Warren Russell said the Melrose stud had taken great strides in the pursuit of balanced breeding.

“Melrose stock have been shown many times to have visual balance and appeal in the show ring and tested for decades to deliver performance, in traits profitable to fine wool flocks,” he said. 

“In 2017 Melrose show year had many highlights, winning supreme champion ewe at the Balmoral sheep show and reserve grand champion poll ewe at Bendigo, as well as most successful exhibitor, winning a total of 28 broad ribbons for the year at various exhibitions.” 

Mr Russell said the stud sold 13 rams at public auction with great success this year, reaching a top of $5500 for a poll ram at Ballarat and achieving an average of $2173 for rams sold at Ballarat, Hamilton and Glenelg sales.

He said last year’s auction included 48 rams, selling to a top price of $3600 for a 16.3 micron poll ram, selling at lot 26 to Des Guinane.

“The Melrose 2016 on property sale rams averaged $1087. The auction rams had an average micron of 18.3 and body weight of 92 kilograms at 16 months of age. Good ASBV’s for fine wool production traits provided the sale team with an average Merinoselect Fibre Production + index of 144 placing them in the top 10 per cent of breed,” he said. 

Mr Russell said breeding balanced sheep at the stud revolved around utilising all tools available – including independent outside opinion and advice from renowned sheep classers, using ASBV’s and indexing in a considered approach to aid in classing ewes and selecting sires for breeding.

He said the stud recorded an average annual index increase of 4.18 across the past six years – a rate of improvement achieved by only a few studs.

“All Melrose rams are sold with Merinoselect ASBV’s as well as raw data, so clients can buy without having to guess how the animal and its progeny will perform,” he said.

“One of our leading sires 12UGB057 entered in the North East sire evaluation flock has performed outstandingly, with the highest fleece weights and lowest micron of that group of sires, which include animals from many high performing studs.

“Our wool and that of our clients is always in demand from buyers with many top sale prices and clip awards. Congratulations to Leroy Mac, K.,J. and I. McCready, G. Waters and Ashley and Katrina McErvale on achieving sale topping prices and clip of the month nominations with their wool at sales in the past 12 months.” 

He said the stud’s philosophy of balance was a blend of technology and tried and true methods of breeding sheep.

“This balanced approach achieves measured improvements with animals that will breed predictably, profitably and true to type – every time,” he said.