STUD PROFILE

The name GIENNA is derived from the Brookmount wool clip brand "G in a Circle" (Gienna Circle).

Breeding Objectives

• To produce bright lustrous ultra fine wool that is heavy cutting, soft handling with deep crimping 70-74s style fibre bundles having excellent staple length and strength.
• To produce a plain bodied, robustly framed superfine merino requiring no mulesing with an excellent constitution and high fertility.
• To produce a sheep that requires none or minimal application of any internal or external chemical to combat parasite infestations.

Genetic History

Brookmount was established in 1917 by John Gill when Emu Creek lands and stock were divided within a family arrangement. Sheep from the Emu Creek stud (founded in 1868) formed the basis of the Brookmount flock, with breeding on Merryville (F No 56) and Havilah (F No 578) bloodlines.

Foundation

The Brookmount based GIENNA superfine merino stud was founded in 1984 when 70 selected ewes from the Brookmount flock were joined to a ram purchased from the Grathlyn stud (F No 1885). Rams from Grathlyn were again purchased in 1985 and 1986, from Winton stud (F No 0001) in 1988 and 1989, Glanna stud (F No 4003) in 1992.

Breeding System

In 1994 the SRS¨  breeding system was introduced and an AI program was commenced using semen from Lorelmo stud (Poll F No 430) and Stockton stud (F No 3564). Both Lorelmo and Stockton bloodlines have been maintained within the stud. We have also sourced outside genetics from impact sires that have desirable characteristics that meet our stud's objectives. We have increased body and fleece weight and fertility, creating bigger framed animals while still maintaining a super soft, deep crimping fibre suited to the Italian market.

Classing

All animals are classed annually. Rams are classed by Dr Jim Watts in October and ewes are classed in February.

Animals are body weighed, and classed using the 4 F's. They are assessed visually on conformation, with high focus on feet, clean faces (void of muffle and pigmentation), and skin type. Length and style of wool/fleece is also visually assessed while all previous records of wool production and progeny performance are displayed and declared. EBVs are used to correctly identify animals based on their genetic merit. Animals are selected for corrective joining according to whether they are classified as a 'frame' or 'wool' sheep.

Joining

The GIENNA breeding base currently consists of 250 stud ewes. Ewes are selectively joined to individual sires using corrective mating techniques in order to enhance genetic gain and produce animals to be superior dams and sires.

To speed up the advancement of genetics throughout our commercial flock, specially selected ewes are also joined to top GIENNA stud sires through both AI and single sire joinings.

Top ram lambs are selected on visual and tactile assessment of traits and used in syndicate joinings for this same purpose.

Record Keeping

Detailed record keeping of all sires, dams and progeny are maintained from birth until they leave the stud. This is done through the use of computer software, and has allowed us  to maintain detailed performance records of all animals within the stud.

Records are kept for all weighing, classing, joining, scanning, lambing, marking, side sampling, shearing and fleece weighing. These are collated at classing time within the database in order to make informed classing decisions.

Scanning

Stud ewes are scanned for pregnancy status, with multiple births managed separately with supplement feeding available when conditions necessitate. Scanning is also used as a tool to increase the flock fertility by identifying dry/barren ewes.

Lambing

Accurate tracing of sires and dams for pedigree information is also important so ewes are lambed in individual sire group paddocks.  Stud lambs are tagged and weighed (with any necessary comments noted) at birth allowing the trace back of performance of both dam and sire. Breeding a plainer bodied animal has enabled us to cease mulesing as from 2007.

Performance

GIENNA sheep have an inherently strong constitution to enable them to perform and survive in tough conditions.  Our involvement with MERINOSELECT has shown that GIENNA is genetically one of the finer studs in Australia, with excellent CV of FD (related to wool quality), with fleece weights and body weights continually improving. Consistent testing for worm egg count (WEC) is also showing that GIENNA has a high number of sheep with increased worm resistance. Our property Brookmount is also one of the few properties in the New England that does not have a resistance to Seponver or Ivomec drenches.