FOR John Boyd, breeding superfine Merinos is about marrying the country to the sheep.
Mr Boyd runs a 500-strong self-replacing superfine breeding flock which measures 17 micron, and he believes the country dictates the type of wool growers can produce.
The country is sandy loam, wrenched many decades ago out of cleared forest and scrubland at Stockdale, in East Gippsland.
Solid fertiliser application and a commitment to improving pastures over an extended period of time has paid off, with the land continuing to produce with minimal inputs.
"We've found over the years the country is best suited to fine and superfine wool," Mr Boyd said.
"It produces a very clean, silky, high yielding clean wool."
That yield is in the high-70 per cent of clean wool – and tensile strength floats between 35-45.
Adult sheep cut 4.5kg fleeces with 17 micron average across the flock.
Mr Boyd pursues a "Merryville type of sheep" in his self-replacing flock.
"We produce that silky, Merryville type of wool on our country," he said.
In the first 20 years, he purchased rams from Goulburn and Yass, but then looked (almost) next door and found Stan Freeman producing the type of rams he wanted.
"We realised we can do just as well on our doorstep," Mr Boyd said.
"And John's done a very good job of continuing his father's work and adapting to conditions, what the wool market wants and what his customers are looking for.
"He's now heading towards a heavier cutting fleece.
"They are locally bred and running on similar country to my flock."
For the past 20 years, Mr Boyd has bought up to three rams each year from The Fringe, Briagolong.
He tries to buy them at Hamilton Sheepvention or the Australian Sheep & Wool Show at Bendigo, as well as the Bairnsdale Merino ram sale.
This year he was underbidder three times for The Fringe rams at Hamilton and Bendigo, so is keen to buy at Bairnsdale.
"I wasn't too concerned about missing out, because I know there's always Bairnsdale coming up," he said.
The cull ewes hold their value too, according to Mr Boyd who sold eight-to-10-year-old ewes recently and realised $60 each.
