YOUNG Merino enthusiast Will Wadlow had more than one reason to celebrate his 10th birthday at the recent Australian Sheep & Wool Show, with his parents Nick and Kate Wadlow's Old Ashrose stud, Hallett, winning the grand champion strong wool Merino ram with 23.3-micron heavy cutter PF90.
Their broad ribbon haul at Bendigo, Vic, included champion and reserve champion strong wool Merino ewe.
It was a great weekend for SA breeders at Australia's largest sheep show, with two significant private sales of Poll Merinos at $20,000 each.
Collinsville stud, Booborowie, sold a 19.6M ram Regal 130 271 to Mark and Tony Brooks, East Bungaree, Hallett.
Sydney and Therese, Graeme and Kerry Lawrie, Collandra North, Tumby Bay, achieved a new stud record for a 19.1M ram which had been ear-marked for the Adelaide Merino ram sale.
The 11-month-old sold to Kelvin and Jackie Pendergast, Pendarra Merinos, Benambra, Vic.
Jono and Hazel Ashby, Southrose Merino stud, Tintinara, notched-up a win in the prestigious Australian March Shorn All Purpose Merino class from 145 entries with a fine wool ram having the carcase and size of a strong wool.
The 14.6M ram turned heads with a weight of 111.5 kilograms and eye muscle depth of 40 millimetres at 16 months of age, and scored 86 points from a possible 100 points.
It was one of the highest scores in the ten-year history of the dual-purpose class.
SA studs also shone in the terminal breeds judging with Bill, Karen and Drew Agnew, Willaren Texels, Millicent, winning champion Texel ram, and Clive and Deb Shillabeer, Wingamin stud, Karoonda, claiming champion White Suffolk ewe.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
