Page 20 - PowerPoint Presentation

Caroonboon Merinos

The Caroonboon Stud was founded in 1870 by J & J Dickson with a
selection of ewes from 'Groongal' Carathool which were mated with rams
from 'Scone' Stud, Tasmania. Subsequently rams from 'Boonoke' F No 7
and 'Boonoke' F No 83 were also introduced.

Over the next 100 years the Dicksons introduced bloodlines from various
Riverina studs through the purchase of rams, ewes and semen.

Although the stud was founded in 1870 from various studs, a lot of the early
genetic influence was lost in the 1940s drought. At the end of that drought
there were only 800 sheep left alive on Caroonboon a property of 80,000
acres. In one period there were three years of rainfall where only 4", 6" and
8" fell. They were the driest three consecutive years in Caroonboons history.
The stud was rebuilt from that time, on Uardry and Wanganella bloodlines.

The stud remained under the direction of the Dickson family for nearly 150
years and has had major successes at shows and sales, winning the
Riverina Ewe of the Year 5 times and the Riverina Ram of the Year once.
Caroonboon Station surplus ewes have regularly topped the Hay and
Deniliquin sales and the Stud has sold rams to most areas of the Riverina
and Central NSW. The Caroonboon sheep are known and sought after for
their size, early maturity, wool quality with lambs marked at 131% in 2020.

The decision was made 15 years ago by the Jim Dickson & classer Ian
Lilburne to use poll merinos to breed a more dual-purpose animal. This
started with the introduction of poll merino rams from South Australia and
semen from leading sires from South Australia and the Riverina.

Recent rams purchases have been from Terrick West in 2017 for $15,000 &
a Ridgeway Advance ram for $10,000 in 2016. In 2017 ewes were joined in
the AI program to Willandra Impact 18 and in 2019 to Boonoke 160536 and
Caroonboon James 181395. Caroonboon James 1395 was sold to O’Brien
Polls SA at the Murray Bridge Classings Classic Sale 2019 for the sum of
$18,000. Caroonboon James was a standout ram, large frame with bright
white defined wool throughout his frame. He microned in at 19.8, CF of 99.7
and a CV of 12.1, cutting 9kgs at 7 months growth.

The Caroonboon sheep are known for their size, early maturity, fertility and
wool quality. Lambing percentages have been in excess of 120% the last 3
years.