Our History, and the development of the White Suffolk

'The Willows' has been in the Harpley family since 1854 and was originally a dairy. Our forbears took camp on the creek while travelling to the Lambing Flat Gold Fields and decided to stay. Today it is farmed by the fifth generation, with the sixth generation just around the corner. Historically, the farm ran a flock of Corriedale ewes joined to Poll Dorset rams. Kel Harpley, the fourth generation to run the farm, was convinced by a friend to give Black Faced Suffolks a try. He joined half his flock to Suffolk rams and half to his usual Dorsets. Because of the black heads the lambs were easily identified and compared to their Dorset counterparts and he was impressed with what he experienced - loading the first truck of suckers there was black face after black face! More lambs, faster growth, and less lambing issues.

The black heads presented a problem however - there was a bias toward white faced lambs at the saleyards, not for any real reason to do with lamb quality (carcase competitions were being smashed by Black Faced Suffolks) - it was simply an excuse for the buyers as it provided a point of difference.

This is where the current White Suffolk Stud has its origins and it is tied in closely with the development of the breed itself. Kel became an integral part of the development of this fledgling breed of sheep and was a member of 'Prime Lamb Genetics Limited' - The trust that bred the original nucleus flock of White Suffolks and continued on the work of refining and cementing the breed within the Australian Prime Lamb Industry. 

The attributes of the breed are:

1. Clean points

2. Mid micron wool

3. Fast growing

4. High muscle

5. Lean

6. Ease of Lambing

7. Mobility

These traits were kept but the black face was bred out.

We were early adopters of Lambplan as we realized if we were to progress we need to use objective information to focus on performance and not just focus on phenotype issues such as appearance or white points.

The White Suffolks were the first breed to have the audacity to select the best genes from the best breeds and combine into one in the early 80’s - Hallelujah! This is why White Suffolks and Maternal Composites are the leading performance genetics. Unfortunately the industry loves to talk breeds, and breed societies continue to muddy the water by confusing a breed with a brand. Cynically you need to ask why?

The advantage of this liberating breeding program is that it increases performance = increased profits!

Today the stud is still based on those original White Suffolk genetics and most of our ewes can trace their pedigree back to those original sheep. We have stayed true to the original purpose of PLG Limited and have stayed focused on producing sheep that meet market demand, both genetically and phenotypically, and not on breed purity or subjective judgements. 

Following is a transcript of a document that describes the early origins of the White Suffolk breed and 'Prime Lamb Genetics Limited'.

Brief History Of Prime Lamb Genetics Limited

In 1976, Professor Euan Roberts of the University of New South Wales established a research project funded by a grant from the Australian Meat Research Committee, now the Australian Meat and Livestock Research and Development Corporation.

The aim of this research was to develop a sheep breed embracing the desirable genes of the Suffolk breed but with black wool fibres removed. To this end, following an intense selection and breeding program using genes from both the Suffolk and Poll Dorset breeds, the UNSW produced a nucleus flock of some 500 "White" Suffolk ewes which it managed at its Hay field station.

In 1986, when it was considered that the research was complete, the nucleus flock was offered to the industry, and to this end Prime Lamb Genetics Limited was formed with 40 Trust members located in five states. PLG Limited bought the flock from the UNSW, and it continued to be managed at Hay until the flock was reduced to some 360 ewes and moved to Charles Sturt University in early 1989 where the trust retains CSU as a flock manager and breeding advisor.

Five main selection objectives are defined:
* Ease of lambing
* Bare heads and legs
* Carcase Leanness
* Growth Rate
* Fertility and serving capacity of sires

These primary objectives are not in any order of priority, but major emphasis is being placed on growth rate and carcase leanness.

Each year, hogget rams and ewes are weighed and back fat depths measured using the Lambplan method with the NSW Department of Agriculture's Meat Sheep Testing Service. The fastest growing, leanest rams are used as sires in the nucleus flock, and further rams of this type are distributed to members. The fastest growing, leanest ewe lambs from member’s flocks are returned for classing into the nucleus flock.

It is the philosophy of Prime Lamb Genetics Limited to utilize the latest techniques and information as it becomes available in an attempt to satisfy consumer demands for lean sheep meats. Alternative breeds showing desirable characteristics will be assessed for inclusion into the PLG White Suffolk gene pool as they become available. Breeds either developed in Australia or imported into Australia will be used and assessed subject to consideration of our breeding and genetic advisors.