Pastora Merino Stud

Overview

Pastora Poll Merino Stud was founded by Peter Westblade in 1986.
Our vision is to breed uncomplicated, fertile and highly profitable merinos.
Independent trials show Pastora blood sheep combine high growth rates with excellent fleece values.

Pastora is managed as a commercial entity, thus keeping conditions the same to those encountered by our clients. This strategy is to simulate the nutritional conditions the sheep are most likely to face on our clients farms.

Currently Pastora consists of:

3,500 stud ewes are joined annually
750 rams available for sale annually from September
140 commercial and stud clients

Type

Large frames uncomplicated plain bodies.
Highly fertile – clients reporting lamb percentages ranging from 90 to 130%.
Fine Wool – hoggets 15.5 to 17 micron. Adult sheep – 16.5 to 18.5 micron.
Fleece weights on adult sheep range from 6.5 to 9.0 kilos.

Ram Selection

All rams are measured for fleece weight, fibre diameter and bodyweight at 12 months of age. Rams are then visually classed using the objective measurement as a guide. Less than 1% is retained for use in the stud. 40% are available for private sale

Ewe Selection

Ewe hoggets are classed using the same criteria as the rams. The outstanding fertility of the flock allows a culling rate of 50%. Each ewe is classed annually for her breeding life and must rear one lamb annually to remain viable.

Objectives

We believe for the future prosperity of Pastora clients depends upon the continual improvement of the wool quality to meet and exceed processors expectations. This will allow Pastora wool to satisfy the top-end high quality garment market. Therefore, micron reduction and wool quality are of paramount importance. It is also important that fleece weights and body weights continue to increase to maximise returns for our clients. This is supported by independent wether trial data which demonstrates that our sheep are already amongst the most profitable animals in the country.

We are extremely proud of the dynamic performance of Pastora merinos’. These attributes are thoroughly measured, analysed and proven with independent data.