Studbreeders under 30 to Watch: Emi Hughes

Twenty one years later she is taking the reins of the Bernalta Texel and Poll Dorset stud.

The stud, which Brian started more than 25 years ago, is now being classed by Emi.

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With two breeds under the one stud, Emi said there were differences in each breed that stood out for her.

"I've found a real passion for both Texels and Poll Dorsets," Emi said.

"I really appreciate the Texel's ability to bounce back from rough conditions and they have excellent mothering ability as well as an excellent ability to build extra growth into the hindquarter.

"Poll Dorsets are a quiet breed, they have the extra length in their body and they have good lambing weights.

"Both breeds have their advantages and I appreciate them both."

Within her grandfather's stud, Emi has her own flock which consists of 30 breeding ewes, 10 Poll Dorsets and 20 Texels, with genetics she's purchased herself from external studs.

"I started buying my own genetics when I was 19 and I was actually able to choose the sheep on my own," she said.

"I had input from the studbreeders themselves, but I had the confidence to look for what I was after and make the decisions myself which I'm proud of."

Emi said she would not have had the confidence to make such important decisions for her stud if it wasn't for her mentorship from her grandfather in addition to knowledge she had learned through junior judging at the Royal Adelaide Show and at the SA Sheep Expo.

"I've been going to Sheep Expo since 2016 and before then I didn't have a lot of knowledge at all," she said.

"I knew what we were doing back home but I didn't know anything about the wider world, so that really opened my eyes.

"Most of the people at Sheep Expo around my age are breeding their own sheep as well, so it's been great to learn alongside them and share knowledge among the younger generation."

Although she confessed she hadn't spent a large amount of money on improving her flock yet, Emi said she had big plans this year.

"I'm hoping to pick up a Texel ram for a bit of money," she said.

"It's hard to save enough to get what you'd like when you're young, but that's a focus of mine so I can improve my flock and hopefully start to see a bigger difference."

Looking ahead, Emi said she was hopeful she could further improve on growth and depth of body for the Poll Dorsets while focusing on consistency and muscling in her Texel flock.