Karmala
HERITAGE KELPIES
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The stud is situated about 40 km south of Toowoomba near the historic village of Nobby, famous for Rudd’s Pub; here Australian writer Arthur Hoey Davis, better known as ‘Steele Rudd’, wrote some of his well known Dad and Dave stories. The old house where he lived is just down the road from Karmala. Established at Lake Bolac in the Victorian Western District, the move to the Downs was made in 2001 when Jan ‘retired’ from farming. This move necessitated an adjustment in breeding emphasis to suit the Queensland market’s demand for dogs that can work cattle as well as sheep. 2020All the Karmala sires I am using have tested clear for CA. Top row, Brock, Landy, Wills. All bitches have also tested clear of CA or are bred from clear parents. There’s a lengthy CA discussion in the May 2020 post.
Foundation dogs were chosen from lines of clever mustering dogs and sires are generally chosen from dogs performing well in testing conditions. This is very important, as there is insufficient work on a small property to fully assess dogs.
November 2026
Rain at last, very lucky here to avoid damage and had a lovely soaking series of falls, the dam just filled and didn’t overflow. The growth has been amazing and I might have to replace my ancient (25 yo) Greenfield mower! I was given an electric Toro, for which I am very grateful, but it has an unfortunate tendency to start screaming abuse at me when the going gets tough and simply goes on strike! So much for modern technology… I think some kids are reacting in a similar manner.
The pups have done really well and the smaller pups in Naka’s litter have caught up with their siblings. Some of the Gilee x Vamp litter have gone, Sharon and Selwyn Brown took their two this week, along with a Mina boy. I look forward to hearing how they grow up and work, Selwyn is a master at getting pups going! When I asked on Facebook if anyone knew more about Gilee’s breeding I got an amazing response from Dan O’Bree, son of his breeder, and contacts to cary forward. Hopefully we can utilise some more of the Breezebend/O’Bree bloodlines in future. It’s getting harder to find the old lines as so many are leading back to the same stud at present, and I worry about the long term future of a breed when this happens.
Some of you might remember that I got pretty cranky with a little red/tan bitch pup that got in with my chooks awhile ago causing havoc, and said she was free if anyone wanted her. Well she was rescued and has since bred a nice litter. This pup’s first look.
Mina’s litter to Barru Spinifex/Don is very even, lovely pups. We’ve noticed some of the old Karrawarra traits returning, they’re noisier and not keen on ear piercing but a beautiful litter and hard to pick a keeper!
This is Fagan, Clover’s single pup TCI by Wills. He’s a real character! Fagan is going to the Keswick Kelpie stud near Leyburn and we’ll be keeping a close eye on him. Michael Croft has Karmala Klim/ Bravo( Barney x Mina) and recently brought him over to show us how he’s going. Bravo was pretty excited being at a strange place and on even stranger sheep but settled nicely.
More later but I have to stop, my eyes have had it, hayfever’s back again!
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