Strong wools call SA home

The ram award went to Nick and Kate Wadlow, Old Ashrose stud, Hallett, with a massive six-tooth Poll Merino - PF90 - weighing 157 kilograms, the grandson of PBC405, who has bred well for the stud.

Judge Terry Ash, Allaneena stud, Northhampton, WA, was impressed by the grand champion's length and overall scale.

"He is an absolutely massive wool-cutting sheep and wool cut adds dollars to the bottomline," he said.

"He has got so much scale - from ear-to-ear he would have to be 375 millimetres across.

"The shearers would hate us if we bred them all that big."

The 23.3-micron ram had a standard deviation of 3.3, coefficient of variation of 14.2 per cent and 98.5pc comfort factor.

Stud classer Chris Bowman, Hay, NSW, said Old Ashrose was renowned for the scale and bone of its sheep.

"It is nice to see rams with extra wool cut and in the 22M range get up. The industry is still requiring a lot of that sort of wool," he said.

The Poll Merinos also outshone the horned rams for grand champion strong wool ewe of the show.

It was awarded to the Michael family, Nyowee stud, Balaklava, champion August- shorn Poll Merino ewe.

The six-tooth had 18.7M, 2.9SD, 15.5CV and 99.7CF and was pure Nyowee bloodlines.

Old Ashrose stud, Hallett, collected the open strong wool Merino ewe and reserve champion ewe titles.

The Old Ashrose champion then came out on the mat against Nyowee strong wool Poll for the grand champion ewe.

The Meyer family, Mulloorie stud, Brinkworth, who represented SA in the National Pairs, were around the mark during judging, claiming most successful strong wool exhibitor.

More than 15 SA Merino breeders did the state proud, exhibiting large frame sheep with outstanding wool quality for the feature breed judging.

The supreme champion exhibit from 920 entries was awarded to the Rayner family, Grathlyn stud, Mudgee, NSW, with their grand champion and super fine champion ram.

* Full report in Stock Journal, July 24, 2014 issue.