Shedding ram sale set to meet demand for ‘no cake’ rams

Three wool-shedding flocks with a “no cake” policy have joined forces to market rams to commercial sheep farmers.

An entry of 60 shearling rams from the Shropshire-based studs Cawley Farms Sheep, Low Footprint Lamb UK and Willow Shedders has been confirmed for the inaugural Wool-Shedding Ram Sale on Friday 2 August.

The sale is further evidence of the growing influence and demand for wool-shedding genetics as sheep businesses look to rationalise costs and manage labour inputs.

See also: Shed v shear: Tackling the wool price challenge

Genetics on offer are as follows:

• 25 Exlana
• Eight Exlana cross Easycare
• Three Australian White cross Easycare
• Six New Zealand Wiltshire cross Easycare
• Seven Easycare
• Seven Ultra White cross Easycare
• Three Australian Nudie cross Easycare
• One Australian Nudie.

All sheep are performance-recorded through either Signet or the New Zealand Sheep Improvement Ltd system and are intended to be low-cost and forage only.

Sheep are summered on unimproved parkland and wintered on stubble turnips and winter grass.

William Cawley, of Cawley Farms Sheep, said: “Although the EBVs are a good tool to help with selection, they are not our sole tool.

“We also use on-farm data such as ewe efficiency [and] shedding scores, and are always trying as best we can to marry up good EBVs with structurally sound sheep.”