American Australian White Breeding Program
In 2023, a new chapter began for the Edge family with the birth of their first Fullblood Australian White sheep, marking an important milestone for both the operation and the breed’s expansion in the United States. These lambs were produced from frozen embryos imported directly from Tattykeel Farms in Australia, the pioneers and developers of the Australian White breed.
One of these standout rams, Boomerang, represents early foundation genetics for the breed in the U.S. and reflects a long-term commitment to sourcing elite international bloodlines directly from the breed’s origin.
Doug Edge served a one-year term as President of the American Australian White Sheep Breeders Association, helping guide the breed during its early organizational phase. Building on that experience, Doug played a key role in launching Certified Australian White Genetics (CAWG)—an open, community-driven platform designed to support breeder education, encourage collaboration, and provide transparent access to imported Australian White genetics from Tattykeel Farms.
In 2025, the Edge family began branding their Australian White program under their original farm name, Hilltop Farms, further aligning the genetics program with a focus on premium lamb production. As part of this initiative, Hilltop Farms began supplying locally raised Australian White lamb to The Market in Pendleton, Indiana, marking the first step toward a branded Australian White lamb program built around eating quality, consistency, and consumer trust. At Hilltop Farms, the Australian White program is focused on responsible breed development through:
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- Continued access to elite imported genetics from Australia
- Advanced reproductive technologies, including IVF and embryo transfer, in partnership with Reproduction Specialty Group (RSG)
- Strategic flock expansion programs that maintain genetic integrity and quality
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Australian White sheep are known for their exceptional eating quality, strong maternal traits, low maintenance requirements, and fully shedding coat. With superior carcass characteristics and commercial efficiency, the breed is often referred to as the “Wagyu of the lamb industry.”
While the Edge family remains committed to producing high-value show stock, they believe the long-term growth and sustainability of the lamb industry will be driven by premium genetics and branded protein programs like the Australian White.
To learn more about the breed, access educational resources, and explore opportunities to acquire imported genetics, visit www.cawg.us.
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