Ram sales
Benmore Station offers 4 distinct type of rams to clients all over the South Island and a few into the North.
All rams are performance tested and where possible breeding values are generated and available to clients.
Rams are available for private selection, please contact Bill or Andrew for further information.
Merino
For a long time these were the majority of the rams that we bred and sold. Selected primarily for wool production with an ever-increasing emphasis on robustness and doability. Starting from Merryville base we have used Nerstane and Earnscleugh genetics to improve the productivity of these lines. The Merino rams we produce are suitable to fill both Reda contracts and Icebreaker contracts. Our wool regularly meets Reda requirements. These sheep are perfect for traditional high country places with a significant focus on wool production.
Poll Merino
An exciting sheep type that we have been developing over the last 5 years. Starting from the merino base we have introduced elite production genes from Merinotech in Western Australia. Merinotech WA is an industry leader in the rates of genetic gain. By careful harnessing this power while keeping the Benmore wool type on them, we have created a true dual-purpose merino that is excelling on our properties and on those of clients. We balance the selection of wool with the selection for reproduction and carcass traits in these lines. The sires we have introduced are also trait leaders for worm resistance. These sheep are designed for high country places that have undergone development or irrigation programs. They are also perfect for lower country.
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Quarter-bred
Using the Poll Merino genetics as a base we are also now breeding quarter-bred rams. Three quarters performance poll merino and one-quarter romney, we are extremely impressed in the capabilities of these sheep. They are performing like our commercial half-bred flock but with a lot finer (and more valuable wool). Ideal for farmers who are aiming to fill Smartwool contracts or market wool in the 21 to 24 micron range. These sheep are a real option for sheep farmers that are tired of the crossbred wool market and would like a piece of the fine wool action.
Half-bred
Again we use the performance poll merinos as a base and mate them with carefully selected Romney rams to produce our half-bred rams. We have farmed half-bred ewes under irrigation many years and regularly can market the large majority of lambs at weaning with a very low percentage of store lambs out of these ewes. These ewes also produce a considerably more valuable fleece than equivalent crossbred ewes. These sheep are a great option for those starting out moving toward a finer wool.