Breed's foundation stud under new ownership again in east coast power play
The foundation stud of a popular self-shedding breed has changed hands for the second time in two years after making the move from Western Australia to the east coast.
The SheepMaster Parent Stud, which was founded by Neil Garnett in 2017 in Elleker, WA, was sold in October 2023, with the stud moving to Cowra.
But two years on, owner and managing director Mark Berry announced, going forward, the stud would be in the hands of Orrie Cowie stud principal John Dalla, Nhill, Vic.
Mr Dalla's strong connection with the SheepMaster Parent Stud stems back to 2022 when he paid $110,000 for a ram that formed the foundation of his own "daughter" Sheepmaster stud.
Mr Berry said the east coast was the "epicentre" of Australia's sheep industry, with the largest proportion of the national flock in NSW, and this growing even higher when it included Victoria and South Australia.
"If you're going to try to have some influence on the sheep industry, you need to do it here," he said.
Mr Dalla said Orrie Cowie covered the Victorian and South Australian markets, while the location in central NSW would help shore up NSW and Queensland opportunities, with three sales held each year.
He said this was a fantastic opportunity to get a foothold across three states and service a larger area, while having a critical mass of ewes would help ensure genetic diversity.
"This is an opportunity to expand in a breed I have a lot of faith in," he said.
Mr Dalla will still retain his Orrie Cowie stud, which is based at Nhill and holds its annual sales on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, with the existing staff to stay on managing the Cowra stud.
He plans for the two studs to be run separately, but the combination would also bring opportunities, such as the nearly 8000 breeding ewes between the two flocks.
"I think it's a good fit, we're a daughter stud so there is the same genetic base, and we've always selected at the top end," he said.
"It's a big task but we've got a good team in Victoria at Nhill and there is a good team here (at Woodstock), to make it work."
Mr Dalla was offered the opportunity to buy the SheepMaster Parent Stud when it went on the market in 2023, but it was a case of bad timing.
He had been preparing to relocate from his family's long-held base on Yorke Peninsula but at the time was not sure where he would end up.
"I never thought I'd have the opportunity again," he said.
Mr Dalla said the relocation to Nhill had paid off, with them now running twice as many sheep.
He also runs a Merino stud, in conjunction with Glendonald, something he has no intention of stepping away from.
"Good quality Merinos, there is still a specific market for those," he said.
"I think (the market) will end up with the wool sheep as Merinos and the meat sheep as shedders, and have that divide."
Mr Berry said new owner Mr Dalla was the right choice for the stud's future.
"He's very experienced and represents the next generation," he said.
"We need a new generation for the new direction of sheep, cleanskins and meat production.
"It was time to hand it on, there's already too many old people in agriculture."
This is the second change in leadership in recent months for the stud.
In August, it was announced Zac Scales was stepping into the role of studmaster, while previous studmaster Andrew Hodgson would remain within the team as a consultant.
