HUGE BENEFITS IN TOP-END GENETICS

By TOM PENNA, Elders stud stock

HEN commercial sheep breeders We are confi dent that the SA stud Merino top-end making $300-$366 and 30,000 ewe prioritise ram buying and then back breeders are on-track to do this – that the lambs topping at $230-$310. Wit up when the bidding starts, that quality of the ram being offered at lot 3 at sales Rob Heysman, Elders Port Augusta, says investment generally transcends positively onto will soon be the quality of ram at lot 100 or the investment from his pastoral clients has the rest of their sheep enterprise. 150. There is the passion and drive within ram been “explosive”, with the better wool and Merino and Poll Merino ram prices are buoyant, breeders to do that. Technology combined with sheep returns enabling producers to buy up on no doubt, but with the high returns for meat and hands-on enthusiasm and life-learnt skills will water products, tanks and fencing and animal wool the ram investment is the catalyst for doing make it happen. health products. the ‘job’ well overall. Spend good dollars on rams And top-end returns is what commercial The increased bidding from pastoralists in and more care, thought and effort in breeding and growers can aspire to. Phil Nagel, Elders Murray the past decade has underpinned ram sales as managing ‘top-end’ sheep generally follows. Bridge, reports top-end 1.5-year-old ewes at people in the bush realise that they can breed At a guess I would bet that self-replacing the September Murray Bridge off-shears sales top-end sheep by ‘having a crack’ at the higher

Merino fl ocks are the most profi table item on the ranged from $220 to $260 and 5.5-year-old ranked auction rams. ELDERS SA STUD MERINO EXPO SA rural horizon at present. But, there is a need breeding ewes made $140-$158. We have all seen tough times and who knows to continually push the boundaries to push the Tom Dennis, Elders Naracoorte, quoted the what is around the corner – but being involved quality further down the line and produce more massive Border Leicester–Merino sales where with the Merino breed is a great place to be now top-end sheep. 23,000 1.5-year-old ewes sold with the and in the foreseeable future.

QUALITY FOCUS: Elders stud stock’s Tom Penna with Roger and Gail Duell, Bowhill, and their son Kyle, who combines working at home with off-farm shearing. The Duells place a strong emphasis on buying top rams for their 1000 Merino breeders. They bid up to $5000 at the Radnor ram sale last year, and also buy rams at Kamora Netley Park. They were rewarded at the Murray Bridge off-shears sale where their 1.5-year-old ewes topped the sale at $260 and 5.5-year-old ewes sold to $152.

Merino Annual 2018 23 ELDERS SA STUD MERINO EXPO

M a B d unjibbie Rd ale R Appil Clogg Rd BOO Neath V Adams Rd JAMESTOWN Moore Rd WHAT, Wonna Rd

Collins Rd Whyte Yarcowie Powerline RD Neindorf Rd WHERE, Gladstone BlessingBondowie Rd Rd Teetuppennie Rd BARRIER WHEN

Mitchell Rd Gumdale Rd Hollywood Rd What: Elders SA Stud Merino Expo Scrub Rd Where: On-property Millard Rd

Banbu Abbeville Rd Abbeville When: Monday, March 19 Campbell Range Rd 2 ry Rd

orth Rd Georgetown Rd Time: From 9.30am 1 HWY

9 Participating studs: Narridy Hoddlesw Yellowie Rd

Bluff Rd Hallett Pipeline Rd Collinsville Narridy 6 1 Ashby Rd Boultons Hill Rd Willald Rd Cattle Statio 2 East Bungaree Smart Rd Belalie East Rd 4 Rd Mundunne Glenowie y 7 n 3 d Hill Rd Rd Gulnare East Rd y R r Tiver Rd 4 Greenfi elds Cemet Razorback Rd ryan 5 Gum Hill Mallee Grove Rd Hermitage Rd Spalding Mt B d Munduney Rd Petherton Rd 6 Moorundie Park Shattock Rd Greenwich Hill Rd Somme Brae Rd W 7 North Ashrose Watts Range Rd Euromina Rd Ghost Gully Rd Penhurst Rd 8 Nyowee Mount Bryan 5 9 Old Ashrose Koolunga Soldiers Rd Booborowie

Whitehall Rd 10 Pindari Boundary Rd Boundary EXPO DAY ONE – ON-PROPERTY DISPLAYS ONE – ON-PROPERTY EXPO DAY 11 Springvale North

Hutt River Rd Pipeline Rd Belcunda Rd

Sandohaur Rd

Buckland Hills Rd Copperhouse Rd ah Rd

K andill W Camels Hump Rd Monovae Rd Brinkworth Harvey Hwy Sturt Pea Rd Goodridge Rd COLLINSVILLE

Miller Rd BURRA Cornwell Rd Braefoot Rd Katali Lane Old Adelaide Rd Rd Kangaroo Flat Rd d Murrumbeena Lane Hill Rd Yackandandah R ROAD 137 Andrews Websters Rd Bates Hill Rd

Churches R d

Lookout Springbank Rd

Hart Church Rd 3

R Trees Rd Wirreanda Rd d Four George Millington Tim Dalla Benbourne Rd Olga Vale Rd

Keane Rd The Collinsville tradition began in Poysden Rd CLARE Farrell Flat 1889 with the purchase of 20,000 Atkinson Rd hectares by John Collins. The Koonoona registration of the stud in 1895

Sevenhill COPPER ORE RD Burra launched a genetic strain that Black would eventually become one of the

White Well Rd Penwortham Mintaro most dominant in the world. The Belt Rd stud is selling genetics throughout Australia and also to Argentina, Watervale J South Africa and China. Collinsville Woodlands R d Jericho Rd Leasingham produces superior genetics with a consistent commitment to Snow Rd Waterloo Manoora en commercial profi tability, directly Gard Watchma Auburn infl uencing a large number of fl ocks Herds Hill Rd across Australia. Our ongoing n Ngapala Rd

Goyder Exchange Rd aim is to breed sheep that are Quandong Rd Rd Coorington Hoyleton Rd large-framed, plain-bodied and Plew8 Rd Golf Course Rd Saddleworth early-maturing while producing true Whitwarta Y heavy-cutting, stylish, medium wool Greenhills Rd fl eeces. Our stud ewes average

BARRIER HW nine kilograms of 20 micron to 21M ans Marrabel Tarnma Rd Grannys Ck Rd Peters Hill Rd wool, with a body weight of 87kg. Balaklava MAIN NORhynie Riverton Uniquely we will continue to breed a Macaw Ck Rd number of sale rams at Collinsville R TH R Smyths Rd Station, east of Hallett. We believe D Days Hill Rd that it is important to maintain the Coori constitution and survivability of the Hamilton Coorington Rd Coorington Rd Gants Hill Rd Collinsville bloodline and this is the reason they adapt so well into Clarke Rd H Australia’s pastoral zones. In 2017, Owen Tarlee Tra Collinsville offered 250 rams via Wild Dog Hill Rd Allendale North Blackhill Rd on-property auction at Cappeedee, Robbins Rd Twin Weichert R Cree Hallett. A diverse range of buyers

d attended, with all 250 rams Johnson Rd Scale: 5km Rd

ains Parker Rd agle Farm Rd sold to spirited bidding with an Kapunda Te el 24 Merino Annual 2018 average of $2054 and a top of $18,000 twice. Three further stud rams ram, grand champion Merino ewe and exhibiting the group of three rams were offered and sold at the Adelaide Ram Sale to Argentina for $34,000, with the highest average score in the Fibre Meat Plus class were some of Mutooroo Pastoral at $24,000 and White River for $26,000. Fourteen rams our results from the show. In 2017, the stud offered and sold seven stud were also offered and sold via silent auction on the Burra Oval at the SA Merino and Poll Merino rams at the Adelaide Ram Sale to a top price of Stud Merino Expo, with the top price Poll sold to Stavely Park for $17,000 $36,000, averaging $23,428. Its annual on-property sale in September, and the Merino to East Mundulla for $17,000. Collinsville will display at the held at the historic Old Bungaree Woolshed for the fi rst time, was another SA Stud Merino Expo on-property at Cappeedee on Monday and at the Burra highlight with 120 rams sold to a top of $10,500, averaging $2911. Another Oval on Tuesday. This display will again culminate with the silent auction of 48 mini-auction rams averaged $1087. Greenfi elds has two lambings a rams on the Burra Oval. Throughout 2018, 1200 top quality and affordable year, enabling quality rams to be available for selection throughout the year. fl ock improving rams will be available. Collinsville will once again offer stud Studmasters Jim, Robert and James Sullivan are committed to breeding sires at the Adelaide Ram Sale and will also have an on-property auction on top quality Merinos and Poll Merinos, constantly striving to produce rams the changed date of Monday, September 17. with superior genetics. They are available to assist clients with classing and provide general advice with ram selection and fl ock management. A highlight Details: collinsville.com.au of this year’s on-property fi eld day will be sons of 3.1 (2015 Royal Adelaide Show supreme exhibit), Rex (2016 South Australian Ram of the Year), Oscar (PM 345) and Kepler (085). The stud’s annual on-property production sale EAST BUNGAREE is on Monday, September 10, where 170 rams and 300 stud ewes will be East Bungaree was founded after the offered. division of the original Bungaree stud. From 1980 to 1986 the Wylie family, Kangaringa, held the stud. In 1986, the GUM HILL Hawker family repurchased the stud and Established in 1885, Gum Hill Poll Merino kept it until late 1995, when the stud stud has experienced and survived many and property were sold to the Litchfi eld family, Hazeldean stud, Cooma, NSW. Tony Brooks Mark Brooks economic and seasonal changes. The In November 2005, East Bungaree was challenges that have come from these bought by Tony and Mark Brooks and will continue to be maintained as a experiences have infl uenced the type of distinct strain of South Australian Merino. The objective is to retain the Merino that the studmasters, across many years, have chosen to pursue. As one of valuable attributes of the East Bungaree Merinos – including size, fertility Glan Lines Justin Lines and the ability to thrive in pastoral country – but at the same time improve the pioneering studs objectively measuring the quality of wool they grow. There are 3000 ewes in the stud, 800 of which since the 1950s, a profi table and productive animal has been developed. are elite ewes artifi cially inseminated to the best sires we can identify. These A balanced approach to measurement resulted in the stud producing DISPLAYS ONE – ON-PROPERTY EXPO DAY sires are a combination of East Bungaree and outside sires of proven ability plain-bodied, fertile, easy-care animals of a strong constitution that continue to maintain wool quality and carcase value. East Bungaree Merinos are to perform for our clients under a range of commercial environments. We bred for producers looking for productive, dual-purpose sheep that deliver in believe that the individual animal’s all-round performance for fl eece weight, a range of environments. At its 2017 on-property sale, held in September, body weight, micron, comfort factor and growth rate are equally as important the stud offered and sold 300 rams to a top of $18,000 and averaged as its pedigree. Results from our clients in sheep and wool sales indicate $2050. East Bungaree’s 2018 annual ram sale will be held on Tuesday, that the Gum Hill sheep have a strong and recognised place in the Merino September 18. industry. Gum Hill is a family-owned and run business, established by the Lines family in 1885, covering properties at Mount Bryan in the Mid North and Keith in the South East. This allows for an increase and diversity in clients’ environmental requirements. Rams are bred at both properties, and GLENOWIE the top 60 per cent of the drop – along with surplus stud sires – are offered The Glenowie Merino stud was founded in 1937 on for private selection from July to October, priced in grades to suit most Collinsville bloodlines. Glenowie is located 18 kilometres budgets. Gum Hill choses to use the private selection process to allow time south-west of Burra. The Glenowie Poll Merino was formed to discuss an individual’s breeding selection for their fl ocks. With a client on a Collinsville and Ashrose blood base. We have a base spread across all parts of Australia, our breeding fl ock can meet most strong emphasis on breeding large-framed, deep and commercial sheep breeders’ objectives required from the modern Merino. plain-bodied, soft-handling, early-maturing, heavy-cutting, multi-purpose rams with an average fi bre diameter of Details: www.linesgumhill.com.au 21 microns. Profi table, hardy sheep that perform for you Angus Stockman is the Glenowie trademark. Glenowie mates 2500 ewes. More than 500 rams are sold annually with a top sale price of $6000 MOORUNDIE PARK in 2017. The stud is accredited brucellosis-free and is MN3 status. All Moorundie Park Poll Merino stud was founded by Eric sheep are run under natural paddock conditions and are suited to all Davidson in 1955. Today, his grandson Tom operates the climatic conditions. The stud sells to all parts of SA, NSW and Qld. Private stud at Gulnare in the state’s Mid North. We endeavour selection of rams is available for selection in spring and at the on-property to breed profi table Merinos and build honest and friendly sale on September 19. For further enquiries contact Angus Stockman relationships with our clients. Moorundie Park sheep are 0408 540 983 or stud classer Paul Cousins 0427 922 108. noted for their large frames and free-growing, white wool. Details: www.glenowie.com.au Our stud continues to maintain a focus on profi t-driving Tom Davidson attributes such as fertility, early maturity and robustness. A measure of our success has been the excellent results achieved by our clients who consistently feature in livestock and wool GREENFIELDS markets. Moorundie Park will host an on-property fi eld day as part of the Greenfi elds Merino stud, SA Stud Merino Expo in March. We will display at Burra the following day. founded in 1949 on Rams will be offered at the Adelaide Ram Sale in September. We will Ashrose bloodlines, had offer 200 rams at our on-property ram sale the following week. Pastoral regular purchases of drafts of rams are available from then on. Please see our website www. Ashrose stud rams and moorundiepark.com.au or Facebook www.facebook.com/MoorundiePark for ewes as well as stud updated information. rams and semen from Collinsville. Collinsville Jim Sullivan Robert Sullivan James Sullivan blood formed the basis of the Greenfi elds Poll Merino stud, founded in 1957. In 2017, the stud NORTH ASHROSE sold more than 700 rams to all parts of SA and interstate. They are keenly North Ashrose stud was fi rst registered in 1996, facilitating more than sought for their well-nourished, bright, stylish wool and large, plain bodies. 100 years of sound breeding from the Ashrose stud, which was founded in Emphasis is on breeding early-maturing sheep with strong constitutions. 1910. North Ashrose’s breeding program and continuous improvement has Greenfi elds clients regularly achieve high returns for their quality wool clip resulted in another exceptional year in 2017. The ewe fl ock is ever-evolving with and top prices for livestock sold at saleyards. Last year proved to be a continual assessment and evaluation of market trends as well as technology. successful one for Greenfi elds, highlighted by winning the most successful North Ashrose joins 4100 stud ewes. From a Collinsville-blood base, the exhibitor at the Royal Adelaide Show. Claiming grand champion Merino stud has a solid background of structural soundness and constitution within

Merino Annual 2018 25 the ewe fl ock, which has a fi ve-year micron objectives are aligned with market and environmental requirements that average of 20.6. The breeding objectives challenge our clients. These profi t-driven objectives are continually reviewed are to have a nourished, well-defi ned to ensure Old Ashrose sheep remain relevant to present and future fi bre while maintaining fl eece weight and requirements. The 2017 on-property sale consisted of 155 rams offered improving carcase and meat traits on and sold to $8000, averaging $2334. At the 2017 Adelaide Ram Sale, fi ve a plain-bodied Merino. This consistent rams averaged $16,300 and sold to $34,000, bought by the Hams family, breeding has been evident throughout Broadoak Merino and Poll Merino stud, Whyte Yarcowie. Ram marketing in Tom Ashby Matt Ashby 2017, where North Ashrose was awarded September will continue to be focused on the on-property auction and the the supreme champion fl eece of the Royal Adelaide Show as well as the Adelaide Ram Sale with private selections by appointment throughout the grand champion ewe and ram fl eece. The stud was also successful in winning year. Visit Old Ashrose at www.oldashrose.com.au for further information. the White River Prize for champion group of fi ve March-shorn sheep, along You can also follow us on Facebook. The annual on-property ram sale is on with grand champion March-shorn Poll Merino ewe. In 2017, North Ashrose Thursday, September 13 at 1pm. again enjoyed the accolade of being most successful Merino and Poll Merino exhibitor overall at the Royal Adelaide Show. At the 2017 Adelaide Ram Sale, North Ashrose sold eight rams to a top price of $26,000 and averaged PINDARI $13,125. The on-property sale held annually in September is always a highlight in the ram selling calendar for the stud. For 2017, North Ashrose recorded a Pindari Merino stud was formed in 1966, top price of $8000 and an average of $2108 for the 160 rams offered and while the Poll Merino stud was registered sold. North Ashrose clients report consistently high returns for their quality in 1980, with many infusions of Moorundie wool clip, as well as having reputable livestock sales at sheep markets. North Park in the early years. In recent years, Ashrose is continually striving for excellence and fi rmly believes in the solid Robin, Mary-Anne and Greg Schwartz have foundations and integrity, service and reputation with its clients. Clients also sought the judicious use of plain-bodied, free-growing, bold-crimping sires, while topped the local Jamestown sheep markets with North Ashrose bloodlines in Robin Schwartz Greg Schwartz September and October sales in 2017. A feature of the 2018 fi eld days will be maintaining conformation, to produce the progeny displayed by J,C&S Regal 242 and J,C&S Imperial 141, along with a more modern Poll Merino. Rams with North Ashrose Impact. These are exciting young sires that show outstanding ASBVs have also been sought in recent years, targeting improvement in clean wool qualities with impressive frames and deep bodies. The annual on-property fl eece weight, maintaining micron, and looking for above average weaning ram sale is on Wednesday, September 12. weight and genetic fat. This will continue the goal of easier-care, faster-growing and genetically-resilient Merinos. We are consistently achieving lambing percentages of 105 per cent to 113pc in stud sheep, and 120-140pc in our own commercial fl ock. With the use of pregnancy scanning and identifying NYOWEE twins, we plan to keep pushing these goals higher. Forty per cent or more of EXPO DAY ONE – ON-PROPERTY DISPLAYS ONE – ON-PROPERTY EXPO DAY The Nyowee Poll Merino the ewe fl ock is scanning up with multiples, with the challenge being to get stud, operating as BA more of these surviving to weaning with a July/August lambing. Mature ewes Michael & Co, Balaklava, consistently produce 7 kilograms to 8kg of wool a year, at 20 micron to 21M, was founded in 1955. with high winter stocking rates and very minimal worm control (drenching). In recent years it has Rams are offered for sale for the fi rst time at 13 to 14 months old in concentrated on using September, when our on-property ram auction is held, and privately at any time Nyowee sires with thereafter. Rams go to a mix of environments at this age and have performed Ian Michael Rob Michael Andrew Michael some outside semen well in the Upper North, Murray Mallee, and many mixed farming areas locally. from leading Australian studs in AI programs. The stud aims to produce The half-sisters to last year’s ram team were shorn in September 2017 and sheep with large frames and a high percentage of top quality, nourished, produced stylish, bold-crimping wool that tested 19.0μ, 18.4 coeffi cient of long-stapled wool. It places more emphasis on using rams with good dual- variation, 99.5pc comfort factor, 47N/kt staple strength and a greasy price of purpose traits. Nyowee annually joins 3500 stud ewes with two lambings $13.24/kg in early October. We would like to thank all bidders and buyers at in April/May and August/September. Nyowee will once again display on- our 2017 auction, where these purely paddock-run rams sold to $2700, and property on Monday, March 19, enabling visitors to inspect a good cross- averaged $1204, which represented great value for both the seller and buyer. section of sheep bred within the stud. It will feature rams reserved for the Seven-month-old ram lambs will be displayed at the 2018 SA Stud Merino Adelaide Ram Sale and our on-property sale and pens of graded rising one- Expo, as well as a selection of 18-month-old rams, and some stud ewes year-old hogget rams. Ewes and ewe hoggets will be penned for inspection running with sires at that time. We will have a display on-property at Waterloo, and young rising 1.5-year-old ewes will be shorn, fl eece weighed and valued and look forward to catching up with all interested breeders then, and in the during the day. Nyowee will also be displaying a pen of rams at the Broken year ahead, including at the Mid North Inspection Day on August 27. Our Hill Ag Fair in NSW in May, as well as showing and exhibiting a team of rams on-property Poll Merino ram auction is on Tuesday, September 18 at 1pm at and ewes at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic. Nyowee Waterloo – 1895 Main Road 45. will be offering rams at the Adelaide Ram Sale and exhibiting rams and ewes at the Royal Adelaide Show. The stud had a successful 2017 Adelaide Ram Sale, selling six rams to a top price of $16,000 to the Bunyara stud, SPRINGVALE NORTH Moculta, with an average of $11,000. Nyowee’s on-property ram sale was extremely successful, offering and selling 205 rams with a top price of Springvale North Poll $14,000 to the Carricowie stud, Brentwood, and a stud record average Merino stud was founded of $2548. Each year, Nyowee Poll Merino stud sells between 600 and after the division of the 700 rams that go to all parts of SA, the western division of NSW, Qld and Springvale stud in 1997 Vic. The stud will be holding its 19th on-property ram sale on Wednesday, and has a breeding September 12 at 1pm. history dating back to 1977. Today it is run Peter Stockman Peter Stockman Alex Stockman by Peter Stockman Snr Snr Jnr and sons Alex and Peter OLD ASHROSE Jnr and families, based at Burra. The stud aims to breed large-framed, early- Old Ashrose was fi rst registered in maturing, plain-bodied sheep with free-growing, long-stapled, bright, white wools 1979, following the division of the Ashby with plenty of character that can survive and thrive in all environments. We aim family’s Ashrose stud, founded in 1910. to breed dual-purpose, highly-productive sheep – the modern Merino – that Old Ashrose Proprietors was formed in can improve the profi tability of clients’ fl ocks. Springvale North will have a 2002 with the partnership of Rob and complete display on-property on Monday, March 19, and will exhibit at Burra Sue Ashby and Nick and Kate Wadlow. Oval on Tuesday, March 20, as part of the SA Stud Merino Expo. We are able In 2015, Nick and Kate became the sole to offer our clients numerous opportunities to select rams as we run two Robert Ashby Nick Wadlow proprietors of the Old Ashrose Merino lines of stud ewes with one lambing in April/May and another in September/ and Poll Merino stud and continue the stud’s proud commitment to the October. This gives us two complete lines of 1.5-year-old rams for sale each Australian sheep and wool industry. Old Ashrose breeds large-framed, early- year; one line at fi eld days in March by private selection and another line for maturing, plain-bodied sheep with sound conformation and constitution. our on-property auction in September. At last year’s on-property auction, a full Wools are well-nourished, soft-handling and white, with strong selection clearance of 100 rams were sold at an average of $1846 – the stud’s best placed on wool quality, staple length, strength and yield. The fi ve-year average for 15 years. Springvale North continues to focus on servicing its average fi bre diameter is 21.0 micron. Objective measurement tools are growing client base and its annual on-property auction will again be held at used to focus on increasing fl eece and weaning weights. Our breeding The Grove on Friday, September 14.

26 Merino Annual 2018 ELDERS SA STUD MERINO EXPO

S melts Rd Collins CARRICOWIE Carricowie Poll Merino stud was established in 1984 with mated stud Burra ewes bought from Orrie Cowie. Our stud Oval1 is renowned for breeding big-framed sheep with heavy-cutting, well-nourished, George soft-handling white wool of a medium Millington quality. Each year we run an AI program Market St ton Tce Robin Blyth Bronte Blyth Pax China. Collinsv using genetics to enhance our objectives to commercial to continually improve our fl ock. All sale rams are paddock-run and Australia. Our o exhibit tremendous potential, helping our clients achieve great results. Quarryand St early-mat u Kingston St Rams will be available from usual sires including some exciting progeny Thames St wool fleeces. O bodyweight of from Carricowie 28, Imperial, Carricowie P41 and Old Ashrose PH445. rams at Collins Bronte and Lee are excited about the 2018 sale team and look forward Chapel St maintain the co to welcoming clients and friends to our on-property sale on Tuesday, Commercial St is theAyers reason St th August 21 at 2.30pm. We will also be having a display at the SA Stud Collinsville offe Merino Expo at Burra. Church St Bath St diverse range o $2153 and a h Details: Bronte Blyth 0429 199 613. Bunyara Hamilton Run Orrie CowieStock St rams were offe from Argentina CarricowieBARRIER HWY Hilton Heath Pepper Well Allen St Burra oval at th Collinsville Kamora Netley Park Pindari BdkStd COLLANDRA NORTH On Wednesday, August 1, Collandra WHAT, WHERE, WHEN North will be offering 130 well-grown, quality rams with heavy-cutting medium What: Elders SA Stud Merino Expo wool and a brilliant constitution. At the Where: Burra Oval 1 2017 on-property sale, 134 rams were When: Tuesday, March 20 offered and sold with an average of $1940. The top price ram – which was Times: From 9am. Competitions mid-afternoon Sydney Lawrie Graeme Lawrie Food and refreshments available 113.5 kilograms at 17 months of age, Judges: Will Secker, Maluka, Keith and measured 19.4 micron, 2.9 standard deviation, 14.9 coeffi cient of Steven Bolt, Claypans, Corrigin, WA variation and 99.3 per cent comfort factor – was sold to Hood Brothers, Streaky Bay, for $4000. Forty years of selective breeding from Collinsville, Participating studs: Greenfi elds, Charinga, Barton Hill and Collandra North genetics has produced 1350 top stud ewes that are producing rams that cut high- Bunyara Hilton Heath Old Ashrose yielding, white wool and early-maturing progeny. Our clients across SA and Carricowie Kamora Netley Park Orrie Cowie NSW are reaping the rewards with top quality fl ocks. In 2017 we bought Collandra North Kamora Park Radnor Greenfi elds Big Jim, which is a son of East Mundulla Jonty, for $20,000. & COMPETITION DISPLAY TWO – BURRA OVAL EXPO DAY Collinsville Mernowie Ramsgate We bought the ram because of its outstanding structure, carcase traits East Bungaree Moorundie Park Ridgway and stylish wool, backed with a great breeding pedigree. We believe that Flairdale Morley Rices Creek the rams we are producing are the true modern rams that will cut high- Glenville Mulloorie Roemahkita yielding white wool and produce wether lambs with early growth that sheep Greenfi elds North Ashrose Sherlock breeders need to meet their markets or ewes that go on to make great mothers. Our clients are proving all that and more. Rams will be presented Hamilton Run North Cowie Springvale North at the SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra on March 20, Hay Merino Sheep Show in NSW on June 16, Eyre Peninsula Pre-Sale Expo at Wudinna on July 9, the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, on July 20-22 and at the Royal Adelaide Show from September 4-7. Details: Sydney Lawrie 0428 820 216 or 08 8688 2845, Graeme Lawrie 0428 846 408 or BUNYARA 08 8688 2307, stud classer Tom Padbury 08 8239 2721 or eastern states representative Ben Watts 0428 668 706. Bunyara Merino and Poll Merino studs are located at Moculta, north-east of the Barossa Valley. The stud aims to produce large-framed, plain-bodied, early-maturing COLLINSVILLE sheep with stylish, free-growing, long-stapled wool. Our early-maturing and meat/eye muscle qualities were The Collinsville tradition began in 1889 highlighted in 2017 by winning the all purpose pen of with the purchase of 20,000 hectares two ram lambs at the SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra in by John Collins. The registration of the Ian Koch March. This was backed up at the Royal Adelaide Show in stud in 1895 launched a genetic strain the Fibre Meat Plus class, with our two entries fi nishing second and eighth that would eventually become one of the out of 41 rams. Our eye muscle and fat depth were also a highlight of most dominant in the world. The stud is selling genetics throughout Australia our 2017 sale rams. At Bunyara’s 33rd on-property auction, 80 Merino and George Millington Tim Dalla Poll Merino rams were offered, selling to $3800 three times and averaging and also to Argentina, South Africa and $1598, giving clients the opportunity to buy quality sires at affordable China. Collinsville produces superior genetics with a consistent prices. Bunyara rams are the ideal fi t for dual-purpose Merino fl ocks. commitment to commercial profi tability, directly infl uencing a large Our rams are suited to a wide range of environments and conditions from number of fl ocks across Australia. Our ongoing aim is to breed sheep pastoral properties to cropping/sheep enterprises and high rainfall grazing. that are large-framed, plain-bodied and early-maturing, while producing The 34th annual on-property auction will be on Thursday, September 13, true heavy-cutting, stylish, medium wool fl eeces. Our stud ewes average commencing at 1.30pm at Moculta. This year’s rams are available for nine kilograms of 20 micron to 21M wool, with a body weight of 87kg. inspection at local country shows, the SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra in Uniquely we will continue to breed a number of sale rams at Collinsville March, the Karoonda & Districts Stud Merino Field Day at Murray Bridge Station, east of Hallett. We believe that it is important to maintain the in late July, at the Royal Adelaide Show and our pre-inspection day in constitution and survivability of the Collinsville bloodline and is the September. For enquiries please contact Ian Koch on 0408 554 180 or reason they adapt so well into Australia’s pastoral zones. Collinsville email [email protected]. will display at the SA Stud Merino Expo at Cappeedee on Monday and the Burra Oval on Tuesday.

Merino Annual 2018 27 This display will again culminate with the silent auction of rams on Rams on display at Burra will include sires used within the stud this the Burra Oval. Throughout 2018, 1200 top quality and affordable year, with some available for sale. Last year, Burra was busy, with fl ock improving rams will be available. Collinsville will once again offer interstate semen sales and three stud rams sold. All other rams are stud sires at the Adelaide Ram Sale and will also have an on-property sold on-property. At our 56th on-property sale, 169 rams were offered auction on the changed date of Monday, September 17. and sold in the main auction for a record $3189 average. A further 33 rams were sold in a mini auction for an average of $966. Seven Details: collinsville.com.au sires were sold to studs with the top price Poll Merino bought by Avenel For full write-up, see Burra Day One, P24East Bungaree stud, NSW, for $7600 and the top price Merino went to Oakfarms stud for $4400. The quality lineup created strong competition, with all impressed with the size and good-cutting, nourished, crimpy wools. EAST BUNGAREE There were fi ve new buyers on the day and 22 rams sold in the $600 East Bungaree was founded after the to $1000 range, providing value-for-money sires. Private selection division of the original Bungaree stud. post-sale met strong demand, with 100 rams being sold in the $800 From 1980 to 1986 the Wylie family, to $2000 range and stud rams to $5000. A sale highlight in 2017 Kangaringa, held the stud. In 1986, the was a private sale of a Poll reserve from our 847 family for $15,000 Hawker family repurchased the stud and to the Ridgway Advance stud. This was a top young sire with great kept it until late 1995, when the stud structure, a perfect topline and lustrous, crimpy wool. Glenville’s 57th and property were sold to the Litchfi eld on-property sale will be held on Tuesday, August 7 at 1.30pm. To enable Tony Brooks Mark Brooks family, Hazeldean stud, Cooma, NSW. In clients to buy rams within their budget, the number of rams offered has November 2005, East Bungaree was bought by Tony and Mark Brooks and been increased to 220 paddock-run rams – 180 Poll Merinos and 40 will continue to be maintained as a distinct strain of South Australian Merino. Merinos – with current tests, which include pedigree, micron, body and The objective is to retain the valuable attributes of the East Bungaree Merinos fl eece weight rankings. A further 160 rams will be available for private – including size, fertility and the ability to thrive in pastoral country – but at selection. The fi rst sons of MP-23 and XP-44 – rams that created the same time improve the quality of wool they grow. There are 3000 ewes enormous interest at the fi eld days last year – and Moorundie NE-595, in the stud, 800 of which are elite ewes artifi cially inseminated to the best bought for $40,000, will be available this year. The stud offers free sires we can identify. These sires are a combination of East Bungaree and fl ock classing and delivery services. outside sires of proven ability to maintain wool quality and carcase value. East Bungaree Merinos are bred for producers looking for productive, dual- Details: Barry Smith 08 8628 5036 or 0428 285 036, Daryl Smith 08 8628 5032 or 0428 purpose sheep that deliver in a range of environments. At its 2017 on-property 285 033, and Klay Smith 08 8628 5032 or 0488 990 791. sale, held in September, the stud offered and sold 300 rams to a top of $18,000 and averaged $2050. East Bungaree’s 2018 annual ram sale will be held on Tuesday, September 18. GREENFIELDS Greenfi elds Merino stud, founded in 1949 on FLAIRDALE Ashrose bloodlines, had Flairdale continues to breed large-framed, long-stapled, regular purchases of free-growing medium wool sheep, playing close attention Ashrose stud rams and to its wool cutting ability. Flairdale has been mules-free ewes as well as stud rams and semen from for 10 years and is shearing every six months. All stud Jim Sullivan Robert Sullivan James Sullivan ewes and rams are electronically tagged, enabling us to Collinsville. Collinsville use the latest technology to assist us with our breeding blood formed the basis of the Greenfi elds Poll Merino stud, founded in 1957. In 2017, the stud sold more than 700 rams to all parts of SA and EXPO DAY TWO – BURRA OVAL DISPLAY & COMPETITION DISPLAY TWO – BURRA OVAL EXPO DAY program. We use BreedElite sheep in conjunction with Wayne interstate. They are keenly sought for their well-nourished, bright, stylish ASBVs to enable us and our clients to best select rams to Lehmann suit their wool and meat growing enterprise. We are also wool and large, plain bodies. Emphasis is on breeding early-maturing using Pedigree Matchmaker for our mothering up to further identify our best sheep with strong constitutions. Greenfi elds clients regularly achieve producing ewes. Our 2017-drop lambs are looking promising, with great bone high returns for their quality wool clip and top prices for livestock sold at and structure and top quality fi bre. Introduced sire Poll Boonoke 150026 saleyards. Studmasters Jim, Robert and James Sullivan are committed (2016 Royal Adelaide Show Fibre Meat Plus winner) has proven itself with the to breeding top quality Merinos and Poll Merinos, constantly striving to leading traits Flairdale was looking for. Wallaloo Park 132 (bought at the 2014 produce rams with superior genetics. They are available to assist clients Classings Classic) once again has produced an outstanding drop. Progeny with classing and provide general advice with ram selection and fl ock from Flairdale sires are looking impressive, showing the attributes we are management. A highlight of this year’s on-property fi eld day will be sons continuing to breed. Flairdale ewes are proving to be productive and fertile of 3.1 (2015 Royal Adelaide Show supreme exhibit), Rex (2016 South with 122 per cent lambing from a fi ve-week mating being all single mates Australian Ram of the Year), Oscar (PM 345) and Kepler (085). The stud’s including 10pc of ewes to AI. Flairdale will be displaying stud and sale rams at annual on-property production sale is on Monday, September 10, where the Broken Hill Ag Fair, NSW, SA Stud Merino Expo, Burra, South East Merino 170 rams and 300 stud ewes will be offered. Field Day, Keith, Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, Classings For full write-up, see Burra Day One, P25 Classic sale, Royal Adelaide Show, Adelaide Ram Sale and our on-property sale on Monday, September 17 at Cooke Plains. Details: Wayne 0408 896 877 or Matt 0417 843 063, fl [email protected] or HAMILTON RUN www.fl airdale.com The Hamilton Run Poll Merino stud is a continuation of stud Merino sheep breeding by the Andrews family that began in the 1950s. Third-generation stud Merino GLENVILLE breeder Greg Andrews has established and based Glenville stud is based the Hamilton Run stud in the undulating country at on the Eyre Peninsula Jamestown. Sheep are run between the home property halfway between Cowell and pastoral country of the southern Flinders Ranges. and Cleve. The Smith Hamilton Run produces sheep with outstanding Greg Andrews family are into their fi fth constitution and structure. Client successes support the versatility generation of Merino and adaptability of Hamilton Run sheep. Wool type selection is so breeding with Poll Merinos important in the range of testing climatic conditions in this country Barry Smith Daryl Smith Klay Smith being the main focus and Hamilton Run’s highly waxed and low suint wools have excelled for the past 40 years. To increase Poll numbers and meet demand, in all areas. All lambs are bred in pastoral country. At Hamilton Run, an extra 200 stud Poll ewes were retained in 2016. Nourished, long- an electronic tagging system is used for collection of data. Rams stapled, bright, deeply-crimped wool with good cut on a big, plain body are selected visually and also backed by the use of ASBVs, providing with excellent carcase length has always been the Glenville trademark, additional selection pressure at classing. A Pedigree Matchmaker making for a profi table, easy-care sheep. In 2017, mature stud ewes cut system is used, providing accuracy of mothering across the large ewe 40 bales of AAAM, which averaged 19.6 micron, ewe hoggets AAAM base and saving a lot of labour and time. To assist repeat clients, at 18.0M and AAAMLMBS at 17.4μ selling to 1456 cents a kilogram. Hamilton Run offers free ram delivery and complimentary ewe classing

28 Merino Annual 2018 services. The Hamilton Run ram sale at Jamestown is held annually in for dual-purpose traits of carcase and wool since 1963, with emphasis late August or September. A ram selection day at Mundulla is staged in on bigger, longer and plainer-bodied sheep with good conformation, strong late September for southern and Vic producers who are unable to make constitutions, high fertility and loose skins for more than a decade. With the Jamestown sale. Enquiries are also welcomed for private selection these selection points in mind, consistent and repeatable performance rams that are available anytime. is the key breeding objective for Colin, Julie, Wade and Katelyn Boughen. Independent assessment of their progress is achieved through MerinoSelect, with rapid improvement in early growth and muscling being particularly HILTON HEATH evident. This has been reinforced by successes in show classes, particularly the Royal Adelaide Show Fibre Meat Plus class, where Kamora Park has Hilton Heath Merino and Poll Merino studs been the most successful exhibitor throughout its history, and the Australian are run at Sanderston, east of the Mount Sheep & Wool Show All Purpose class. Roemahkita’s 2017 winner – which Lofty Ranges, and at Keith in the Upper was also champion March-shorn Poll Merino ram – was a son of Kamora South East on properties with an annual Park 3.333. Combined with the great success in CRC trials at Turretfi eld with rainfall between 250 millimetres and KP304, a former Adelaide Fibre Meat Plus winner, these results give real 425mm. Our sheep are bred for a good substance to Kamora Park’s standing as producers of dual-purpose sheep wool cut on a large, plain-bodied animal Roger Fiebig Trevor Fiebig of the highest order. An annual AI program is undertaken using outstanding, with high fertility. High-yielding wool is industry-leading sires, with 1100 ewes inseminated in 2017, and a further achieved with our white, well-nourished wools on sheep that have a tighter 15 select ewes fl ushed in an ET program. Sires used were Seymour Park 111 wool tip that keeps the dirt out. More than 70 per cent yield is achieved on & 908, Wallaloo Park 442, Old Ashrose 445, Poll Boonoke 948, West Plains the sandy soils of Sanderston and Keith. Higher yielding wools consistently Mercenary, and Kamora Park 333, 522 and 38. These programs enhance the command higher prices at wool sales. Our sheep are bred to survive when rapid improvement within the fl ock, benchmark their homebred genetics and conditions get tough in the paddock. The Poll matings this year are with widen their gene pool. On the sales front, at the 2017 annual Kamora Park Nyowee, Poll Boonoke, Collinsville and Hilton Heath sires. Merino ewes have ram sale, 191 rams sold at auction to $7200, to the Ramsgate stud, and been mated to Collinsville, Wanganella and Hilton Heath sires. All sale rams averaged $2059, up $364 on the previous year. On top of that, three sold have current wool tests at sale time. Hilton Heath will be displaying at the at the Adelaide Ram Sale to $11,000 to Manunda stud, WA, and averaged SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra, the South East Merino Field Day at Keith, and $8000. In 2018, Kamora Park will again be displaying at the Australian the Karoonda & Districts Stud Merino Field Day at Murray Bridge. Our annual Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, South East Merino Field Day, Keith, sale and selection day is on Wednesday, August 22, held off Fromm Road at Karoonda & Districts Stud Merino Field Day, Murray Bridge, and the Royal Sanderston. Private selections are available by appointment at either property. Adelaide Show. Kamora Park will be offering about 200 rams at its annual Details: Roger 0407 568 786 or Trevor 0887 542 013. on-property sale on Friday, August 3 at 11am. Colin, Julie, Wade and Katelyn invite your enquiry and inspection. KAMORA NETLEY PARK Paul and Justin Boughen and families of MERNOWIE Kamora Netley Park, Sandalwood, are Ian Rowett founded the stud in 1975, committed to breeding high quality, dual- and today, son David is joint studmaster. purpose Poll Merino sheep that have Mernowie is situated at Marrabel, the genetic capacity to improve clients’ 100 kilometres north of Adelaide between fl ocks and increase their profi tability. Big, the Barossa and Clare valleys. The stud relatively plain-bodied Poll Merino rams is renowned for its ability to produce Paul Boughen Justin Boughen carrying wonderful, free-growing and high- quality, white wool on a large-framed, Ian Rowett David Rowett

yielding wools with defi nition, density and natural nourishment are the reason plain-bodied animal in a challenging & COMPETITION DISPLAY TWO – BURRA OVAL EXPO DAY the many Kamora Netley Park regulars keep coming back and are being joined medium to high rainfall district. There is emphasis on conformation in by new clients each year. After a year of major breakout sales success in 2012 order to withstand the usual wet winters under moderate to high stocking when the Boughen family sold rams to $25,000, the Kamora Netley Park rates. The stud has a priority to develop genetic resistance to worms. test was to continue that success in the following years. They have done that It also has a structured management program in place to increase fertility with fl ying colours. On-property sales success has lifted each year, with 233 genetically. A number of clients consistently wean up to 130 per cent lambs rams clearing last year, topping at $7800 and averaging $2003. This was an and regularly achieve outstanding results for sheep and wool sales. Early- increase in clearance (by 10), plus a $140 increase in average on the previous maturing stud ewes mated at 12 months in 2017 scanned 91pc in-lamb year’s sale result. At the Adelaide Ram Sale last year they also sold two rams and reared 112pc. Ewes failing to rear a lamb each year are culled. There to $8000 and averaged $5000. With special and private sales, more than is an emphasis on post-weaning weight gain, eye muscle depth, positive 350 rams are sold annually. Paul and Justin have not rested on their laurels carcase fat and increased clean fl eece weight, with sire selection using the and continue to invest in top sires that can enhance their breeding program national benchmarking ASBVs. Last year’s sale catalogue had an average of when necessary, such as a top Poll from the Willemenup stud, Gnowangerup, 7.7 for yearling weight. A full range of ASBVs will be available for the annual WA, bought in partnership with Mulloorie for $25,000 last year. Their previous on-property auction on Friday, September 14. Mernowie sells rams to purchase of note was Moorundie Park 201 in partnership for $30,000 at satisfi ed customers in a wide variety of environments from 150 millimetres Adelaide in 2015, with its fi rst progeny on offer last year. The family lines to 700mm rainfall. Private inspections are always welcome. these infusions instigate are enhanced and expanded through the diligent use Details: Ian 0418 486 050 or David 0419 839 280. of several top sons each year. Justin believes this produces more consistency of type and predictability in the family lines. This year’s sale rams come out of the following family lines: Moorundie Park 201, Nyowee, Charinga, Banavie and Tamaleuca, plus many from highly successful homebred sire lines. MOORUNDIE PARK Kamora Netley Park will be displaying rams at Burra, Hay, NSW, Bendigo, Vic, Moorundie Park Poll Merino stud was founded by Keith, Murray Bridge and Adelaide in 2018. Its annual on-property ram sale will Eric Davidson in 1955. Today, his grandson Tom be on Friday, August 3 at 1pm, with 200 Poll Merino rams on offer in the main operates the stud at Gulnare in the state’s Mid North. auction, plus a substantial mini auction offering. We endeavour to breed profi table Merinos and build honest and friendly relationships with our clients. Moorundie Park sheep are noted for their large frames and free-growing, white wool. Our stud continues to KAMORA PARK Tom Davidson maintain a focus on profi t-driving attributes such as fertility, Kamora Park stud at Sandalwood breeds early maturity and robustness. A measure of our success has been the dual-purpose, fi ne to medium woolled Poll excellent results achieved by our clients who consistently feature in livestock Merinos that have large, square frames and wool markets. Moorundie Park will host an on-property fi eld day as part of and doing ability across a wide range the SA Stud Merino Expo in March. We will display at Burra the following day. of environs. Wool selection emphasis Rams will be offered at the Adelaide Ram Sale in September. We will offer 200 is for free-growing, heavy-cutting, long- rams at our on-property ram sale the following week. Pastoral drafts of rams stapled, deep-crimping, elite, 20 micron Colin Boughen Wade Boughen are available from then on. Please see our website www.moorundiepark.com. wools with brilliant lustre on loose skins. au or Facebook www.facebook.com/MoorundiePark for updated information. The stud has a long history of selection

Merino Annual 2018 29 MORLEY the 160 rams offered and sold. North Ashrose clients report consistently high returns for their quality wool clip, as well as having reputable livestock sales at Morley Poll Merino stud was founded in 1970 on Collinsville sheep markets. North Ashrose is continually striving for excellence and fi rmly bloodlines. Today, Mernowie sires and their Morley-bred believes in the solid foundations and integrity, service and reputation with its offspring are having a very strong infl uence within the stud. clients. A feature of the 2018 fi eld days will be the progeny displayed by J,C&S These are complemented by additions from Terrick West, Regal 242 and J,C&S Imperial 141, along with North Ashrose Impact. These Nyowee, Stockman stud, Tas, Collinsville, Gunallo, Kamora are exciting young sires that show outstanding wool qualities with impressive Park and, most recently, an Orrie Cowie sire bought at frames and deep bodies. The annual on-property ram sale is on Wednesday, Adelaide in 2017. Having sold rams at an early age right Leonie Mills September 12. from the beginning, early maturity has always been a prime focus. This, coupled with production of a bulk of well-nourished wool that For full write-up, see Burra Day One, P25 can handle any conditions, has seen the Morley sheep evolve into a highly productive fl ock. Along with our early growth and maturity rates comes high fertility, with many clients happily reporting lambings of 120 per cent and NORTH COWIE above. The height of success of the Australian sheep industry has certainly North Cowie Merino and Poll Merino studs seen much confi dence in genetic investment, with our on-property ram sale were established in 1978. In 1987, North average reaching a record high of $2022 last year. But, given the outstanding Cowie began selling rams by holding an on- returns on investment, Morley genetics continue to represent an excellent property auction in July each year. This year, ‘value-for-money’ product. Morley breeds about 400 ram lambs a year. With North Cowie Poll stud has predominantly 60 offered yearly at our on-property auction and about 60 (and climbing) used sires retained in the stud with subsequently being sold by private selection, this sees us with plenty of quality infusions from Kamora Park, Nyowee Garry Murdoch Joseph Murdoch genetics available year-round. Complimentary fl ock classing is also offered and Ridgway. We have also used semen with all purchases. Rams are always close by if anyone passing by would like from four sires of note from across SA. North Cowie Merino stud has used to call in. You will always be very welcome. Our ram sale this year will be on mostly rams retained in the stud, including Horn NC4.01 and NC5.02 as well Friday, August 10 with inspection at 11am and auction at 2pm. We will be as NC6.23 (Franklin), which was our champion medium March-shorn Merino attending the SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra as well as the EP Pre-Sale Expo. ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, in 2017, and our top We will also have a display at the EP Field Days in August. We invite you to young Merino sire NC6.01, which we sold a half share in to the Bunyara stud, inspect our displays and catch us for a chat. I am always available on mobile, Moculta, for a stud record $9000. We have also used outside sires from email or at home in the evenings for any enquiries. Minta and Wanganella. In 2016, North Cowie Poll was able to secure KP333 Details: Leonie Mills 0427 631 358, 08 8628 5080 or [email protected] at the Adelaide Ram Sale for $18,000, and the progeny on show in 2017 has proven this sire’s worth. Between North Cowie, Kamora Park and Roemahkita studs (purchasing semen), 56 KP333 sons were sold, topping all three on-property sales. The 56 sons sold to an average of $3073, grossing a MULLOORIE remarkable $172,088. With their prize KP333 son ‘Chalmers’, Roemahkita The Mulloorie Merino stud was founded won the prestigious fi bre/meat competitions at both the Royal Adelaide Show on Orrie Cowie bloodlines, while Mulloorie and the ASWS. The KP333 sons look fantastic again for the 2018 season and Poll Merino stud was founded on Donara semen is available for purchase from this impact sire. Also available in this and Nyowee bloodlines. The purchase of year’s on-property auction are our fi rst sons from Merino W992 (Wanganella), a property at Tintinara in the Upper South bought in partnership for $22,000 in 2016. North Cowie’s aim is to breed East has enhanced Mulloorie’s breeding large-framed, plain-bodied, ‘good doing’ sheep, carrying heavy-cutting, well- programs. The stud continues to use nourished, bright, white, stylish, soft, bold wool in the 19 micron to 21M range. Paul Meyer Peter Meyer visual assessment along with additional Our aim for our clients is to return more dollars a hectare from their sheep

EXPO DAY TWO – BURRA OVAL DISPLAY & COMPETITION DISPLAY TWO – BURRA OVAL EXPO DAY measurement on ewes and rams to achieve low coeffi cient of variation and wool enterprise. North Cowie sheep have proven themselves to perform and standard deviation with good comfort factors. Body structures, very well in all environments, from the high rainfall areas right through to the body weight and eye muscle measurements enhance the profi tability pastoral areas of SA and NSW. North Cowie prides itself on breeding today’s of Mulloorie-blood sheep for clients requiring dual-purpose animals easy-care Merinos with heavy-cutting, quality wools at very affordable prices. for today’s market. The success of the stud in this area is refl ected in Last year we started the auction with 12 shed-prepared rams, selling all 12 Mulloorie’s two-tooth rams winning the All Purpose class and Fibre Meat for an average of $3366. Overall, North Cowie sold 54 of 56 Poll Merinos Plus class at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, and Royal and Merinos to a top of $4800, averaging $1669. A further 120 rams sold Adelaide Show in recent years. At Mulloorie we have two lambings: one in the mini auction and by private selection. This year we will be displaying in May/June and a spring lambing in September/October. This allows rams at the SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra in March, the ASWS in July and at better use of stud sires and young rams to be test mated behind their the Royal Adelaide Show in September. Spring-drop and fl ock rams are also sires. We have a selection of young rams on a 12-month basis with top available year-round. We warmly welcome all clients and visitors to our 31st young sires from both matings. Mulloorie will display at Burra on Tuesday, on-property sale on Friday, August 1. Inspection is from 10am with the auction March 20 and at Keith on Wednesday, July 25. Mulloorie will conduct its beginning at 1pm. For the fi rst time, North Cowie is planning to offer two seventh on-property auction at Tintinara, offering 40 rams on Thursday, rams at the Adelaide Ram Sale on September 7. July 26 at 2.30pm. The annual Brinkworth on-property auction will be held on Monday, September 17 at 1pm, where we will offer 70 rams. The stud will offer fi ve rams at the Adelaide Ram Sale on Friday, September 7. OLD ASHROSE Mulloorie-blood sheep perform in all types of environments from pastoral country to 700 millimetre-plus rainfall. Inspections welcome. Old Ashrose was fi rst registered in 1979, following the division of the Ashby family’s Ashrose stud, founded in 1910. Old Ashrose Proprietors was formed in NORTH ASHROSE 2002 with the partnership of Rob and North Ashrose stud was fi rst registered Sue Ashby and Nick and Kate Wadlow. in 1996, facilitating more than 100 years In 2015, Nick and Kate became thesole Robert Ashby Nick Wadlow of sound breeding from the Ashrose proprietors of the Old Ashrose Merino stud, which was founded in 1910. and Poll Merino stud and continue the stud’s proud commitment to the North Ashrose’s breeding program and Australian sheep and wool industry. Old Ashrose breeds large-framed, early- continuous improvement has resulted maturing, plain-bodied sheep with sound conformation and constitution. in another exceptional year in 2017. Wools are well-nourished, soft-handling and white, with strong selection North Ashrose joins 4100 stud ewes. Tom Ashby Matt Ashby placed on wool quality, staple length, strength and yield. The fi ve-year From a Collinsville-blood base, the stud has a solid background of structural average fi bre diameter is 21.0 micron. Our breeding objectives are soundness and constitution within the ewe fl ock, which has a fi ve-year micron aligned with market and environmental requirements that challenge our average of 20.6. The breeding objectives are to have a nourished, well-defi ned clients. These profi t-driven objectives are continually reviewed to ensure fi bre while maintaining fl eece weight and improving carcase and meat traits Old Ashrose sheep remain relevant to present and future requirements. on a plain-bodied Merino. The on-property sale held annually in September The 2017 on-property sale consisted of 155 rams offered and sold to is always a highlight in the ram selling calendar for the stud. For 2017, $8000, averaging $2334. At the 2017 Adelaide Ram Sale, fi ve rams North Ashrose recorded a top price of $8000 and an average of $2108 for averaged $16,300 and sold to $34,000, bought by the Hams family,

30 Merino Annual 2018 Broadoak Merino and Poll Merino stud, Whyte Yarcowie. Ram marketing in micron for ewe fl eeces older than 2.5 years is 20 micron. In 2018, Radnor September will continue to be focused on the on-property auction and the will be displaying at Burra, Hay, Broken Hill, NSW, Bendigo, Murray Bridge, Adelaide Ram Sale with private selections by appointment throughout the Keith, Hamilton and Adelaide. Progeny from Collinsville, Orrie Cowie, Radnor year. Visit Old Ashrose at www.oldashrose.com.au for further information. Harrison, Dangerfi eld, Rutten and Charinga families will feature heavily in the You can also follow us on Facebook. The annual on-property ram sale is on on-property sale this year at Langhorne Creek on Friday, August 10 at 1pm. Thursday, September 13 at 1pm. Radnor is OJD MN3 and brucellosis-accredited free. Enquiries are welcome For full write-up, see Burra Day One, P26 anytime throughout the year. Details: Stephen Koehler 0407 099 465, Brett Koehler 0438 379 569 or [email protected] ORRIE COWIE Orrie Cowie is renowned RAMSGATE for producing large- framed, heavy-cutting What a fantastic time to be involved in sheep carrying waxy, well- the Merino industry. At the time of writing nourished, bright, white, this, the Eastern Market Indicator had just stylish and soft-handling cracked 1800 cents a kilogram and Merino wools; profi t-making wether lambs were still more than $6/kg. genetics in all environs, Dennis Dalla Heather Dalla John Dalla With these outstanding prices, all Merino but especially advantageous in challenging higher rainfall or dusty areas. types are extremely profi table. Ramsgate Jed Keller Craig Keller For principals Dennis and Heather Dalla and son John, there is no better continues to focus on breeding the more recommendation than the success of their genetics in clients’ fl ocks. In profi table modern Merino with better carcase traits and long, free-growing, last year’s sale, 122 rams averaged $2286 and sold to $7250 to the highly-aligned fi bre. These qualities lead to an easy-care, robust animal with Westray Poll Merino stud, Peak Hill, NSW. Also, a stud reserve was sold for the potential for a six-monthly shearing and no mulesing if so desired. They $10,000 to the Lange family, Meltrac Enterprises, WA. Long-term buyers also have high fecundity and produce an adult fi bre of 19 micron. In 2017, from fi ve Australian states and nine SA regions were active. Orrie Cowie our on-property sale topped at $3600 and our average increased to $1400. again sold more than 500 rams from its Poll Merino, Merino and meat With a good clearance of rams offered, the stud is an affordable option for sheep studs in 2017. Also, in an Australian fi rst, the Orrie Cowie Merino acquiring quality sires. This year, the number of rams in the sale team will and Poll Merino studs staged a stud ewe reduction sale in March through increase, with the fi rst progeny from Banavie Rifl e 303, Poll Boonoke 150338 the AuctionsPlus network. This was a successful pioneering marketing and rising star Leahcim 152775. The sale team will also include progeny from move by the Dalla family and resulted in 285 pregnancy-tested in-lamb tried and tested stud sires Gunallo 007 ‘Bond’ and Brookdale 12. Ramsgate ewes selling to $730 and averaging $360. Orrie Cowie was the most invites you to inspect our sale rams and have a chat with Jed and Craig at the successful exhibitor in both sheep and wool classes at Dubbo, NSW, and fi eld days or on-property by appointment. We welcome your feedback. repeated that feat at the Royal Adelaide Show, winning the Stock Journal Details: Jed Keller 0427 691 858, [email protected] or trophy and taking home 17 broad ribbons including both the grand www.ramsgatepollmerinos.com.au champion March-shorn Merino ram and Merino ewe. In the show sales, the highlight was the sale of Poll Merino OC Eclipse 310 for $35,000 at Dubbo to the Overland stud, NSW, while at the Adelaide Ram Sale they sold three RICES CREEK rams to $18,000, averaging $10,833, plus a top stud ewe for $3000. The Dallas have selected for lower microns, plainer bodies, higher growth and Established in 1925, Rices Creek is run improved carcase traits in the past two decades, but not at the expense of by the Vandeleur family from properties at Saddleworth in the Mid North and wool cut and natural nourishment. Orrie Cowie’s entire ewe fl ock produces & COMPETITION DISPLAY TWO – BURRA OVAL EXPO DAY an average cut of nine kilograms of 20 micron wool. Visual assessment Tintinara in the Upper South East. The and breeding experience is supported by actual measurement for fi bre stud aims to consistently breed big, diameter, standard deviation, coeffi cient of variation, comfort factor, body early-maturing, plain-bodied sheep with productive skins and white wools. Rams wrinkle score, wool quality index, body weight (growth), fat and eye muscle Jim Vandeleur James Vandeleur depth, and scrotal circumference. ASBVs through MerinoSelect are used, are sought from all Merino breeding speeding up fl ock improvement for clients. The Dalla family invites you areas, from semi-arid pastoral to high to inspect their sheep at the fi eld days and shows, or on-property by rainfall intensive grazing country. Their arrangement. They will also be displaying at Burra and exhibiting at the Hay, well-nourished wools help handle any NSW, Bendigo, Vic, Hamilton, Vic, Dubbo and Royal Adelaide shows. Further climatic extremes. The stud’s annual details on semen and sale sheep are available on their website. Orrie artifi cial insemination program uses top Cowie’s annual sale is on Wednesday, August 8 on-property at Warooka, Rices Creek rams and the best available where 150 rams, with a dominance of Poll Merinos, will be offered. outside genetics to fi ne-tune its breeding Kym Vandeleur Mark Vandeleur program for continual improvement. In Details: orriecowie.com.au 2017, Rices Creek held ram sales at both its South East and Mid North properties. The ninth annual Rices Creek on-property sale at Tintinara on August 9 achieved a total clearance and top of $8400, with an average RADNOR of $2132. On August 29, the Vandeleur family held its fourth annual on-property sale at Saddleworth. The sale achieved a total clearance Since its formation in 1982, the Radnor averaging $2235, with a top of $5200. Rices Creek again offered and Merino and Poll Merino sheep stud has sold two rams at the Adelaide Ram Sale, both going to new clients. In had an emphasis on breeding a true total, more than 200 high quality rams were sold at auction, validating the dual-purpose animal. Radnor has been demand for the stud’s genetics within its existing and new client base. In renowned for its large frames, white, 2018, Rices Creek will display rams at the SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra, crimpy wools and easy-care sheep. Broken Hill Ag Fair, NSW, South East Merino Field Day at Keith, and the This has been evident through its many Steve Koehler Brett Koehler Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic. The stud’s selling season will successes in meat and fi bre classes begin with the on-property sale at Tintinara on Thursday, August 2, followed and also commercially. Utilising genetics from across Australia, including by the Saddleworth sale on Tuesday, August 28. Rams will be offered at Charinga, Collinsville, Moorundie Park, Orrie Cowie and Wallaloo Park, Radnor the Adelaide Ram Sale, followed by private selections by appointment. sources ideal sires and bloodlines. The aim of the stud is to produce an The Vandeleur family is excited by this year’s drop of ram lambs, which animal that can survive and thrive, has size, bone and constitution, in addition are showing great growth for age with bright, white wools. Again, sons of to producing a high quality, long-stapled, high-yielding wool. Show results Rices Creek sires, including RC175 and RC1558, are featured, along with for 2017 were very rewarding with successes at Hay, NSW (reserve strong the infl uence of Collinsville families, Moorundie 69 and Greenfi elds 342 wool August-shorn ewe), Bendigo, Vic, and Hamilton, Vic (champion strong – bought at the 2015 SA Stud Merino and Poll Merino Ram Sale – and wool Poll ewe), and Royal Adelaide Show (champion and reserve champion Collinsville ‘Imperial 20’. Imperial 20 was bought at the 2016 Collinsville August-shorn fi ne wool Merino ewe). Commercially, Radnor sold 120 bales ram sale by Rices Creek for $32,000. This sire has brought further of wool in December with a top of 1545 cents a kilogram with lambs wool to excitement to the 2017 lamb drop. Its lambs are presenting exceptional, 1300c/kg, averaging $2160 a bale overall, which was very pleasing. Average white, nourished and crimpy wools, on a meaty

Merino Annual 2018 31 carcase with high structural qualities. Always striving to remain up-to-date and quality. They are indeed a special group, and we invite your inspection. with industry demands and technologies, Rices Creek will be providing Our on-property inspection day is Thursday, July 26 from 10.30am to 4pm, ASBVs for its 2018 sale rams. This information can be accessed from the with alternative inspections always welcome. Our 28th annual on-property stud’s website closer to the sale dates. In helping keep our fi nger on the ram sale is on Tuesday, July 31, with inspection from 10.30am and the sale pulse of the broader Australian industry, we have recently brought in Paul starting at 2pm. A light luncheon is provided. Cousins as stud consultant. With his vast experience and broad industry contacts, Paul is helping provide an extra dimension to our stud’s scope and relevance. SHERLOCK Wes and Andy Titley run Sherlock Poll Merinos on 350-millimetre limestone RIDGWAY country without irrigation. Sheep are bred Ric, Gail, Matthew and Rachel Ridgway to survive and thrive, passing rigorous produce Poll Merinos with all the attributes classing for robustness, structure and of the genuine dual-purpose product sought- nourished quality wools. This makes them after by the progressive Merino breeder. The truly modern and profi table Merinos. The Ridgway fl ock is assessed subjectively and stud does not chase fads. Stud ewes are Wes Titley Andy Titley objectively, with ASBVs being incorporated selected for complete wool cover with true density and length, and wool into the selection process for the past quality consistent throughout the fl eece – including breech and scrag. Ric Ridgway Matt Ridgway eight years. Increased and improved data Our 19-year average micron is under 20M from ewes up to 10 years old, collection in recent years has helped them make smarter joining decisions, proving our sheep do not blow out. Wool growing is the most profi table part speeding up genetic gain and improving their clients’ economic returns of our enterprise, and our aim has always been to have heavy-cutting wools as a result. Ridgway’s continued selection focus for free-growing, sharp- on uncomplicated bodies. Carcase traits are also important in today’s crimping, white wools, with extra emphasis on nourishment, staple length market. We want clients’ hoggets to be big. To achieve this, our classing and fi bre density, has resulted in progeny that will produce elite wools in any is done to a required quality standard, and not to a number. Clients report environment. These selection criteria, together with choosing animals with up to 124 per cent lambs from hoggets. Demand for clients’ Sherlock- good early growth rate, excellent carcase traits and sound conformation, has blood ewes to expand fl ocks and as export lamb mothers is high. We resulted in Ridgway producing a true dual-purpose product that thrives in all have huge hopes for this year’s sale team as they are all from our new climatic conditions. All sheep are shorn twice a year at intervals of between generation sires. All are under four years old and shaping to be our best fi ve and seven months, depending on seasonal conditions, with the objective ever sire battery exuding the consistency our sheep are noted for – wool of cutting between 60 millimetres and 70mm staple length at each shearing. cut, size, constitution and profi tability. Four SA-bred, industry-leading sires This is in-line with present and projected market preferences. The September were used in our AI program on December 19, 2017, including NA251 2017 Ridgway ewe wool clip measured 18.2 micron, was 68mm in length, (by Collinsville141). We excitedly await progeny from this sire. Sherlock had a yield of 70.6 per cent and tensile strength of 55, selling to 1592 cents ‘Hunter’ won SA Ram of the Year at Crystal Brook, representing SA at the a kilogram greasy or 2287c/kg clean. This was an excellent result, especially Dubbo, NSW, National Ram of the Year competition. Hunter was the only considering these ewes had also reared 117pc lambs. These lambs produced Poll in the lineup. The pinnacle for this ram was the supreme exhibit at a 17.2M clip that sold for 1453c/kg greasy. The Ridgway fl ock is highly fertile, the Royal Adelaide Show in 2017. It was an honour to be recognised as consistently recording 115pc to 125pc lambs weaned. Ridgway also has a an outstanding Poll ram among its peers. Hunter impressed the judges high health status, being brucellosis-accredited free and OJD MN3-accredited. with its “capacity” and magnifi cent belly and leg wool covering. We are Ridgway will be displaying at Burra, Bendigo, Vic, Hamilton, Vic, Murray Bridge confi dent Hunter’s progeny will grow the same high quality, white 19.9M, and Keith in 2018 and its annual on-property ram sale of 180 rams will be 175mm wool. A limited number of sons and half-brothers will be available held on Monday, August 13 at Kulkami. Select rams will also be offered at our ram sale. First sons from Sherlock 750 – which won the Karoonda at Sheepvention, Hamilton, the Classings Classic, Murray Bridge and the Farm Fair fl eece competition with a value $50 above its nearest competitor EXPO DAY TWO – BURRA OVAL DISPLAY & COMPETITION DISPLAY TWO – BURRA OVAL EXPO DAY Adelaide Ram Sale. – will be available. Sons of Majestic C.131 and C.011 and E.B.10 (Jonte Poll Line) will be offered for your inspection on grating. Having returning ram clients is a huge vote of confi dence in our rams. To meet this growing ROEMAHKITA demand and keep faith with our clients, we have increased the number of rams offered at our 35th annual auction on Tuesday, August 14. Roemahkita Poll Merino stud is a Collinsville-based daughter stud with infusions since the late 1990s from Details: Wes Titley 0438 743 084. Find us on Facebook Wallaloo Park, Vic, Kamora Park and, more recently, Poll Boonoke and Nerstane, NSW, Kamora Netley Park and Collinsville. We are located on the magnifi cent Lower Eyre Peninsula, 10 kilometres south of Cummins, in a SPRINGVALE NORTH reliable mixed farming district. We receive about 450 Joe Dahlitz Springvale North Poll millimetres to 500mm of rain annually. We are 660km west Merino stud was founded of Adelaide by road and 60km north of Port Lincoln. The stud’s objective is after the division of the to produce large-framed, highly-fertile, early-maturing sheep that are easy- Springvale stud in 1997 care. We have a strong emphasis on wool cut, body weight, growth rates and has a breeding history and constitution, with high quality, crimpy wools of a medium micron and dating back to 1977. Today high comfort factor. The highlight of 2017 was the prestigious All Purpose it is run by Peter Stockman Ram win at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, and also Snr and sons Alex and Peter Peter Alex Stockman winning the Fibre Meat Plus class at the Royal Adelaide Show, with our Peter Jnr and families, Stockman Snr Stockman Jnr standout Poll ram Chalmers 160018. Chalmers was also the champion based at Burra. The stud aims to breed large-framed, early-maturing, plain- fi ne wool March-shorn Poll Merino and the champion March-shorn ram at bodied sheep with free-growing, long-stapled, bright, white wools with plenty Adelaide last year. At the SA Stud Merino Expo in March 2011, 2012 and of character that can survive and thrive in all environments. We aim to 2014, we won the all purpose pair of ram lambs, for meat and fi bre; three breed dual-purpose, highly productive sheep – the modern Merino – that out of seven – a great result. We also placed second in 2017, showing can improve the profi tability of clients’ fl ocks. Springvale North will have a we offer the complete package of meat and fi bre – the real money-making complete display on-property on Monday, March 19, and exhibit at Burra Merinos. In recent years, we have successfully sold rams and semen to stud Oval on Tuesday, March 20, as part of the SA Stud Merino Expo. We are breeders and commercial clients in Vic, SA, NSW and WA. We are delighted able to offer our clients numerous opportunities to select rams as we with the positive feedback we continue to receive from clients about the run two lines of stud ewes with one lambing in April/May and another in great breeding results they have experienced with our genetics. The sires September/October. This gives us two complete lines of 1.5-year-old rams of this year’s sale rams are Roemahkita Regal Junior 150092, Roemahkita for sale each year; one line at fi eld days in March by private selection and 150328, 150029, 140033, 140119, 122732, KP 070304, PB 140948 and another line for the on-property auction in September. At last year’s on- WP 150148. All of these sires ooze size, meat, muscle and fi bre. We place property auction, a full clearance of 100 rams were sold at an average of a strong emphasis on the visual classing of all animals individually, with the $1846 – the stud’s best average for 15 years. Springvale North will have its use of raw data to assist our assessment. We also use MerinoSelect ASBVs annual on-property auction at The Grove on September 14. to aid our selections. After a very tough start to the season we were pleased to class and body weigh the young rams on November 8, and we are thrilled For full write-up, see Burra Day One, P26 with this year’s sale team. They have magnifi cent size, great wool density

32 Merino Annual 2018