Big frames and wool

NORM Weir aims is to breed big framed, fertile sheep with as much quality wool as possible at his Kerrilyn Merino and Poll Merino Stud.

The Dunluce stud, founded in 1994 based on Belbourie and Wonga bloodlines, does this by using top Artificial Insemination sires.

Norm says all rams are tested and ranked for wool and body traits.

“We test the quality of our stud and effectiveness of the flock by entering wether trials,” he said.

“Both our flocks and clients’ flocks have been very successful in this venture.

“We are predominately a medium wool stud with microns ranging between 16.5 to 21.5.”

Norm said Kerrilyn had a history of breeding heavy-cutting productive sheep.

“We have won four most valuable fleece awards at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show Bendigo as well as a champion strong wool fleece and reserve champion medium

Inspection: From 10.30AM on day of auction

Auction: 12.30PM

Offering: 50 rams

Bealiba South Road, Dunluce and fine-medium fleece awards.”

Benchmarking of Merino and poll Merinos - the poll stud was established with the purchase of 50 ewes and a ram at the Lewisdale dispersal sale rams and ewes in Western Australia in 2011 - has seen Kerrilyn awarded major prizes. At this month’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Kerrilyn had its best-ever results - its Medium Wool Champion Merino Ewe and then went on to win Grand Champion Medium Wool Ewe.

Kerrilyn also won the Champion Fine Medium Poll Merino Ewe and went on to become Reserve Grand Champion Fine Medium Ewe.

The same sheep were also awarded the Fine Medium Wool and Medium Wool Ewe Victorian Champions. The Medium Wool Ewe then won the Victorian Bred Champion Wool Ewe of the Show Kerrilyn’s fleeces have also received honours over the years including at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show winning the champion Victorian fleece in 2021 that followed from earlier success in taking out the champion medium fleece.

Kerrilyn also won the Stoeleigh Perpetual Challenge Cup (highest aggregate medium wool classes) with champion ribbons, four reserve champion ribbons, 10 firsts, three second ribbons, three thirds and a fourth place in the pairs at the recent Victorian Sheep Show in Ballarat.

“Showing our rams and ewes at major shows is an important part of benchmarking what we do and gives confidence to our commercial flock buyers, who come from across central and northern Victoria and beyond,” said Norm.