The Australian Rams

While you read the text at the top of these pages photographs of sheep are downloading below.

Peerless superfine merino rams are bred in the Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. In late July of every year some of these superb animals are auctioned at the Melbourne Ram Sales. In 1990 and again in 1991, I traveled to Melbourne where I purchased the rams pictured below.

"Is it not strange that sheep’s guts should hale souls out of men’s bodies."

William Shakespeare, Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing, act 2, sc. 3.

Arriving two weeks before the sales, I visited Australia's major superfine wool studs  with my Australian agent,  Patrick Esse. We traveled from Yass and Goulborne in New South Wales to Hamilton in Victoria stopping at  Merriville, Bullamalita, Glenleigh, Hillcreston, Grathlyn and Sierra Park  to preview the rams that would be available for export.  Mr. Esse has been involved with the merino for over 30 years and "knew his wool", as they say. I made notes on structure and followed Pat's advice on the wool. We spent the fortnight comparing the rams to decide which ones to bid on when we got to Melbourne.

We were looking for rams who were large and smooth bodied with 17 micron wool whose fleece was uniform front to rear and top to bottom. We wanted a brilliant white wool that yielded 75% or better with excellent handle and character.

Sierra Park SP2

"Overall Reserve Champion Superfine Ram" at Melbourne, 1990. 17.1 micron and 75% yield.  Sire: Sir William 7th.  The Sierra Park stud is the foremost breeder of  Saxon Merinos in Australia. This ram  is the most celebrated finewool ram exported from Australia in the 20th Century.  Pictured are Eugene Wyatt,  SP2 and Patrick Esse. 

Bullamalita 76

From the Bullamalita stud,  NSW. His AFD is 17.0 microns. His progeny have brilliant and uniform wool. Sire: Johny Snowy.

Bullamalita 38

From the Bullamalita stud, NSW. His AFD is 17.2 microns. His progeny are large framed good on their feet.  Sire: Johny Snowy syndicate.

Glenleigh 6

From the Glenleigh stud, NSW. His AFD is 17.6 microns. His progeny are robust and have wonderful fleeces.  Sire: Ringmaster 3rd.

Glenleigh 13

From the Glenleigh stud, NSW.  His AFD is 18.1 microns.  His progeny are large bodied with long stapled wool.  Sire: Glenleigh Ringmaster 3rd.

Introduction || History & Breeding || Rams|| References