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 decision was made 15 years ago 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. Recent AI programs have included use of semen from Willandra Impact 18 and in 2019 Caroonboon James 1395 and Poll Boonoke 160536. Caroonboon James was again used in 2020 AI program along with Poll Boonoke 190678..

The Caroonboon sheep are known for their size, early maturity, fertility and wool quality. Their plain wrinkle free, well-muscled frames make an easy transition to the non mulesed flock of the future. Lambing percentages have been in excess of 120% the last 3 years.

Over the years the Stud has had major success at shows and sales, winning the Riverina Ewe of the Year 5 times and the Riverina Ram of the Year once.

Caroonboon Station regularly topped the Hay and Deniliquin sales with their surplus ewes offered.

Caroonboon Stud had remained under the direction of the Dickson family for nearly 150 years. In that time the Stud sold rams to most areas of the Riverina and Central NSW. In June 2018 the Pye family who had bought the Dickson family Caroonboon Station in 2014, were approached by Jim Dickson as to the possibility of returning the Stud to its original home at Caroonboon Station. The Pye family embraced the offer whole heartedly and ewes began their return to Caroonboon in August 2018.

The Pye family have worked closely with former Studmaster and owner Jim Dickson since taking ownership of the Stud in 2018 and classer Ian Lilburne and in the last decade, bloodlines have been introduced through ram purchases and annual AI programs. Purchases have been from Terrick West in 2017 for $15,000 and a Ridgeway Advance ram for $10,000 in 2016. AI programs have included use of semen from Willandra Impact 18 and in 2019 Caroonboon James 1395 and Poll Boonoke 160536. Caroonboon James was again used in 2020 AI program along with Poll Boonoke 190678. The Pye family sold Caroonboon James 1395 at the Classings Classic Murray Bridge Sale in 2019 for $18,000 to Darren O'Brien of O'Brien Polls from the Yorke Peninsula, SA. Caroonboon James competed in the 2020 SA Sire Evaluation and the most results show him in the top 5% in AMSEA & Flock Breeding Values in fibre and meat.

Margie, Sandy and Holly Pye, Georgie & Derrym Meddings in conjunction with the classing team and staff look forward to presenting a good line up of display rams at the venues the stud will be attending along with the 4th on property auction the 9th September 2022 at Caroonboon Station where there will be 75 rams up for auction.

Caroonboon Dohnes

The Caroonboon commercial dohne flock was put together with ewes from Calga, DD and Uardry dohne studs along with ewes from the daughter studs of Calga and Uardry. Pure bred dohnes were sourced from South Australia and all parts of NSW.

8 years on all the ewes are now station bred and well suited to their environment.