There’s a lot to be said for clean, green technology…
even if it is four-legged.

Our miniature sheep – acquired in November 2009 and featured in our last newsletter – have now settled in nicely. These six woolly workers spent spring and summer on weed patrol in one of our best chardonnay blocks. And in spite of the high soil moisture driving plant growth, our three Babydoll Southdowns and three Babydoll Southdown-Merino cross-breeds still managed to keep on top of their workload.

Barely 60cm at the shoulder when fully grown, our Southdowns certainly look happy enough. They have characteristic upturned lips that seem to give them a permanent smile!

All the miniatures are now large enough to have big appetites for anything green. It’s just as well they’re not tall enough to be able to reach into vine canopies to take fruit or leaves. They made short work of spring’s de-suckering program!

Steve says all we need is a few hundred more!
Our sheep were bred in New South Wales by Cootamundra’s Rob and Linda Power.

The couple say the animals are direct descendants of the original ‘Olde English’ Southdown sheep.

The greening of Australia’s agriculture has seen the Powers’ business grow from strength to strength. Its biggest customer is across the Tasman. Marlborough’s 1000ha Yealands Estate also began buying Roblin Babydolls in 2009.

Our 5 girls and their solitary ram make great kids’ pets.
We intend to hang on to them to build up numbers. Acquiring additional stock from the Powers is planned but their current demand will see us wait until at least 2012.

Weed waste

Imagine how well our farmers would be doing if they could add $14,000 to their bottom line each year. That’s how much your average farm, orchard or vineyard spends annually managing weeds, pests, land and soil in Tasmania. (ABS figures, 2006-2007.) There’s got to be better ways of using all that money.