Health
To ensure low risk of disease, we do not introduce any ewes or wethers and have had very limited introductions of rams since 1998. Primarily, semen is used to introduce outside genetics.
OJD
SheepMAP MN3 status since 2006, Certificate No.: NS20115
Footrot
No footrot.
Ovine Brucellosis
Accredited Brucellosis free, Certificate No. CW 06/34
Worms
Bellaine is one of the most worm-resistant Merino flocks nationally (there were NO positive WEC ASBVs in the entire 2019 ram drop).
Lice
Free from lice. No treatments have been applied to our sheep during the life of the stud (since 1996), only to some of the handful of ram introductions.
Flies
High resistance to fleece rot and flystrike.
Only rams' polls and lambs breeches at marking receive preventative treatment.
Other stud sheep are not jetted or backlined.
Mulesing was gradually phased out over the 3 markings: 2005, 2006 and 2007, with no sheep mulesed (or clipped) since.
We score for breech wrinkle and breech cover at marking and this data is submitted to Sheep Genetics and is also used in our selection decisions.
Clostridial diseases (Tetanus, Enterotoxaemia, Blackleg, Black disease, Malignant Oedema / Swelled Head in rams)
All sheep are vaccinated with 6-in-1 vaccine; at marking, then weaning, then annually.
Caseous Lymphadenitis (Cheesy gland)
All sheep are vaccinated with 6-in-1 vaccine as above.
Bellaine Merino Stud - Health - Low risk of disease - mainly semen is used to introduce outside genetics |