Charles Curran Principal AC, LL.B, FCPA.	Stuart Hodgson Stud Classer OAM	Charlie Merriman Principal & Co-Manager	Jono Merriman Principal & Co-Manager

New Zealand Advisor - Stuart Hodgson

Stud Representatives - Charlie Merriman, Jono Merriman, Stuart Hodgson

Koonwarra Objectives

The management objectives for the Koonwarra Stud are to continue to breed the Koonwarra type, which was developed under the guidance of Mr John Williams. The renowned “Koonwarra type” of sheep has evolved into one that offers a tremendous genetic balance of quality fine-medium wools on a great carcass, with its well known traits such as their easy care, doing ability, their high fertility and lamb survival rate. We believe Koonwarra stud sheep have a large frame, good spring of ribs, length of body and with nourished white wool that has good staple length, a defined crimp and great fleece weights. Koonwarra Stud sheep have ability to be used in vastly difference climate areas of Australia.

Koonwarra Merino Stud Partnership, between the Curran and Merriman families, remain committed to the ongoing success of the Koonwarra Merino Stud. To ensure we continue to supply top genetics and provide a high level of client service. This management team, including Stuart Hodgson, intend to:-

• Uphold and improve the quality of the Koonwarra Stud sheep

• Conduct annual on property ram and ewe sales.

• Annual Ram Sale – 2nd Friday in October

• Annual Ewe Sale – last Thursday in February

• Assist and advise clients on ram selection, when requested

• Continue our client visit program, when invited

• Maintain current vaccination programs

• Participate in shows and sales in NSW and Victoria each year. Such as the Great Southern Supreme Merino (GSSM) Show & Sale & Field Day in January. In February - Canberra Show & Boorowa Show, Easter - Sydney Show, July- Bendigo Show & Sale, August - Dubbo National Show & Sale.

Breeding Objectives

Koonwarra Merino Stud will continue along proven breeding plans, while at the same time exploring new avenues to continually improve our product – the rams we provide to our clients. In turn, with make our clients sheep more profitable. In short, Koonwarra is only as successful as its clients.

Koonwarra sheep have typically been a very versatile and productive sheep, which cater to the fine/medium wool markets. The emphasis has always been on frame and fleece production, with an average micron of 20.3, this enables clients to control wool quality, while maintaining fleece production.

Koonwarra welcomes comparison of its results with those of other studs. For this reason, Koonwarra participates in all major shows, to enable its clients to assess results in the showing. Comparison of ram performance should involve wool testing by a reputable independent testing organisation. Comparison should cover the key issues of fleece weight, micron, fineness, fertility and carcass weight, all of which are features offered on a consistent basis by Koonwarra rams. Also comparison should be over at least three generations, so that results are not distorted by the hybrid vigour effect on a first cross generation.

Each year Koonwarra carries out an extensive laparoscopic AI program, in 2006 we used semen from 3 leading Koonwarra sires, KWA 1.9, 7.78 and 7.49. Also in 2006 Koonwarra used some semen from Bungulla Merino Stud, their sire 3-90, which we inspected at the Dubbo Show and Sale in 2005, and all felt this Bungulla sire would go well with our Koonwarra genetics. Bungulla 3-90 is a large fine-medium wool ram, with great staple length and definition of fleece.

Koonwarra had already made a breeding choice to develop a plainer skin type merino to provide a freer fleece type while maintaining the quality wool already there. Through these discussions with Stuart we have been very mindful not to lose the staple structure and tip type of the Koonwarra sheep, as a major profit driver.

The merino profit line is still very competitive with a wether lamb receiving up to $4 a kilo at the saleyards recently, as quoted in The Land. Coupled with the market improvement in wool prices, this 10 month old merino lamb could have a fleece value of $30 plus on top the meat value. With the ewe drop retained as breeders at no purchase cost, the merino enterprise looks good value.

The summer rains helped the stud lambing in 2008 with the AI program achieving around 105% and the single joinings at 94%, at lamb marking time. This is a true reflection of the fertility ability of the Koonwarra ewes, as they did not receive any supplementary feeding and due to the drought were not running on well developed pasture. Having these larger numbers of progeny gives more opportunity to push harder on our selection criteria for the stud, especially in the ewe drop.

The 2006 drop ewes had a very tough year to mature in, with all sheep on grain and no grass for the first six months of their life. These lambs grew up in this environment into well grown ewes, with a high number in lamb. These young ewes we fleece tested in September 2007, with the fleece averages results being, micron of 17.2, a comfort factor of 98.9% and a fleece weight of 4.6kgs on 10 months of wool growth. We are pleased with the way the Koonwarra young ewes not only survived the difficult weather patterns, but matured well enough to get in lamb and raise their progeny.

This season we have put a lot of thought into our breeding program. We have moved the Koonwarra stud joining time forward a month so this year we lambed in May/June. We have used the Koonwarra show ram from last season, KWA 5.244 "Ruby" from the Gem family, as one of our sires, and his lambs on the ground at looking very good.

We used "Ruby" in the AI program and with paddock joinings, and we feel he is destined to have a good impact on the Koonwarra stud, especially after seeing his first crop of lambs this year. He is a large framed ram with a clearly defined crimp, bright white wool testing 20.8 on full shed feed, very square behind in his stance, with big spring of rib. He has a tremendous outlook with a strong head and horn set that so epitomises the Koonwarra blood sires. Another new sire we have used in the 2008 drop is Nerstane 4636 in the AI program

The management team at Koonwarra aim to be able to meet the full requirements of our Koonwarra stud development, and for our commercial woolgrower clients.

We encourage visitors and clients to contact Charlie & Jono, and call in, at Little Range, Boorowa, NSW for an inspection of the Koonwarra Stud sheep.
Ph/Fax 02 6385 3396 or email merino@koonwarrastud.com.au

Jono Merriman holding a new Koonwarra bred sire, KWA 5.244 "Ruby"

Health Report

Koonwarra Merino Stud is Accredited Brucellosis Free, OJD Approved Vaccinates and Vendor's Declaration Ovine Footrot Free.

Koonwarra Merino Stud has been vaccinating with Gudair since 2002, which means Koonwarra Stud ewes to and including the age of six years have all been vaccinated as lambs, as have their progeny. Therefore these sheep have reached the OJD Program Point of Category C. "The Flock is a second generation approved vaccinate Flock" which retains 4 credit points and allows Koonwarra progeny to go to medium and low prevalence areas.

Koonwarra takes all precautions to ensure it remains minimal risk to OJD, with its annual vaccination program with Gudair for all its lambs and using semen for its AI programs. At no stage has Koonwarra Merino Stud had any losses that could be attributed to OJD.

The still restrictive rules of the OJD management program have imposed great difficulty on Koonwarra's ability to trade. However we are confident that the industry leaders will demand an appropriate response to this issue and allow free trade to approved vaccinated sheep within the industry, in the near future.

Koonwarra Annual Program