Shearing was completed last week. The operation went well, with no significant holdups due to wet weather, and all NEMSE sheep were fleece weighed.
The season has started out dry, but forecasts are for a close to normal rainfall, so fingers are crossed that this eventuates.
Next on the program is marking of all the lambs which will happen over the next few weeks.
Introduction
Welcome to Armidale Rural Properties blog. Here we will try to keep people up to date with what’s happening on the Armidale Group of Rural Properties.
This group of properties, managed as a single unit, comprises land surrounding the campus, as well as a property just west of the campus.
Laureldale Research Station consists of three parcels of land totalling 172 hectares. The largest parcel was given to the University in 1948 by the late PA Wright. A poultry unit is located on this block, the balance of which is used for forage production or grazing purposes. In addition, there are areas set aside purely for agronomic research purposes:
Kirby Research Station (746 ha - 1840 ac) is the second property in close proximity to the University. It was acquired in 1968 through a bequest from the estate of the late GH Kirby, a farmer and grazier from Moree. It is entirely used for teaching and research purposes including large animal research projects such as a site for the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus Flock, and the New England Merino Sire Evaluation Scheme. Research resources include a self-replacing fine wool Merino flock, a prime lamb breeding flock and a herd of Brangus cows joined to Brangus bulls.
Newholme totals 1945 ha in area and was purchased by the University in 1972, chiefly as a Natural Resources Field Laboratory. Most of the property is managed in an agriculturally un-manipulated manner other than grazing, to maintain research and teaching options as well as land and water uses representative of the surrounding region.
Contact Information:
Manager: Paul Arnott
Phone: 02 6772 9860
Fax: 02 6772 0988
Mobile: 0407 45 00 93
