Southdown sires

Blair and Sally Robertson and their daughters Jess (19), and Stella (4) inspect the sires of rams set to feature in their 13th annual on-farm sale at Merrydowns Romney and Southdown Stud in Waikoikoi on Tuesday next week.

The more than 200 rams on offer include 16 progeny of a Southdown ram — Kirkdale 36-18 — which the family imported from Tasmania in January last year.

Traits being bred for include skin thickness, early mean kill date, growth rate and survival.

"There is no money in slinkies," Mr Robertson said.