Massive Merino wins for Greenfields

The massive two year and five-month-old ram J&F 212 - which was one of the heaviest rams in the shed at 180 kilograms - had progressed through the full wool classes and trounced an esteemed field of Merino and Poll Merino March and August shorn champions from judging over the past two days.

The ram - nicknamed Randell after an identity from the Hallett pub - won its owners the major prize of a Magnus feeder and $1500 cash from Ruralco Finance.

The Mid North stud, owned by Jim, Rob and James Sullivan and their families, has had enduring success over many decades as Merino exhibitors with their last supreme exhibit coming in 2009.

The crowd rushed the judging floor after the announcement to congratulate handler and co-principal Rob Sullivan and inspect the 22.4-micron ram which was well-covered all over and had wool test figures of 3.8SD, 17.0CV and 98.3pc CF.

"It is always a great one to win. Everyone strives to win it. It is the pinnacle for the industry," Rob said.

The supreme ram was bred in the purple being an AI bred son of East Mundulla 237 (Jonty) who was the supreme exhibit at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo in 2011 and out of a top quality Banavie Lustre 2 ewe.

The supreme exhibit will be offered as Greenfields' lead ram in the Adelaide ram sale today at Lot 22.

"We are keeping a half brother which has enabled us to sell him in the sale," Rob said.

* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.