News, Events & Mentions
LambEx ~ October 22, 2024
The Story of the AMPC LambEx Feedlot Carcase competition ~ and who won!
1500 lambs from across Australia entered in the first commercial feedlot carcase competition for the lamb industry.
TFI's Mark Inglis anchors this session to explore how and why this innovative competition that attracted national attention delivers significant learnings throughout the supply chain.
Australian Meat Processing Corporation (AMPC) CEO Chris Taylor announces Mooralla Merino as the winner of Australia's top performing lamb producer at LambEx 2024.
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@LambEx_au ~ September 5, 2024
The LambEx AMPC Feedlot Carcase Competition sparked significant industry interest with intentions to benchmark what makes a profitable lamb.
Merino breeders Ricky & Marni Luhrs from Yama Trust - Mooralla Merinos took out the overall title as Australia's top performing lamb producer as groups of 50 vendor bred woolly lambs were placed under the same conditions and rations for 60 days before being MSA assessed and graded.
Read full social media post here.
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The Weekly Times ~ August 30, 2024
Knockout punch for Merinos in national prime lamb competition - how one breeder scored the best
Merinos could rival crossbred lambs for quality and returns if the results from one breeder can be repeated. See how their Merino breeding strategy took on the prime lamb industry and won.
Quality is the aim and measurement is the means for one Western District Merino enterprise which is unashamedly different to most operations.
Read full article here.
Sheep Central ~ August 9, 2024
LambEx feedlot competition winners call out Merino discounts
VICTORIAN sheep producers Ricky and Marni Luhrs yesterday felt validated at LambEx 2024 for more ten years of breeding modern dual purpose Poll Merinos for meat, wool and welfare.
The Luhr’s Mooralla Poll Merino/Yama Trust entry yesterday won the the first AMPC LambEx Feedlot Carcase Competition overall top performing lamb producer category at LambEx among 1500 lambs from 16 breeds and 30 breeders from South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
The competition is believed to be the largest Meats Standards Australia cuts-based comparison of commercial lambs ever held.
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LambEx ~ August 8, 2024
Australia’s top performing lamb producer crowned at LambEx 2024
Ricky Luhrs, from Yama Trust - Mooralla Merinos, Victoria has taken out the illustrious title after a comprehensive process that started with delivery of lambs to Thornby Feedlot, South Australia on 1 December 2023.
Ricky, along with his wife Marni and their family, run 5,000 Merino ewes, with 60 per cent annually joined to Merino for their replacement & seedstock flock and 40 per cent to a terminal sire at their ‘Yama’ farm on 1000 hectares at Mooralla in Victoria. He values the Merino breed for their versatility, resilience and the families passion growing wool.
‘Ricky is a great example of a Merino breeder, who has a focus on breeding a flock using a balance of traits that ensure he achieves his desired wool clip, on an animal that has the carcase credentials to take the industry forward,’ said LambEx Chair Jason Schulz.
Read full article here
@lambex_au Winner's post here
Mornings at Moorallla Merino ~ August 4 & 5, 2024
THE 100 TO ONE: explaining the hundreds of data points and measurements to find the top 1% Rams.
HOW DID WE GO?: Reviewing lamb marking results on the back of a very late break. What worked?
Field Day: Owner Presentation; NextGen Agri Guest Speakers; Q&A; Animals on Display; and Breakfast.
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Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Genetics
Meet the Producers: Ricky and Russell Luhrs
Victorian sheep and wool producer Ricky Luhrs has come a long way in eight years. From the new kid on the block in the family business to progressive producer embracing genetic technologies and best practice, Ricky’s inquiring mind has driven gains in flock performance and profit.
Early on Ricky, who runs the property with help from his father, Russell, focused on how to cope with challenging seasons, particularly poor springs and late breaks, and how to improve lamb weaning percentages.
Read full case study here.
Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders ~ December 5, 2019
Merino Success Story – Ricky Luhrs
CASE STUDY: VICTORIA
THE ‘modern Merino’ is far from just a buzzword for Mooralla producer Ricky Luhrs, it’s the key to a profitable business.
Overhauling their Merino genetics to focus on breeding the right balance of fat, muscle and carcase is just one of many aims for the Luhr family.
Ricky, Marni and their three children, Ivy, Max, Nellie, farm at “Yama”, which spans 1000 hectares at Mooralla, Victoria.
The main focus of the operation is sheep, which involves 5000 Merino ewes run in a 60 per cent Merino-Merino flock and 40pc Merino-terminal sire flock. They also crop 150ha for fodder.
Confinement feeding is part of the annual routine at Yama, with ewes penned for an average minimum of four months annually until the season breaks. Although more labour intensive, Ricky said the method yielded results, reduced feed requirements by 15-20pc and eased the pressure on paddocks.
Read full case study here