The history of Karbullah and Boyanga

History of Karbullah

In 1995, we became involved with SRS® and Dr Jim Watts after attending workshops and learning about the skin biology and its importance to wool quality and production. Previous to this we had been strongly based on South Australian frame sheep and had introduced in the fine wool genetics from New England Tablelands of NSW. The later dropped our micron, whitened our wools but lowered our body weights/fertility and increased the wrinkle in our flock. We have continued down the SRS® line improving our sheep’s skin together with the carcase being ever mindful that merinos can be dual purpose – MEAT and WOOL.

In June 2001 we were granted registered SRS® Registered Stud status after an

Jim Watts and Mark Murphy with Gavin Murphy in the background, August 2008

inspection by Dr Jim Watts. We had noticed a drastic decrease in body wrinkle which combined to produce an easy care, fertile animal and we already had good temperament to complement the package. This temperament advantage meant an increase in lambs, better weaning weights and better feedlot performance.
Stud genetics used pre SRS® were Mernowie Poll, Marabel, SA ( this stud had performed exceptionally in wether trials) and Emu Hills Poll (fine wool stud), Inverell, NSW.

SRS Stud genetics used were Wallaloo Park, Glendemar and Leachim. These Studs were all early starters on the new breeding system and all Stud Representatives were very helpful and encouraging. Because we’re concentrating on Polls, Rams now used are Karbullah and Leachim ( in AI programes ).

In 2003 an AI program was conducted using Australian Meat Merino genetics. AMM involved combining genetics from Glendemar, Leachim , Keri Keri and putting major pressure on improving carcase traits whilst not relaxing on wool characteristics. This proved very beneficial to our stud.

History of Boyanga

Ted and Margert Murphy with grandaughter Alexis Fleming.

Boyanga Stud registered in 1995 by Ted and Margaret Murphy, “Boyanga”, Mungindi, New South Wales after the purchasing of 1 ram and 50 ewes from Neil McLennan’s Banavie Park, Victoria.

A further 158 ewes were purchased in 1997/98 with 480 ewes being upgraded from the Boyanga flock in 1996. Rams and semen were used from:
Banavie Park, Glendemar, Wallaloo Park, Gowandale, and more recently Keri Keri.
At present only Boyanga rams are being used in the stud. Ted always liked big plain, easy care merinos that could handle summer rainfall.

Dr Jim Watts became involved in 1996 with his SRS® system of breeding with a high emphasis on getting the skin’s biology correct. “The sheep have been selected intensively for resistance to worms and flystrike in the challenging environment of high summer rainfall, high humidity and many hot days.
The wool has a silky soft texture and grows to a great fleece length. Particular emphasis has been placed on constitution in the paddock under drought and flood conditions.” Dr Jim Watts.

Using data from Sheep Genetics Australia has helped improve the carcase on what was already a very fertile sheep. Studies have shown a high correlation between muscle and good constitution. Boyanga weaners have been recorded at gaining up to 1 kg per day in ideal pasture conditions at Mungindi.

Ted passed away in June 2006 and the stud has been relocated in November 2007 to Goondiwindi under the care of family, Mark and Vicki Murphy.