Sale of Poll Merino stud was an emotional decision for Wheatbelt family

Belka Valley Poll Merino stud has sold in its entirety to a new Wheatbelt home.

The Bruce Rock-based stud established by Phil and Robyn Jones was sold to the Button family's Manunda Poll Merino stud, Tammin, with the Buttons taking possession of the majority of sheep last month.

Unfortunately, the sale was a regrettable one for the Jones family, with their hands forced to reassess their farming operations due to Phil's debilitating long-term health diagnosis and lifetime treatment.

The stud sale comprised all Belka Valley stud ewes and lambs following pregnancy testing and classing including the 2024-drop ram lambs with a line of Belka Valley rams to be offered at this year's annual Manunda on-property ram sale on September 8.

Belka Valley stud ewe lambs will remain at the Jones' property until August and following classing and the family's final shearing, will make the short journey to their new home at South Tammin.

There are two Belka Valley sires currently being prepared in Ashley Lock's shed at Narrogin, with plans in place for them to be displayed and shown later this year at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Victoria, Rabobank Katanning WA Sheep Expo and Sale, Katanning and the Perth Royal Show.

Ms Jones said it was an extremely difficult and emotional decision to sell their Belka Valley sheep.

"With Phil's prognosis, combined with two sons extremely happy in their chosen careers in finance and law, Phil and I made the decision together to sell Belka Valley," Ms Jones said.

"It was a decision made with many tears."

Mr Jones said they wanted to keep their much-loved sheep and the progress they felt they had made with their genetics to go to a stud that would honour and continue these efforts.

"We are happy the stud sold in its entirety and wasn't dispersed and thrilled it went to a stud we are proud for Belka Valley to be associated with," he said.

"The Button family are wonderful people and the sale has been a seamless transition, it couldn't have been done better and we wish them the very best.

"And with the Button family's blessing, two rams and half a dozen unhoused/unrugged hoggets will be shown for one last time as Belka Valley in 2025."

The origins of the Belka Valley stud date back to Phil's parent's Kenville Merino stud which ran from 1960 until its dispersal in 1984.

The family retained the Masterbuilt line of ewes from the Kenville stud to run commercially and breed their own rams.

Through the 1990s, they undertook AI programs and attended local shows with their commercial sheep before approaching the Stud Merino Breeders' Association of WA about reregistering the ewes.

The Belka Valley Merino stud was registered in 2003 with 300 ewes followed by the Poll Merino stud in 2005 with the purchase of 50 Poll ewes from the Jennerberry stud dispersal, Corrigin and a Poll ram from the Claypans stud, Corrigin.

Claypans would have a lot of early influence on the Belka Valley Poll breeding, along with Moorundie Park B100.

Angenup (Kojonup) was also a strong influence in both the horned and Poll breeding with Poll sire Angenup Big Jack breeding very well and about a decade ago, a new Poll family was established on Mianelup (Gnowangerup) bloodlines which also worked very well.

More recently from the East Mundalla stud, Tarin Rock, sire Slipper was purchased for $33,000 in 2020 which had a profound influence and the most recent significant sire acquisition was Poll Boonoke Forbes 867 purchased for $32,000.

Belka Valley has been actively involved in the WA show circuit over the journey and claimed many major accolades for single and group classes.

Heading the stud's show ring achievements is winning the junior champion award at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show and is believed to be the only WA stud to win the award twice.

First with a Merino ram 'Lester' (by Angenup Trevor) in 2005 and most recently in 2022 with an East Mundalla Slipper son 'Daniel' which later sold to the Canowie Fields stud, Gairdner, for $15,000.

The Jones said they weren't intending to take sheep to Bendigo, Victoria, in 2022 but Wayne Button saw 'Daniel' at wool testing and strongly recommended the Jones take it to Bendigo.

Belka Valley was awarded the supreme exhibit at the 2022 Perth Royal Show with another 'Slipper' son 'Nathan' to cap off a memorable year for the stud.

Belka Valley is also believed to be the only WA stud to win the overall Australian All Purpose ram award at Bendigo, which they also won in 2005 with a Poll ram.

Some other notable feats was winning the PRORam at the Rabobank Katanning Sheep Show for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015, along with multiple dual-purpose and junior champion awards.

Belka Valley finished runners up in the Elders Field Day Four Competition at Katanning in 2009, ironically to Manunda, before beating them the following year for their maiden win in the competition.

Phil and Robyn said they have enjoyed wonderful support from a loyal band of clients over the years and thanked those that worked closely with the stud.

"We have clients that stuck with us right from the start and the support from them and new buyers along the way has been exceptional and we really appreciate it," they said.

"Graeme Teasdale (formally Elders) was instrumental in bringing clients to the stud.

"Elders stud stock Nathan King has been a huge part of the stud and Lauren Rayner in more recent years and Jumbuk Shearing's Tom Reed and Gavin Fowler have been incredible.

"And to the team at Farm Weekly, we appreciate the efforts in articles, sale coverage and advertisements and many show images taken so carefully, patiently and professionally."

Phil and Robyn will remain actively involved in the sheep industry serving their third term on the SMBAWA committee and will continue promoting and advocating for the sheep industry in WA.

"While we had to sell our sheep for health reasons, we aren't bailing on the sheep industry and remain as passionate as ever," they said.

"Keep The Sheep."

Manunda stud co-principal Wayne Button said he's always admired the Belka Valley sheep and the stud purchase was an opportunity to keep moving forward.

"As a family, we are keen to stay in the industry and looking for opportunities to expand our business," Mr Button said.

"We still want to invest in top genetics and keep the stud operation going at a good scale and keep our sale ram numbers up.

"My son Luke is very keen on his sheep and has taken a particular interest in this new part of the program."

Mr Button said they have known the Jones family for a long time and were familiar with their sheep and bloodlines.

"We actually purchased some ewes from the family's Kenville dispersal and they did well for us a long time ago now," he said.

"The Belka Valley ewe base is magnificent, we were very impressed when we went through the ewes.

"The stud was a good fit for us, breeding a similar type of sheep and their clients are close proximity to us."

Mr Button said the ewes have been preg-tested and settled in well, the ram lambs have been shorn and they will look to offer 50 rams at this year's sale.

"We still identify the Haseley bloodline today, 20 years after we purchased the stud and we are keen to continue doing this with the Belka Valley bloodline," he said.

"While we were aware of Phil's health issues, the sale of the stud came around quicker than expected, so we're a bit tight for space at the moment but we will work it out.

"We thank Phil and Robyn for the opportunity to purchase Belka Valley and wish them well for the future."