A MONSTROUS sire from J&F Sullivan & Co, Greenfields, Hallett, has been crowned champion August shorn Merino ram, with the 180-kilogram ram attracting the attention of judges and the viewing gallery from the moment he stepped into the showring.
Greenfields 2.12 - nicknamed Randall - oozed class and power, with his 22.4-micron fleece with 3.8 standard deviation, 17.0 coefficient of variation and 98.3pc comfort factor - looking a real bale-filler.
The three judges, George McKenzie, Montrose Hill Merino stud, Illabarook, Vic; Kevin Crook, Tamaleuca, Ouyen, Vic; and Norm Weir, Kerrilyn Merinos and Poll Merinos, Maryborough, Vic; selected their champion ram from an all-SA line-up, and unanimously selected the imposing Greenfields sire.
Strong wool judge Mr Weir said the sire's huge frame made him impossible to go past.
"When you take his sheer size and good conformation with his wool cutting ability, he's everything you're looking for in a strong wool Merino," Mr Weir said.
Greenfields studmaster Rob Sullivan said the ram - aged two years and four months - was a rare find.
"He's the biggest ram we've ever bred - they probably don't come much bigger than him," Mr Sullivan said.
"He has a magnificent barrel, with great width through his hindquarters and tremendous bone - that's why he weighs so well.
"He's also got a long staple, with rich, stylish, heavy-cutting bold-medium wool."
The winning ram was sired by WA-bred East Mundulla Jonty, with the consistency of his line illustrated when Randall's half brother picked up the reserve champion strong wool ram ribbon.
The reserve champion ram was won by the Fiebig family from Hilton Heath, Keith and Mount Pleasant, who took home an impressive haul of champion and reserve ribbons.
Medium wool judge Mr Crook said the Hilton Heath reserve - with figures of 19.9M, 3.4SD, 17.1CV and 99CF - was "a pleasure to judge'' in the early classes.
"He stands well on his feet for such a big animal - he could walk all day," he said.
Grand champion ewe was won by the 100kg Hilton Heath Elsa, named champion medium wool ewe early in the day.
A descendant of the highly successful Hilton Heath 124, the rising 2.5-year-old greatly impressed Mr Crook.
"She was very big-barrelled, good on her feet and is a nice, heavy-cutting ewe," he said.
"She's got a beautiful, long staple - someone had a ruler so we measured her staple and it's about 190 millimetres. She carries her wool around her points and is a very productive ewe."
With figures of 21.3M, 2.9SD, 13.6CV and 99.7CF, Hilton Heath's Matthew Fiebig said Elsa was a 'pretty rare sheep'.
"She's got long wool with great density and the body to go with it," Mr Fiebig said.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.
Jacinta Rose
Stock Journal's online editor.
Stock Journal's online editor.
