Generational farmer Jim West, born and bred just east of Wagin, has established a strong and diversified farm business in sheep, with his son Sam, marking the fourth generation of farming. The West family has lived in Wagin since 1901 and operates on 2660 hectares of arable land, 1800ha of which is used for cropping and the remainder for sheep. Each year the program rotates through wheat, barley, canola, lupins and vetch.
About 35 years ago, Jim West changed the direction of the sheep side of the business and has been focusing on breeding a true dual purpose sheep, a Dohnbouillet, a cross between the Merino and Rambouillet breeds, ever since. Mr West said he discovered the Rambouillet breed while on an exchange tour in the United States, admired the eye muscle traits, and brought these genetics back to Western Australia. "We needed to breed a dual purpose Merino because not everyone needs a woolly jumper, but everyone has to eat," Mr West said.
"At the time it was very revolutionary but nowadays it's not." While the Federal government recently announced it would end live sheep exports by sea by May 1, 2028, Sam said he wasn't making any rash decisions about their sheep program just yet - however, over the past 12 months, they have sold more ewes, and wether lambs than they usually would, sending 500 wether lambs off to South Australia. "We've sold two age groups of ewes, but that's partly market driven, partly seasonal driven," Sam said.
"It's difficult with a sheep enterpris.
