Wiltshire Horn sheep sales from the Pickwick Stud

We provide LambPlan indexes, and breeding values for birth weight, growth, muscle, fat, maternal performance, shedding, fertility, parasite loads and any others available that are required, together with pedigree information. Whether you are looking for rams to produce first cross ewes, or terminal sires, or rams to improve your stud performance, or ewes to add to your ewe flock, Pickwick can help find just the right sheep to match your needs. All sheep available at a particular time that fit the specifications you are looking for have their information set out in a table for easy comparison. We will discuss the differences between individuals in terms of performance and structure, and the implications of those differences in relation to your requirements. Prices are based on the performance figures.

Go to 'Ram Chooser' to help with your decision making.

Stud Sheep

Stud rams are usually priced between $600-$1200, stud ewes from $600-$1000, depending on LambPlan figures in both cases, and occasionally higher for exceptional animals.

Two year old ewes (ie breeding age) can be joined from March onwards (Wiltshires are seasonal breeders).

They will breed for many years (perhaps for 8 or 9 seasons), and should mainly produce twins. Top ewes and rams are available for sale singly, or in groups at a range of prices.

Pregnant ewes joined to top Pickwick rams are sometimes available in mid year, but only if ordered before joining - please enquire about ordering, pricing and availability if you are interested in this option.

If you would prefer very young ewes from the most recent drop they will be available from about March onward (that is from about 6 months old) each year. They will generally not be ready for joining until the following year and should not be run with the ram until after September.

STOP PRESS - If you are thinking seriously about a Foundation Flock from Pickwick, or individual stud sheep, you should place your order soon to ensure that you can obtain sheep for the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons. Numbers available are low.

A good Foundation Flock for a small stud would be a ram and 2 or 3 ewes, but you may order any combination you prefer. Pickwick will ensure that the ram and ewes are from a range of different breeding lines, and different LambPlan qualities, to give you a good start, but you will need a second ram in two years time to join to the daughters of the first ram. Depending on the composition, a Foundation Flock of a ram and 2 ewes is currently priced from about $1600 upwards.

All animals purchased will be registered stud animals with the ASSBA, they will be drenched and vaccinated, and you will be advised on future requirements. You will also receive LambPlan performance data, extended genealogies, any information you require about the animals themselves or advice on husbandry or other aspects of sheep breeding. After purchasing Pickwick sheep you can phone us at any time for help with aspects of husbandry or behaviour or genetics. The high level and quality of information both before and long after purchase is another Pickwick advantage. People without experience in sheep husbandry can be reassured of support.

Flock Rams

You may not wish to run pure bred Wiltshires, but Wiltshire rams form an excellent prime lamb sire either as a first or second cross. Some people develop a commercial operation by crossing back to Wiltshire rams over several generations to produce an easy care ewe flock and generating excellent prime lambs in the process.

Pickwick rams are long bodied and usually very low in fat. Their steady growth means they can be used for turning off lambs at older ages and larger carcases without putting on fat. Using EBVs, rams can be tailored to meet most requirements. Rams having various combinations of growth, muscle, fat and birth weight genes, and different structure, are usually available. Pickwick sheep have genetics particularly suited to export or elite lamb operations.

Wiltshire Horn flock rams are usually available from the Pickwick Stud and are suitable for a range of different cross-breeding enterprises with other sheep breeds. They generally range in price from $400 - $700 depending on LambPlan measurements, quality and age. Animals will be drenched and you will be advised on vaccination requirements and given information about their LambPlan performance. They are not registered, and cannot be used for stud breeding or showing.

 Free delivery for both stud and commercial animals is available within 100km radius of Canberra or so. Much beyond that and you may need a commercial carrier, although in most cases we can come to an arrangement to deliver the animals.

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