My parents sold our dairy farm in 1975 when I was at college studying Agriculture (which included wool classing). I knew I didn’t want to be a dairy farmer and sheep and wool interested me from the outset. Woolclassing led me into the wool broking sector which I am still active in.

I bought my first farm in 1998 and purchased Wynua ewes (I liked their big frame) and East Roseville rams which had magnificent wool. Robert Coddington was a great mentor for me, and he steered me towards the principals of bold crimping, bright and highly aligned, long stapled soft handling wool.

The breeding objectives of a good-sized frame with those wool attributes hasn’t changed for me over the years. The area of reproduction and early maturing on a plainer body that doesn’t need mulesing has been a conscious change over the last 15 years that has been driven by market forces (both lamb and wool) and a desire for a lower maintenance flock. Whilst the majority of my sheep enterprise income is derived from lamb production, I wouldn’t be happy if my wool wasn’t up to my objectives because that’s where my real passion is and the extra lambs and surplus sheep sales are a bonus.

So, it was the bella lana (beautiful wool in Italian) that steered me to purchase rams from Bella Lana.

I shear three times in two years to achieve the sweet spot for length of around 75-80mm.

My annualised wool cut of my maiden ewes has been consistently around 7kg and 18.5-19 micron.

I shear my lambs at 9 months around 17 micron and 80mm and my grown ewes average 19.5 or finer.

Lambing percentages have steadily increased with the last two years at 130% to ewes scanned in lamb with twinning mobs as high as 175%.

I have been regularly selling 4.5-year-old ewes with nothing older on the place.

 

Lastly, I put a fair bit of emphasis on the relationship between all the people I do business with, not just trust and sincerity, but enjoying the conversations and what you learn from them.

The Brien family tick all those boxes and share my passion for growing beautiful wool.

Don Macdonald,

Macdonald & Co Woolbroker

Dubbo. NSW

Don MacDonald, ‘Mullungeen’, Molong. NSW

We operate a self-replacing Merino flock based at Yeoval, NSW. Since incorporating Bella Lana genetics in 2020, we have achieved significant gains in staple length, along with a consistent lift in overall wool quality.

Shearing on an eight-month cycle, the flock cuts an average of 4.5 kg per head. Fibre diameter ranges from approximately 18 microns in the older ewes down to 15.4 microns in the lambs, producing a soft, bright fleece well suited to high-end markets.

The sheep exhibit excellent constitution, with a plain-bodied, functional structure that underpins productivity and ease of management. The ewes are low-maintenance, easy-doing, and continue to perform reliably across varying seasonal conditions.

We consistently record scanning rates of around 120% annually. The ewes have proven their resilience through challenging seasons, with outstanding maternal instincts and rearing ability, resulting in strong lamb survival and growth.

This is a productive, resilient flock that continues to perform, and one we genuinely enjoy managing.

Edward Hunter and Charlotte Davis, ‘ Minnamurra’ Yeoval, NSW

I have been breeding sheep since 2016, when I took over from my father. Our operation runs 2,600 Merino ewes and 1,500 crossbred ewes. 

We have been buying Bella Lana’s genetics for 8 years. Our focus is on breeding high-quality wool sheep with an ideal micron count of around 17.5 and a wool weight of 6.5kg. In addition to wool production, we prioritize good mothering ability, strong carcass traits at a young age, and a clean breech to eliminate the need for mulesing. Since using Bella Lana genetics, our lambing percentage is consistently high, reaching up to 120%. We sell wethers at an earlier age, and we are now achieving better weights. Our ewes are exceptional mothers, efficiently rearing twins and triplets. Overall, the flock is healthier and stronger, with improved worm resistance and greater resilience.

Robyn Cosgrove, "West Charlton", Rockley. Bathurst. NSW

We run a self-replacing commercial merino breeding operation at Gunning, NSW. In 2022, we started using Bella Lana genetics to help us move away from mulesing, improve early growth in our sheep, and increase fertility, all while maintaining good wool coverage. We researched various studs, using ASBVs to select traits that matched our breeding objectives. We chose Bella Lana because their dual-purpose genetics seemed best suited to our goals.

Our journey with Bella Lana began in 2022 when we bought rams from their on-property sale. We were very pleased with the quality of the rams and bought more in 2023. Even with just one drop of lambs on the ground, we’ve seen impressive growth in those sheep, particularly in body length and size.

We use EiDs to track performance metrics like body weight, wool cut, fertility, and breach wrinkle. We’re excited to collect the data on the Bella Lana progeny in the coming months to see how they compare to our existing genetics.

Scott and Anna have been great to work with, offering a wealth of knowledge and support throughout our journey. We’re extremely pleased with the quality of the rams and highly recommend Bella Lana genetics based on the improvements we’re already starting to see in our flock.

• Jack Medway, “Hillcrest”, Gunning NSW

Jack Medway, Penrose Pastoral Co, "Hillcrest", Gunning, NSW

I have a self replacing Merino flock with my mum and dad at Tarcutta. Our ewes are
18 to 18.5 micron and our hoggets are 17 to 17.2 in all years. We have a traditional
fine wool block with fine wool types. Back in 2016 we changed our ram source and
went to Bella Lana. I had completed some work for them and I was super impressed
with the direction they were going in and the way they were achieving their goals.
In 2016 I purchased our first rams from Bella Lana and we’ve been super impressed
with them ever since. They are a different style of wool to what we are used to but
we are still keeping the really high-quality. Since then we have been super
impressed with a wool quality, we have a little more length in our staple which is
great. We are keeping these beautiful bright white, wool crimping types. We were
getting really great yields in 2018, 2019, even though it was a difficult year in regards
to weather conditions, we managed 68 to 72% yields respectively, tough years.
Bella Lana Rams are Top Pick for Cesniks and Tuppers
The biggest thing we have noticed is the staple length in wools but also the growth rates in young sheep. We are
turning our wethers off sooner and they’re finishing off a lot better. Our young ewe hoggets are coming up to
weights much quicker for joining. We are getting a much better conception rate out of our young ewes. This is
great to see especially for this country that can be tough at times and it is fantastic to be able to utilise it.

Lexi Tupper’s Testimonial of Bella Lana’s progeny

Lexi Tupper, Tarcutta, NSW

We started using Bella Lana merino rams 3 years ago for the property I manage, “Gidleigh Station” at Bungendore. We were really chasing extra carcass, growth and weight for age without compromising any of the wonderful wool characteristics of our merino.

This dual-purpose type strategy was a risk strategy for us, and we wanted to capitalise on both lamb and wool markets. In these 3 years we have seen an incredible improvement in our sheep, carcass wise without giving up that fine white stylish wool.
I was standing in a pen of 10-month-old ewe lambs that were born in the drought. It didn’t rain here until middle of February. They did it tough early on, but these lambs have incredible growth for age. I am incredibly happy with them. All the wether lambs with them were all sold off as fats between 7 and 9 months of age. That extra maturity, fattening ability and doing ability has been great for us.

For the first time ever trying to recover post drought and increase our numbers I have joined these ewe lambs, and have just scanned them. We joined the whole lot, didn’t class any out and 50% of them are pregnant. Now I have now got another 650 young ewes here to lamb this spring. Key to that is going to be the nutritional support we can give them.

I must commend Scott and Anna Brien of Bella Lana Merinos in the information that they share and education avaliable for their clients. I believe that we are equipped well enough with early weaning strategies and nutritional advice to be able to look after these young ewes and capitalise on this early pregnancy. These young ewes are a credit to them. In only 3 years of using their rams it has definitely lifted our carcass traits without giving away that stylish white wool.

I can highly recommend the Bella Lana rams to anybody who is looking for a dual-purpose type merino such as these

Brad Croker, Manager of 'Gidleigh Station' Bungendore. NSW

I’ve been buying rams from Bella Lana since 2008, when I started with buying 8 of their rams that year. They’ve got a good wool type and micron count on them.  They’re a good type of sheep that suit my country. They’ve got good big frames, plain bodies, and they’ve been breeding true to type – they’re producing the type of sheep that I like to breed. I sold my surplus 1.5-year-old ewes at the Dunedoo Annual Merino Breeders’ Sale in January, 2011, and they well and truly topped the market at $230 a head. The ewes had a major influence of Bella Lana in their genetics, and it was good to have Scott there on the day with me to see the result

Warren Leeson, 'Anglewood', Dunedoo, NSW

We have been buying Bella Lana rams since 2007 and have seen a positive effect on the crimp and character of our wool. I also find it easy to source the well-framed rams we require. Scott and Anna demonstrate a personal approach to their clients, and a commitment to the industry

Richard Marshall, 'Wargandinna', Burren Junction, NSW

If you are a Merino breeder who is keen to jump on board and take their flock forward into the 21st century, then I can honestly say Bella Lana is the stud to do it. I do not like to praise people too much but in this case you will not find a more honest, passionate person with strong integrity than Scotty Brien. He will not sell a ram that he would not use himself that I have witnessed. Bella Lana sheep have fantastic wools and frames. The stud is always searching the country for the sire that will make a difference to the stud and the clients. Finally, Scotty is always willing to help you and to take your flock forward.

Dugald Campbell, “Burrandong", Dripstone, via Wellington, NSW

Tim Scott, “Melrose”, Molong, measured wool staple length of more than 100mm from their 10-month-old ewe hoggets at shearing in August, 2012. Many of the 330 ewes cut wool measuring more like 115mm in staple length.

It’s been an enjoyable few years for the passionate 51-year-old Merino producer, whose switch to plain-bodied Bella Lana genetics has resulted in improved wool crimp definition, a decrease in micron from 21 to 19, and zero fleece rot.
His success story has continued out in the paddock, where he marked and weaned 135 per cent of Autumn-drop Merino lambs from unscanned ewes in 2012.

“I’ve definitely increased my lambing percentage and 2012 was the first year we’ve reached 135pc in the Autumn-drops from unscanned ewes,” Mr Scott said.
“I get from 130 to 144pc in the Spring lambings.”

2013 will be the fifth year in which the Scotts will buy Merino rams from Scott and Anna Brien, Bella Lana Merino Stud, Wellington.

Their union began quite by chance.

“I used to buy rams from a Riverina stud and decided to go along to the Classic Ram Sale at Wellington, where there were eight local studs involved,” Mr Scott said.

“I had never even heard of Bella Lana before that and was really impressed with their rams.”

The Scotts run Hereford breeders and grow canola, wheat and grazing oats on their 650-hectare property but are working to grow their Merino sheep numbers.

“Since buying rams from Bella Lana genetics, the fleeces are brighter with less cream and they’re easier to shear, which is making the shearers happy,” Mr Scott said.

“For the past four years, we’ve had both dry and wet years and I’m not even getting a line of wool over 20 micron whereas once upon a time our main line was 21.7 micron.

“My main line now is 19.5 and my hoggets are consistently just under 18 micron.”

Tim Scott, "Melrose", Molong, NSW