About Bundilla Poll Merino Stud

Bundilla Poll is a leading ram source and seedstock business focused on maximising ewe efficiency for the Australian sheep industry. Ewe efficiency is a dam’s ability to maximise kilograms per hectare of lamb and fleece value per hectare of wool. Bundilla is unique within the Australian sheep industry having maternal genetics with full pedigrees on dams dating back 40 years. At Bundilla we collect the dam’s performance of 2000 full pedigreed stud ewes. Bundilla Stud dams are run and assessed under commercial conditions,so as to give us the best ability to identify genetics we wish to multiply and spread throughout the 4000 Bundilla commercial ewe breeding program.

The Baldwin Family has been a key driver of getting ewe efficiency recognised and accepted within the Australian sheep industry and in the future we believe the genetics we have developed at Bundilla will be the backbone of the Australian sheep industry.

For 40 years we have had a performance base approach for our genetic selection. Our breeding objectives have never been traditional, and our methods are unique, all aimed at maximising genetic progress of our program. The Bundilla bloodline is now recognised as one of the leading maternal genetics within the Australian sheep industry, selling sires and semen to all states across Australia.

Our History

In 1976 Ross and Susi Baldwin had intentions not only to develop a large frame heavy cutting merino but also one that had the ability to wean twin lambs.

The Bundilla Merino Stud was subsequently established from top quality Wonga Stud and flock ewes, with the aim to increase these ewes’ fecundity (ovulation rate). Booroola rams with the F gene were introduced for four years to achieve this aim.

From 1981 onwards continual selection on rearing and weaning ability has seen a selection focus on:

  1. Ewes and sires reared as twins with production figures (GFW, BDW, Micron) better than average
  2. Temperament and mothering ability
  3. Milking ability to maximise maternal weaning weights
  4. Body size and conformation
  5. Lamb survival

During the 1990’s to 2018 focus areas have involved individual testing as follows:

  1. Fleece Testing since 1993 to meet industry requirements and increase $/ha
  2. Muscle Scanning since 1996 to improve meat carcasses
  3. FEC since 1996 to increase resistance to worms
  4. Fleece weighing since 1985 to increase wool cut/head
  5. Full stud breeding pedigrees since 1978 for fertility background

Our achievements

  • 7u average
  • Wool cut 7.3kg average
  • Improved meat carcass confirmation
  • Stocked at 12 DSE/Ha
  • 25-year average weaning rates of 143% on ewes joined

Our goals

Bundilla’s goals for the next ten years:

  • Maintain a Stud weaning rate of 143%
  • Maintain the 18.7 micron ewe fleece.
  • 5kg increase in GFW for stud ewes through staple length.
  • 10kg increase in body weights at 250 days of age.
  • Increased selection emphasis on carcass muscling traits
  • Increased selection for worm resistance.

Goals will be achieved by:

  • A complete tested pedigree of every ewe and ram on Bundilla
  • All Bundilla progeny have full pedigrees with extensive wool and carcass EBV’s to maximize selection accuracy
  • Extensive visual records both individual and progeny groups
  • Accelerated genetic gain by maintaining weaning rates at 143%

Benchmark Programs:

  • AMSEA (2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017) Sire Evaluation.
  • Wether trials – 2011, 2013, 2016 Peter Westblade Memorial Wether Trial.
  • Sheep genetics the Bundilla genetic database is one of the largest private sheep genetic databases in the world.