to develop a flock with consistent and quality results in the pen and on the board, our vigorous screening processes have established a Poll flock with a fleece averaging around 23 micron and superior maternal and meat producing traits.
Better muscle and fat depth generates ewes with more energy. More energy has a positive impact on lamb survival and growth rates, making the ewes better mums.
Our lambs are maturing much quicker. Wether lambs are being sold over the hooks as heavy trades ie 22-24kg, and are now reaching those weights a full four-six weeks earlier than 15 years ago.
We also pay close attention to fat depth measurement. We do not want our sheep to be too lean – good fat cover is related closely to fertility and milk production. Some of our clients are now successfully joining ewe lambs and achieving excellent results.
From the outset, ‘Glen Iris’ stud sires and all stud ewes have been scanned and then mated the best to the best. We muscle scan the ewe hoggets selected for wool type, cut, shape and structure to come back into the ram breeding flock. They must meet the muscle and fat depth benchmark or they are rejected and return to the general flock. The replacement sires are selected by the same criterion.
Our breeding program and selective processes have resulted in a much more profitable sheep that is increasingly more resilient to the climatic conditions of the South West Slopes and Riverina.
Our open flock policy enables comparison of performance, not just across our stud, but by benchmarking and performance testing of outside genetics. This allows us to be confident in the calibre of sheep we breed and the commercial viability of their progeny.
Glen Iris Polls has a deep rooted and extensive history in the development of sheep breeding in the Riverina.
The genetic gain through our enhanced muscling and fat cover is inherent and undeniable.