About Us
The Beginning of White River Merinos
White River Merino Stud was founded on pure Collinsville blood in 1951. Only the very best Collinsville genetics have been introduced with several world record priced rams being purchased from the parent stud, coupled with select infusions from the most suitable leading Australian sires, enabling White River to cement a type for which it is renowned.
We have now succeeded in breeding a genuine White River blood type of animal.
Our Country
The White River Stud has centralised and is now run on 13,000ha on Western Upper Eyre Peninsula on properties at Minnipa, Poochera and Cungena. Our country is 300mm rainfall, broadacre agricultural limestone country.
Our Objective
At White River we are aiming towards bigger, plainer, freer types of animals to cater for modern day demands.
Selection Criteria
Our aim is to produce extra large framed correct structured animals with good fleshing qualities, carrying long stapled soft handling nourished wools on plain bodies. We have refrained from chasing trends and opted to produce our own unique superior quality Dual Purpose Merino by following these aims. Our clip average on fleece wools is 20 microns with a 72.5 yield. Our mature ewes cut 8-9 kg, Micron 20.0-21.5. Hoggets cut 7-8kg and micron 18.5 – 20 depending on the season. Bodyweights of 15 month old rams are from around 100 – 140 kgs and top breeding ewes around 100kgs. At White River we are aiming towards bigger, plainer, freer types of animals to cater for modern day demands.
Selection Method
Visual assessment of our animals remains paramount. We certainly use objective measurements to help us fine tune our wool selections, but we very much believe its some of the characteristics you can’t measure that are so important in Stud Merino Sheep breeding. Sheep have to survive in a paddock NOT on a whiteboard. We constantly body weigh our rams and place a lot of emphasis on growth rate. Consequently all rams offered for sale have current objective wool test results and eye muscle depth and body weight figures.
Breeding Ewes
Approximately 1850 ewes are mated each year.
