NEWS

Sienna Lynn Wilson arrived on the 21st of March 2016. We thought it was fitting to photograph her in wool, so here is Sienna in our woolshed where she had a photoshoot with a local photographer, CB Photography. We are extremely happy with the very unique images she captured!

It’s often said that the youth hold the future of an industry in their hands, and if Benn Wilson and state junior wool and sheep judges at the state sheep show are anything to go by, that future is bright.

Benn, the son of Max and Heather Wilson, Wilgunya stud, Dirranbandi, told the Queensland Merino Stud Sheepbreeders Association gala dinner that he was adamant the sheep and wool industry had a future.

He took part in a 10-day tour of wool-processing facilities in China in February at the invitation of AWI and said it had been an eye-opener.

“If the whole process of wool is 12 inches long, woolgrowers are the first inch and China is another five inches.

“We grow our wool and wash our hands of it, but the science that goes into garments and to top-end fashion designers to keep them competitive, is amazing.”

Benn and others in the pilot study visited three woollen mills of varying capacity, and saw the processes of scouring, top-making, weaving, dying and garment-making.

One of the innovations that excited him was in sportswear.

“The winter Olympics are in China in two years – I hope we can capitalise on that with our wool,” he said.

As a consequence of his exposure to the possibilities available to woolgrowers, Benn told sheep show dinner guests that while exclusion fences weren’t “the be-all to end-all”, they gave young people a future.

“I encourage the older generation to look at fences in terms of future-planning – they give your children a future,” he said.

http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/3927209/youth-showing-the-way/

Lot 23 saw the top price matched when Wee Waa producer Jim Hunt raised his card for $2400.

The ram measured 17.8 micron, held a standard deviation (SD) of 2.73, coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.34 and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.97.

Mr Hunt has been in the Merino game for 35 years at Elmore Spring Plains, north of Wee Waa, NSW.

He is down to 1000 Merino ewes after cutting back due to dry conditions and wasn’t present at last year’s sale.

Mr Hunt bought a total of six rams, cracking the $2000 mark four times, with the remaining two sliding in for a $1500 steal each.

“What they’ve put on today are the best I’ve seen,” Mr Hunt said.

He noted the “exceptional fleece” and yield as standouts for opting with the Wilgunya bloodline.

“The constitution of the ones I bought; [they’re] heavier boned, plenty of barrel and they have meat on them,” he added.

Rhett Butler, Yeranbah, Lightning Ridge, NSW, came back to reclaim the position of volume buyer with 10 rams – equalled by Ross Hindle of Hindle Grazing Co.

Mr Butler’s purchase averaged at $1560.

The buy completes Mr Butler’s goal of converting to 100pc auction-grade Wilgunya Merino rams, after picking up 17 last year and hauling 32 at the 2013 sale.

Other auction volume buyers included Paul Lamerand, Mulga Downs, Bollon, seven rams; David Harthog, Kyeema, Walgett, six rams; and the Schmidt family, Wallen Pastoral Co, Cunnamulla, six rams.

After another year of dry conditions Mr Wilson said he “wasn’t expecting” the sale to go as well as the one in 2014, which also cleared 80 single-pen auction rams; three post-auction.

“It’s a fantastic result and consistency. All of our clients are in the worst drought zones in Australia,” Mr Wilson said.

“It’s a reflection of their faith in the sheep industry.”

http://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/3410839/two-wilgunya-merino-rams-make-2400/

Earlier in the year Wilgunya also bought Lot 1 at the White River on property sale for $10,000.00

He is a son of Super Sire “Kaldoonera” crossed over a North Ashrose “Icing” ewe.

Lot 1 B2232 is considered to be one of the best rams ever sold by White River with a well nourished very good medium wool crimp and is superbly covered down the leg.

He was Elders Champion Hogget Ram of the year. This award has gone to White River 12 years in a row.

He weighed in at 136kg at sale being an April ’12 drop. He tested in at 18.7 micron, ST. Dev of 3.1, CV% 16.6 and comfort Factor of 99.9.

But the ram is not totally lost to SA as long-term White River clients, Bill and Paul Carey, Chandada, via Streaky Bay negotiated a share in the ram and were delighted to have access to such an outstanding sire for their highly productive flock.

White River is also retaining semen in the ram for its future breeding program.

At the very top of the Poll Merino buys was Nick Leinert, Oak Farms stud, Kimba, who paid the $5500 Poll Merino top price for a Ridgway Advance 133 son with 19.9M fleece and 99.7CF free-growing fleece.

By far the most important White River buyer was John Reynolds, Lairg Station, Elliston and operating through Elders Cummins agent Ben Dickenson. In the main auction, they bought 39 rams – 12 Merinos and 27 Poll Merinos – all at $800. In the mini auction that followed, they added another eight Merinos and six Poll Merinos, including the $1200 top price ram in that section of the sale.

Principals John and Wes Daniell were pleased with the overall result, especially because it gave Poll Merino buyers a greater selection at better value.

Elders were sale agents and Craig Shearer & Corey Friebel auctioneers.

• The Single Ram selling average came in at $1751
• The Pen Rams selling average came in at $958
• Resulting in an overall selling average of $1465.

Enthusiastic Sheep Breeders’ came from far and wide last Thursday to attend Wilgunya Merino Stud’s Annual Ram Sale on site at the property in Dirranbandi.

The auction conducted by combined agents Dirranbandi Pastoral, Elders and Landmark included 80 single rams, as well as 17 pens of three due to increased demand.

This year’s rams were particularly well grown, with many promising young sires with scale, richly nourished, bright soft handling wool.

Attendance was up and so were prices, with this year’s average for the 80 single pens coming in at $1751, a huge jump up nearly $200 from the 2011 average of $1554 for 70 single pens. The pens of 3 averaged at $958 and the overall auction average for the 131 lots was $1465.

The highest selling ram was lot 30, which was purchased for $3500 by David and Andrew Murray from Woodlawn Lightning Ridge. The ram had a micron of 18, C.V% 16.39 and 99.85% comfort factor.

Overall the auction was a huge success with a 100% clearance of all 131 lots.

Stud Principal Max Wilson was thrilled with the progress and results,

‘It is very pleasing that each year the sale team is better than the previous year, that our auction averages continue to rise and that we continue to win awards for our exhibits throughout the year. That can only give the buyer great confidence in our product.

‘In 2012 our stud won Qld best exhibit at Bendigo Sheep Show & Sale for the second time in a row. We also won awards in Goondiwindi, Tenterfield, Sydney, and Reserve Champion Ewes Fleece in Brisbane at the Ekka.’ Wilson said.

The Stud continues to capture new clients due to continued high standards in producing Merino Sheep, which can be put down to the right sire choices, introduction of new lines, hard work and long term experience in industry.

This year’s Ram Sale is fast approaching. We are set for another big day with impressive averages from the auction team.

Micron – 19.2um

CV Micron – 18.45%

Comfort Factor – 99.55%

The Wilgunya Merino Stud achieved an excellent result last month at the annual Wilgunya Ram Sale.

Standing 70 rams at auction, conducted by combined agents Dirranabdi Pastoral, Elders and Landmark, a 100% clearance and a $1554 average was a very pleasing result for the Wilson family.

A top price of $3300 for Lot, 29, brought by David and Andrew Murray from Woodlawn Lightning Ridge was the highlight. The ram had a micron of 18.4, C.V% 15.82 and 100% comfort factor.

The sale was very solid throughout with 57 rams selling for $1000 or better and broke through the $3000 barrier four times.

Buyers came from Goondiwindi, Walgett, Wee Waa, Lightning Rigge, Collarenebri, Brewarrina, Cunnamulla, Longreach and locally.

70 Rams were sold at auction on the 14 October 2010.

The averages of the auction team were most impressive, and were as follows –