Matthew Tonissen Sheep Classing Services

Services offered

• Assistance in setting breeding objectives and defining breeding policy.
• Assistance in ram selection.
• General Flock and Stud ewe classing.
• Pedigree Recording of Stud Sheep where applicable.
• General sheep management consultancy.
   

Attributes

• Grew up in the era of objective measurement and possess good knowledge of the requirements to collect, process and utilize this data including the use of Estimated Breeding values.
• The ability to appreciate different breeds of sheep across a broad range of environments.
• 20 years experience involving Merino, Poll Dorset, Coopworth and Perendale studs and commercial operations and at 38 years of age offer a modern and enthusiastic approach to sheep breeding.

History

Like many other aspiring young farmers I grew up helping my father on the family farm “ARTUNGA” just south of Hamilton in western Victoria. The sheep have traditionally been a fine/medium Merino flock consisting of both a commercial operation as well as a Merino Stud.

World renowned sheep classer and Pastoral Consultant Sandy MacKirdy  classed the Artunga flock for 30 odd years and from a very young age I spent many days at the classing race with Sandy gaining valuable experience on the various facets of breeding both stud and commercial sheep. I have been very privileged to have worked with Sandy over these years who has over 50 years experience classing over most parts of Australia, New Zealand and South America. Sandy has now decided to semi-retire from his classing business and with his encouragement and endorsement, I have been progressively taking over the majority of his work over the last couple of years including work in Tasmania and New Zealand.

I am also running a successful Poll Dorset stud and a rapidly expanding Coopworth & Maternal Composite & Perendale Stud as well as a commercial flock of approximately 2,500 maternal composite ewes for prime lamb production.