TESTIMONIALS
Andrew Calvert – Stud Consultant - Phone 0418 130 155 - Email andrew@woolsolutions.com.au
I have been in the role of Breeding Consultant and Classer at Charinga and Banavie for 4 years now. During this time I have gained a very good insight into the influence these genetics are having in Stud and commercial flocks throughout Australia.
I have witnessed great results using these bloodlines in a variety of conditions. The moderate to high rainfall areas of Tasmania and in the challenging New England environment, with predominantly summer rainfall.
The emphasis over many years at Charinga has been to breed aligned wools that are productive and cut weight to micron on the correct skins.
I am a very strong advocate that for a sheep to perform and function to it’s potential, it requires sound structure and good confirmation. Obviously, nutrition is fundamental. How good the wool looks, handles, tests and cuts is irrelevant, if the sheep cannot walk properly. Confirmation and sound structure become increasingly important when you take heavy cutting sheep into higher rainfall areas. Put simply, it doesn’t work trying to put a ten-tonne load on a six-tonne truck.
One of the Merinos biggest commercial positives in today’s market is it’s dual-purpose attributes. The carcass side of the equation in any wool sheep operation is vitally important today. Highlighting again, the importance of sound structure.
In my opinion, the challenge facing the industry today is keeping wool cuts up on plainer sheep. I believe Charinga genetics are arguably amongst the heaviest cutting merinos in Australia that also tick the dual-purpose box.
From a Stud perspective, the objective continues to be to breed sheep that are relevant and have influence throughout the merino world.
I look forward to catching up around the traps and welcome your comments. If I can be of any assistance with Ram selection please contact me.
CHRIS & PAULINE STAPLETON - CAPREE POLL MERINO STUD, NEWBRIDGE NSW - PH 0429 797 633
Since introducing Charinga Genetics to our predominantly Nerstane bloodlines, we have enjoyed a significant advancement in production from our flock. We have moved to shearing twice yearly with outstanding results. Significant increases in fleece weights, staple length and strength while maintaining around an 19-micron average.
Roger has been instrumental in our stud structure with his great knowledge of his Charinga bloodlines. His sire selection for our environment has been spot on. Roger has strived to maintain and improve the qualities that denote superior merino sheep.
The Charinga type with its deep crimping, long staple, white wool on a large frame has thrived in our high rainfall environment and it is obvious why Charinga is a benchmark for other studs
STEPHEN & SHARON SMITH - BIRDWOOD STN, POONCARRIE - PH 0458 295 297
We live in the Pooncarie area NSW 150 km North of Mildura and run a self replacing merino flock on our pastoral country with average rainfall of 225mm. The country which the sheep graze carries 1 sheep to 10 acres. We bought our first rams from Roger about 20 years ago and have been so impressed with the sheep and service we have been back every year since.
The characteristics of the Charinga sheep we like is the quality of the wool, very white and bright, deep crimped that yields well and cuts a good weight of 20.5 micron under various seasonal conditions. They are easy care sheep that grow into good framed ewes that can walk distances in our country plus rear a lamb. It has always been a pleasure to work with Roger and his family over the years.
DENIS BYRNE - MAROONA, VIC - PH 0427 547 525
We live at Maroona , twenty four kilometres south of Ararat in the Western district. It’s a 23” rainfall average and we run 2100 merino ewe self replacing flock, some of which are joined to Border Leicesters rams. Over the past four years our average micron has been between 18.9—20.0 micron and cuts per head have averaged, Ewes 8.2 kg and Hoggets 10-11 months wool 5.8 kg. It is our pleasure to have been introduced to the Polkinghorne family of Charinga and Banavie some 10 years ago. In that period we have benefited greatly from their knowledge of breeding large framed sound correct structured sheep, with good constitution producing substantial amounts of soft handling, high yielding white crimpy fine to medium wools which are keenly sought after by the trade. Due to the crimpy stylish wool a bigger percentage ends up in the top lines. Because of Charinga and Banavie bloodlines we have the bonus of having boat wethers at 18 months of age, being able to breed 1st x ewes which are consistently in the top few pens at special store
sales .Selling joined CFA ewes back to the north and also fat lambs over the hooks at averages up to 28 kgs. As a result of all these benefits, these bloodlines have proven to be very profitable. The past 12 months have been a real test on the ability of wool to withstand wet conditions. We had 875 mm from August 1st 2010 to August 1st 2011. In fact the wettest and most humid weather that we have experienced and only having 80ks of fleece rot in our total clip with no dermatitis at all, is proof that Charinga and Banavie bloodlines are very adaptable. In my opinion over the past twenty years Charinga has become a true parent stud producing a number of impact sires having a massive influence on the merino industry. Show and ram sale success can very often be traced back to Charinga sires eg. East Mundulla by Big Tom, grand champion Bendigo Sheep Show 2011.
ED & LOIS WANDEL, DEAN, STACEY, JESSE & GEORGIE WANDEL - KOOREH, VIC - PH 0407 547 762 (DEAN)
Our Family Farm is located at Kooreh VIC, and is 16Km East of St Arnaud. We are mainly sheep oriented with a small cropping pro-gram. Between us we join around 780 Ewes to Charinga Rams and 380 Ewes to White Suffolk. In the past we bought in young weathers to grow out and sell, and ewes to breed sucker lambs, 10 years ago we decided to breed our own merinos so we bought some Charinga and Banavie based ewes. We have been buying Charinga Rams over this time and are more than happy with what we are producing. The knowledge and advice passed on to us from both Roger and Tim Polkinghorne is invaluable, we are lucky to have Charinga so close to our Family Farm and look forward to a long and successful relationship with the Polkinghorne Family in the future.
JOAN WIGHT, ROBERT & SALLY WIGHT - WOODSIDE, SOUTH GIPPSLAND - PH 0428 575 763
Originally our sheep flock was pure Corriedale of 29 micron. We weren’t happy with our breed-ing programme and in 1981 David Morgan (then with Dalgety's) advised a change to Meri-nos. can remember Dad saying “I don’t want any of those tiny, fine sheep on this property.” We went to Charinga buying big framed sheep, long white wools of 23 micron ,but with very good (low) C.V. and S.D. figures. We purchased approximately 10 rams a year with excellent results, yields into the high 70’s averaging 22 microns. Our wool cuts are 7.5/8.0kg and hope to get to 9kgs given a good year. Thanks to the Polkinghorne’s and the great sheep at Charinga and Banavie. We have had 10-12 terrible seasons, but our wool cuts are 7.5/8.0 kg and hope to get to 9kgs given a good year. Thanks to the Polkinghornes and the great sheep at Charinga and Banavie
STEPHEN & SHARON SMITH - BIRDWOOD STN, POONCARRIE - PH 0458 295 297
We live in the Pooncarie area NSW 150 km North of Mildura and run a self replacing merino flock on our pastoral country with average rainfall of 225mm. The country which the sheep graze carries 1 sheep to 10 acres. We bought our first rams from Roger about 20 years ago and have been so impressed with the sheep and service we have been back every year since. The characteristics of the Charinga sheep we like is the quality of the wool, very white and bright, deep crimped that yields well and cuts a good weight of 20.5 micron under various seasonal conditions. They are easy care sheep that grow into good framed ewes that can walk distances in our country plus rear a lamb. It has always been a pleasure to work with Roger and his family over the years.
GEOFF, SOPHIE & JOSEPH KINGSTON - "SPRINGVALE" THE ROCK - PH 0429 203 333
Since purchasing Charinga rams from Roger Polkinghorne for the last 10 years, we have been extremely pleased and impressed with the result. The Progeny of the rams has increased wool cut, with a high yielding well nourished 19 to 21 micron wool, making six monthly shearing possible. With the flock ewes measuring 61mm, yielding 72.5% and selling in Melbourne’s July 16 auction for a top of 1020 cents kg and aver-aging 976 cents with pcs.
The Charinga genetics with their large frame and heavy body weights, are also giving us the opportunity to capture the higher prices presently offered for mutton and wether lamb meat markets.
All in all we are very happy with our association with Roger Polkinghorne, his family and Charinga and Banavie studs and are looking forward to a continuing relationship with them.