On the 500 hectares purchased by his father in 1947, Boorowa landholder, Steve Jarvis, “Heathfield”, Boorowa continues to question the perceived management of his Merino sheep and property despite running a very successful operation.
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“I am doing things now which I wasn’t doing five years ago,” Mr Jarvis admits.
Mr Jarvis said one of the most noticeable improvements in his operation through the available research is a lift in the outlook of his Merino sheep enterprise.
“I think the big thing for us is it has given me confidence to try methods which aren’t traditional,” he said.
“I’m not afraid to put a ram with 100 ewes: so within our ram team I like to measure them and make sure we use the best one.”
Mr Jarvis said he is measuring his sires for fleece weight, micron and yield, and recognises his ram team, in common with all sheep producers has a top and bottom.
Along with his attention to sheep genetics and management, Mr Jarvis also credits the establishment of tree plantations as significant in lifting his flock productivity.
“I like to go with nature as much as possible,” he said.
“With our low-cost system, we haven’t got the high outputs of many, but then we don’t have the high costs.”
Mr Jarvis makes use of his native pastures, believing them to be as nutritious as any introduced species.
“We have introduced pastures, but native species like Microlaena are underrated,” he said.
“Like everything it needs to be managed, but when it rains you’ve got green feed.”
For much of the past 20 years Mr Jarvis has been instrumental in leading conservation efforts in the Boorowa district from when he joined the local Landcare group at the age of 18.
Regenerating trees has also made an incremental difference to the welfare of his stock.
“I was 18 when I took over the running of the farm, and it was a cold and windswept place with hardly any shelter for the sheep especially new-born lambs,” he said.
“I attended a local field day and noted how warm it was behind a shelter belt so I came home determined to plant trees, and make it as comfortable as I can for the sheep.”
Mr Jarvis said he is in the business of raising Merino sheep and he has to look after his stock if he is to be successful: and the provision of shelter is crucial.