With the $25,000 Moorundie Poll Merino ram which was purchased by the Manunda stud, Tammin and Rangeview stud, Darkan (half shares) and the Seymour Park stud, Highbury, (semen share) were Manunda’s Scott (left) and Wayne Button, Seymour Park’s Clinton and Sarah Blight, Moorundie stud principals Geoff and Bernadette Davidson, Keith, South Australia. At the recent Royal Adelaide Show it was sashed champion March shorn fine wool Poll Merino ram.
WA studs boost stocks with SA Poll ram
Article by Jodie Rintoul, Farm Weekly, 2nd October 2014. Image courtesy of Farm Weekly
WA Poll Merino genetics are set to get another boost following the announcement that an upstanding Moorundie sire has been sold to WA for $25,000.
The Manunda stud, Tammin and Rangeview stud, Darkan, have purchased a half share and possession in the four-tooth, March shorn sire bred by Moorundie stud principals Geoffand Bernadette Davidson, Keith, South Australia, in a private sale arrangement.
The Seymour Park stud, Highbury, has purchased a semen share in the ram.
The ram was spotted at the South East Field Days at Keith in July by Manunda stud principal Wayne Button and his classer Nathan King, Elders stud stock, and they put an offer to the Davidsons.
Mr King said it was the ram’s size, structure and wool quality and quantity that stood out straight away.
“He is a big sheep with very good bone and structure and he carries a good fine/medium type wool,’ Mr King said.
“But not only is the quality of his wool impressive, he also has a good quantity of it.
“It is very hard to find this combination of body size, structure and wool.
“All three studs have been looking for a Poll sire that will throw bone and structure while maintaining wool quality and I am sure this ram will do the job.
“I really think he should breed top commercial rams for everyday use.”
Mr Button said the ram stood out for its outstanding structure and wool quality.
“He is a well-structured, big masculine, heavy-boned ram,” he said.
“And when it comes to his wool, it is a well aligned fine/medium wool and there is plenty of it.”
For Rangeview stud principal Jeremy King, purchasing a ram out of South Australia was not something he would normally do.
But after discussions with his brother Nathan about the ram and looking at its bloodlines he decided to buy a share.
Mr King said he would not normally purchase a ram from South Australia as they were not suited to his environment.
“However with the breeding and knowing the background behind the ram we believe he is worth a go,” Mr King said.
He goes back to Merryville Telstra, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
“He is a big, plain-bodied, good-woolled sire and it is hard to find a Poll ram that ticks all these boxes but this ram certainly appears to.”
The Davidsons also thought very highly of the ram as a youngster and used it in their stud and currently have lambs on the ground from the ram.
The ram was sired by Moorundie A13, which was a son of Moorundie T21.
It had wool measurements of 19.3 micron, 3.0 SD, 15.5 CV and 99.7pc comfort factor.
At the recent Adelaide show the ram was sashed the champion March shorn fine wool Poll Merino ram.
Semen is available for sale.
For more details contact Nathan King, Elders stud stock on 0488582455.