While Merino studmasters were understandably frustrated at not being able to exhibit and offer rams for sale at the 2021 Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, Victoria, due to COVID-19 restrictions, private sales are being made, while studmasters prepare for their annual on-property auctions in spring.
Drew and Laura Chapman, West Plains Poll Merino Stud, Delegate, have sold a half share in their Reserve Sire West Plains Silencer for $25,000.
Purchasers were long time West Plains supporters Paul and Felicity Brady, Staveley Park Merino stud, Staveley Victoria.
West Plains co-studmaster Drew Chapman said this outstanding ET bred young sire has been a standout since a lamb with three full-flush brothers sold to studs as ram lambs.
"He is also a proven sire," Mr Chapman said.
"Silencer will have progeny in WA, SA, VIC and NSW in 2021 with several studs already ordering semen for 2022."
Silencer is ET bred by the 2015 Sydney Royal supreme exhibit and objective class winner West Plains Mercenary and Mr Chapman said he is the only poll sire to win both these awards.
Silencer's dam Erin cut 12.2 kg as a hogget and was sired by East Strathglen 126 x J12 ET.
Mr Chapman said Silencer currently weighs 122kgs after being naturally joined to 120 ewes this season with a EMA of 43.5 and 4.5 FAT.
His tests are 18.1 micron, 2.8 SD, 14.8 CV and 99.9 CFpc.
"Silencer's sire West Plains Mercenary has been an impact sire used by 54 studs across Australia and internationally with sons selling to $30,000 for Orrie Cowie, SA, $23,000 and $22,000 for East Strathglen, WA, and over $600,000 dollars of sons nationally," Mr Chapman said..
"Shalimar Park at Walcha also won the objective measurement ewe class at Sydney Royal with a daughter."
Further genetic success occurred at the recent Hay show, the supreme exhibit shown by Doug Walker, Wongara Poll Merinos, Old Junee, was a Mercenary grandson through his ET mother Wongara Delta who was a championship winner at the Great Southern Supreme Merino show in Canberra in 2017.
Mr Chapman said West Plains genetics have also been to the fore in New Zealand with the 2021 supreme exhibit at Wanaka (NZ major show) being awarded to the Murray family, Maryburn Stud, with a grandson of a West Plains NE family sire.
Speaking on behalf of the purchasers, Felicity Brady said the purchase was based on the desire to secure another top sire.
"Having previously purchased three other Mercenary family West Plains sires, we knew he would be a top addition for our stud in a Victorian Western District rainfall environment," Mrs Brady said.
Mr Chapman described Silencer as a very balanced sire with a masculine sire's head, excellent conformation with a long stapled, pure highly crimped fibre with very balanced figures over the important commercial traits.
"Silencer is also backed by four generations of ET breeding," he said.
"He has 120 natural lambs on the ground at West Plains and they exhibit his outstanding bone and purity with soft pliable skins and great constitution."
West Plains Silencer will now be sent for semen collection with West Plains retaining 50pc semen marketing rights and half share natural matings.
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