Young sheep breeder set for animal nutrition career after drought experience

Dry conditions in Victoria are inspiring a young English Leicester breeder to pursue a career in animal nutrition.

Poppy Mamers, 15, was awarded the Heazlewood Encouragement Award during the English Leicester judging at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show.

Her first time showing animals from their Gracie's Lane stud at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, Ms Mamers said she had a good time at the show.

"We got two second places, which I'm pretty happy about," she said.

She said she became involved in the breed after the family moved to a larger block of land.

Originally thinking of breeding Valais Blacknose, she said they then decided to go with English Leicesters and had fallen in love with them since.

"They're sweet," she said.

"I'm mostly looking at wool at the moment and also a big straight back."

In year 10 at school, Ms Mamers said she wanted to pursue a degree in agricultural science and go into animal nutrition.

"I want to know how to get more meat off my sheep and during dry seasons know how to grow my own food on my property," she said.

She said it had been a challenging year for them.

"We are hard feeding at the moment, so they get basically a bale of hay each night, and there's a lucerne shortage where we are, so it's expensive to even get lucerne," she said.

"We are also feeding lupins."

Running 20 breeding ewes, the Mamers also have a bed and breakfast with visitors enjoying interacting with the heritage breed.