By DAVID BRASCH

CHAMPION stud dog Fernando Bale has a service fee reduction of 25 percent due to the impact of COVID-19 bracing the country.

Meticulous Lodge’s Michelle Westerveld said: “COVID-19 (human coronavirus) has proven to be a very difficult, testing time for all of us and we recognise the financial strain this has placed on many.

“To support the greyhound racing industry and its participants, Meticulous Lodge and the Wheeler Family have decided to reduce stud fees of our active sires Fernando Bale, Orson Allen and Fabregas by 25 percent.

“This will be reviewed every quarter and assessed accordingly.  All terms and conditions apply as normal.”

This brings the stud fees for the three sires to: Fernando Bale $6600, Orson Allen $2475 and Fabregas $2475.

Michelle and her husband Paul have been excited about the acceptance of Orson Allen (KC And All-Desalle Bale) since he retired to stud at their new Berwick property.

“It makes a big change for us to move to Berwick but we and the dogs have settled in well on just a few acres,” said Paul.

“And we could not be happier with the way Orson Allen has done in his new ‘job’.

“Just one example of the dog’s acceptance with breeders is that Paul Stuart over in WA has recently put a bitch to him.

“Paul got to know the dog so well when he was kenneled at his property while campaigning in Perth.

“The dog’s fertility is phenomenal, off the charts in fact.”