Armdale and Armdale Park have been producing Dorsets now for over seventy years and are one of the country’s largest seedstock producers of Poll Dorset genetics marketing over 400 rams annually.
The stud’s ability to make rapid changes to market trends has seen it continue to be one of the preferred suppliers to all leading meat processors and lot feeders. A good example of this being the demand for lamb with more shape in the muscle, particularly through the rack, loin and hindquarter where the most profitable cuts are achieved. This is made possible by Stockscans accurate scanning process providing the only accurate assessment of eye muscle area available today. This is a real figure and not an EBV, thus allowing producers to target specific markets for optimum premiums.
Visual appraisal, combined with muscle scanning has seen the depth of quality further developed through the entire draft with this year’s sale rams the most even in recent years.
Armadale- Armdale Park rams are bred to produce lambs that will satisfy all market types and specifications. Strict emphasis is placed on mobility and correctness whilst maintaining functionality and fertility – thus ensuring the prime lamb producers of an animal that markets itself.
History: Five generations & still moving forward…
The Armstrong family now celebrates over seventy years of stud breeding. Armdale Dorset stud was founded in 1938, by the late JW Armstrong, who recognized the need to produce a quality terminal sire for the district’s lamb producers. John’s sons Alby and Peter supported and continued their fathers vision.
In 1957 the entire Dorset Horn stud was transferred to the Poll Dorset stud registered as flock 110, and Noel the third generation stud master joined the family partnership to work alongside his father Alby.
In 1960 Noel and his wife Shirley took over the reins at Armdale. This also marked the commencement of the Armstrong families haskeen involvement and long running success in the show ring. Their son Garry established his own stud in 1981 under the prefix Armdale Park with the purchase of the Austeco stud from the Dury family to increase his flock’s numbers.
Over the years the family team has continued to build on the reputation of the studs’, setting many benchmarks for both stud and commercial producers, growing to become the leading studs they are today.
Since the early 80’s the Armstrong family have won Supreme Interbreed classes at every major show in Australia, including Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney Royals.
Both Armdale and Armdale Park stud’s are run under similar bloodlines, with both studs sharing the use of stud sires either purchased or bred by either stud.
Today the Armdale & Armdale Park Studs are run by Garry and Shirley Armstrong. Garry’s son, Sam, the fifth generation of the Armstrong family, is already showing a keen interest in the industry taking out several junior handler and junior judging competitions. Sam has participated as an associate judge at the Canberra Royal, and is involving himself in all aspects of the studs’ operation.
