THE Mukinbudin-based Calcaling Poll Merino stud is set for an injection of new genetics after stud principals Athol and Sandie Ventris purchased six new sires from two Queensland studs this spring.
Mr Ventris said the new sires would be the first outside genetics for the stud in more than 10 years.
“We have been operating as a closed stud and have not purchased any genetics in, so we are looking forward to seeing what these outside genetics will add to our flock,” Mr Ventris said.
The three biggest purchases the stud made were from the Well Gully stud, Mitchell, Queensland.
They visited the stud with a couple of clients on a planned trip in mid-October and while there negotiated the purchases.
Mr Ventris said he was impressed by the Well Gully stud’s sheep’s bodies and wool when he visited.
“They displayed length and depth of body which is something we don’t want to compromise in our own sheep,” Mr Ventris said.
“In terms of their wools they were very dense and white which was something we really liked.
“They are very white wools as the stud operates in a sub-tropical climate and receives about a 21-inch rainfall with the majority of this falling between September and March, which means any wools that are not right get found out.
“Their wools have to be really white and naturally nourished to handle this environment and because they perform in there we know they will perform in our environment and that of our clients.”
At Well Gully the Ventris family secured a two-year-old semen sire, Welly Gully 3816, for $30,000 and two 12-month-old stud reserves both at $10,000.
“We were chasing an impact wool and Welly Gully 3816 certainly had that type of wool, while the two younger October 2017-drop rams had white, waxy, nourished wools,” Mr Ventris said.
While the trip to Well Gully in October was pre-planned, the one to the Karbullah sale at Goondiwindi, Queensland, in September was more of a spur of the moment thing.
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Mr Ventris said he made the decision to go to the Karbullah sale on the back of the stud’s good ram sale and the good season which was transpiring.
At this sale Mr Ventris purchased three rams in the Helmsman auction including two at $3200 and at one $3100, which were AI-bred by Baderloo 171.