Karbullah

Karbullah Poll Merinos is a family run dual-purpose SRS Poll Merino stud situated 70km north of Goondiwindi on an 8,000 acre Brigalow and Belah. Mark and Vicki Murphy established the stud in 2001 with a clear goal: breed a “next generation” merino that is productive, profitable, and genuinely low-maintenance. More than 25 years on, that goal is still what drives every selection decision made at Karbullah.

From the beginning, Mark and Vicki focused on building a ewe base that could do the job without being propped up by chemical intervention. Karbullah ewes have not been drenched as a mob since 1992, and the flock has been non-mulesed since 2004. Reflecting decades of deliberate selection for resilience, plain body and worm tolerance animals. Today Karbullah consistently achieves 130% or better lambing and under 10% lamb loss across its ewe flock.

The stud became registered with SRS Genetics in 2001, connecting with the cutting-edge genetic work being led by the late Dr Jim Watts. That relationship shaped the breeding programme profoundly. Karbullah rams are selected using a rigorous data-driven approach through Merinoselect, with the stud holding a 5 Star Data Quality rating from Sheep Genetics. The current breeding focus combines strong growth, eye muscle depth, worm resilience, fleece weight, and ewe rearing ability into a balanced, dual-purpose animal that performs across wool and meat markets. The stud flock averages 19 micron.

The Murphy family has also sold sheep meat directly to butcher shops for six years, giving them firsthand carcass feedback that continuously informs selection. As one long-term client, John Kennedy of Uralla NSW, puts it: “At the end of the day, the Karbullah bloodline makes a very generous return on invested capital.”

Semen from current sires are available year-round. For enquiries contact Mark Murphy on 0427 761 739, or visit karbullahpollmerinos.com.au.