If you would like to find out more about improving your sheep unit’s efficiency, then talk to Steve Pennington.

Making one single major change to his enterprise by introducing high genetic merit Hampshire Down rams is enabling him to produce faster finishing lambs, and consequently free up more grazing and ease the workload.

“The future for a profitable sheep enterprise has to be relatively high output from a low cost, easy care, grass based system, and we believe we have found the tools to help us achieve that goal,” says Steve who together with his wife, Shirley and son, James manage an 800 ewe Welsh self replacing flock that complements their 90 cow dairy enterprise at Willstone Farm, Cardington, near Church Stretton.

“We’re attempting to maximise the number of kilos of finished lamb from our hill within the shortest possible time period and we have found two different sets of genetics which click and are delivering the goods. Our Hampshire Down cross Welsh lambs are finishing to target 38kg to 40kg off grass from 16 weeks, and this year we expect the entire crop, even the stragglers, to be away by December,” he explains.

The Penningtons are great believers in the Welsh ewe by Talybont bred rams. “They’re very milky, make for great mothers and rear lambs verging on their own bodyweight. They are also hardy – they’re never housed, not even for lambing.

While we breed 500 ewes pure, we have been putting the remainder to Continental terminal sires, supplemented by a Hampshire Down ram on and off for the last six years. We liked the Hampshire Down cross lambs simply because by six weeks they were showing a noticeable early growth lead which was being maintained through to finishing off grass, compared with the Continental crosses which had to be introduced to stubble turnips for finishing.

We also liked the fact here was a native hardy breed which had been progressively modernised and had upcoming genetics to exploit.

“Consequently, we investigated the background to one of our original Hampshire Down rams that was still in good working at 10 years old, and last season invested in two high index Signet performance recorded ram lambs from the same flock. We’re really pleased; they’ve done exactly what they said they would do on the tin.”

Shirley explains: “The rams were very eager to work; we ran one ram to over 100 ewes and we expect to achieve an average of over 150% lambs reared. At lambing, the ewes required absolutely no assistance, the lambs were so lively they were impossible to catch within their first few hours, and they had tight skins, essential for late March lambing on east facing slopes at 1,100’ plus.”

This season, the lambs by the high genetic Hampshire Down rams are demonstrating noticeably faster growth rates, says James. “We estimate they’ll reach target weight at least two weeks earlier and that improved performance will have an impact further down. Getting the lambs away quicker will free up grass for the remainder and for flushing the ewes, reduce the number of doses required and overall cut back on the workload. For us, that’s a win win situation for now and for the future.”

• The Pennington family is hosting an EBLEX Better Returns Programme evening on Wednesday 31 August from 6.00pm. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the merits of using high index Signet performance recorded rams and also improved selection techniques.

To register for your FREE place ring BRP West Midlands’ Emma Horn on 07584 036622 or email emma@betterreturnswm.org.uk