Karmala Merino and Working Kelpie Studs

The Karmala Working Kelpie Stud was relocated to Queensland from Western Victoria in 2001. It is now situated at Nobby, about 40 km south of Toowoomba.

Only a small nucleus of bitches" is retained for breeding so that a high standard can be maintained.

My aim is to breed sensible dogs who can work naturally and cause their owners as few headaches as possible. I have no time for very excitable, stock-crazy animals. They must value their relationship with their handler to a high degree and want to please in their work. Highly respected Kelpie breeder, John White, wrote recently in the WKC newsletter:
“I always select a dog that is friendly, wants to be with you, to work as a team with you. You can tell those characteristics at a fairly young age.” I couldn’t agree more.

I like dogs that can work with a little distance off their stock when young, and are happy to hold when they have them balanced. They should also be capable of firing up when required for yard work… I don’t guarantee that every pup will comply exactly with this description, but some do, judging by this email received recently entitled ‘Zen and the art of sheepdog handling’…..

“The experience of working her is exactly the opposite of any other I have had with kelpies. It is veritably tranquil; I can hear the wind blowing and the birds chirping instead of myself yelling and screaming obscenities…. it is akin to zen!”

I know just how he feels. It was many years before I owned a really good, well bred dog. Once your stock work becomes a pleasure and you start looking forward to taking your dogs out, you’ll never settle for second best again.

In the last few decades, with the increasing use of bikes for mustering, some old kelpie traits are starting to disappear. Many dogs are now used mainly for yard work, and backing, barking, full-on kelpies are in the majority. I prefer an all-round dog that retains its heading instinct, has some eye, and is capable of mustering difficult country. With this in mind, I have sought sires with bloodlines that have been proven in hard conditions where brains and stamina are essential.

I have accessed old Kelpie families through the Karrawarra and Riana studs and I am very grateful for the help I have received from these experienced stud masters.

Tony Parsons (Karrawarra) was responsible for seeking out and preserving Kelpie bloodlines after the fiasco of two World Wars, during which many ‘studs’ disappeared. His books on the Working Kelpie are an invaluable record of these dogs and are collectively known as ‘The Kelpie Bible’.

Arthur Hazlett (Riana) founded his stud on Karrwarra dogs and is one of the few Kelpie breeders of recent years who has finessed the fine art of line breeding. Outside dogs are rarely introduced, and as a result his dogs are defined in type and prepotent.

Because I have little real work for my dogs these days, I try to ensure that any young dogs kept for breeding are tested in the real world. I have been most fortunate in finding some very kind, like minded stockmen to help me do this, and can’t thank them enough for their efforts. It surely proves their dedication to the Kelpie breed. With cooperation like this, and by working with a loose group of breeders who are looking for the same type of dog, I hope to preserve those Kelpie traits that originally made the breed such an invaluable asset.

Three brood bitches(left) Karrawarra Gift, Woorivale Spice and Riana Delta Dawn.

Late autumn rain for the first time in 20+ years has given the district a great start to winter. The grazing oats look excellent and some optimistic farmers are even sowing barley. My little bit of lucerne and the oats I sowed with a spreader also look good, and the young rams are doing very well on the lucerne.

Big news which has nothing to do with the dogs! Karmala Merinos had a very successful time at the State Sheep Show at Longreach in May and won the Queensland Pair and Q’land Ewe of the Year. The ram was Champion Fine Wool ram and Reserve Grand Champion Ram of the show. Both the ewe and the ram were beaten only by the Supreme Exhibit, a big strong wool ram from Mt Ascot. A very satisfactory show, which was just as well considering the traveling involved.
The Pair will travel to Bendigo in July for the National Pairs, a real nuisance as I had planned to mate the ram ….

I am very pleased with the Glen pups at this stage. There are still a couple of lovely dog pups available from Delta’s litter, probably the pick ones but the colours don’t appeal to me for breeding. One is fawn and the other blue, 2 centre pups, photo below.

Have heard on the grapevine that K.Tilly is doing some very nice work for Arthur Crumblin, who recently gave her a week’s contract mustering work. She has settled nicely on sheep and steadied down.

Serafino Gallina took his SpiceXPercy pup K.Pip to a Robert Cox school and was pleased to report that Robert liked her very much and wanted a pup from her later on. She was sold on the condition that I retained breeding rights to at least one litter. Pip has only worked chooks lately, so must have been pleased to see some sheep again.

Grant Hutchins has K.Lily at present for some work experience. He’s pleased with her work and recently called to his mother to come and watch her work…but was disgusted when Lil immediately began working the sheep to Mrs. Hutchins.
‘These ladies’ dogs!’ Grant was heard to mutter.
There is a Low Stress Stock Handling School at Tenterfield in June to be run by Sean Barrett. If any of you are interested please contact me and I’ll let Grant know. He was so impressed with the recent school at Gympie(pics below) that he is arranging this one.

David Hart is producing a small ‘e-magazine’ called The Stock Whisper for the Fairdinkum Stock Handlers and the first issue is now complete. It contains a report of the recent school at Oakwood and other interesting items, including a couple by Tony Parsons. For a copy email david@oakwood.com.au

Shortly after I moved here 8 years ago Don Burke interviewed Tony Parsons for a segment on Working Kelpies. Pat Murphy worked his dogs on my sheep, and I showed my bitch Scoriochre Jan backing. Gift, as a young pup, worked with her sire Karra. RipIII.
In April Burke’s Backyard magazine included a free DVD on dog breeds, and this includes part of the filming done here. I have already had a couple of phone calls asking ‘Is that you?’
Meanwhile Gift has become a valuable brood bitch(pic. below)

I manage this website myself, due to the need for constant updates. I have no idea why the type goes a bit astray at times and apologise for the odd bits!

K.GlenXRiana DeltaD pups aged 6 wks.

My daughter Katie Fraser helps hold the Queensland Pair for 2009. The ewe is Q'land ewe of the Year and the ram Res. Grand Champion at the Queensland State Sheep Show held in Longreach.

Karrawarra GiftIV with 3 of her daughters by Riana Glide. K. Lily(left), Gift, K.Tilly, K.Win.

David Hart has K.Lily's undivided attention.

A good season for a change, and the sunflower crops around Nobby have been thriving this year.

Lizzie after winning Grand Champion Ewe at Stanthorpe, 2009.

These are big, productive sheep with quality wool, and can reduce the micron in stronger flocks without loss of cut… and increase production in finer flocks without increasing micron. This is stated with confidence based on the results in clients’ flocks over many years.

At Karmala micron, quality and production are the chief selection criteria. The infusion of finer genetics from Rockbank has given a finer ewe base and more elite-woolled young sheep.

An AI programme using Nerstane 43 in 2004 produced a nice lot of young ewes one of which went on to be Supreme Exhibit at Toowoomba and Goondiwindi in 2006.