IT WAS a case of deja vu during the Elders SA Stud Merino Expo at the Burra Oval on Tuesday, with the same two Mid North studs rising to the top of the judging as 2015.
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Last year Jim, Robert and James Sullivan and families from Greenfields, Hallett, became the first SA stud to win the prestigious RASV national pairs at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Vic.
They have earned the right to represent SA again in July.
Vic-based judge John Carter, Wallaloo Park, Marnoo, said their horned medium wool pair was a “standout” for balance, structurally soundness and wool quality.
He had high praise for the rising two-year-old ram sired by Greenfields’ homebred sire T94 – a son of Charinga Big Tom – and also the ewe – a Greenfields Hussey daughter.
“He is a beautifully set up sheep with magnificent horned setting, pure soft muzzle and very white, nourished wool,” Mr Carter said. “The ram has the wool quality and density. The ewe is a pretty correct ewe carrying its wool right down and will be good to breed from.”
The Sullivans’ Poll Merino pair stood second to their horned pair in front of a large crowd of Merino enthusiasts from SA, Vic, NSW and WA.
“It is very hard to win it so to do it two years in a row is a great thrill,” Robert Sullivan said.
The horned ram – Greenfields 4.1 – also won the SA Ram of the Year.
“It stood out from an early age especially when they came in for shearing in August – its wool is a standout,” Robert said.
The Dalla family, Orrie Cowie stud, Warooka, placed second and third.
A number of high-price stud sales were made during the field days.
Collinsville stud, Hallett, held a successful silent auction on Monday at their on-property display, which continued until lunchtime on Tuesday at the oval. It gave buyers an equal opportunity to secure their 16 rams.
The $9500 top price ram, with 22.5 micron, was bought by Kevin, Heather, Allan and Kerry Hams, Broadoak stud, Whyte Yarcowie.
Glenowie stud, Burra, bought one of Collinsville stud’s reserves – another Apollo 22 son at $9000.
Roemahkita stud, Cummins, received $7000 for a JC&S Regal son, selling to CJ Barnes & Son, Wilmington.
For the second consecutive year, Tom and Matt Ashby and families, North Ashrose stud, Gulnare, won the all-purpose pen of two ram lambs class.
The 10-month-olds were AI-bred sons of Wanganella 816 – the champion March-shorn ram at the 2014 Royal Adelaide Show.
They weighed 91 kilograms and 82kg, and measured 17 micron, 3.2 standard deviation, 18.7 co-efficient of variation and 100 per cent comfort factor and 18.9M, 3SD, 16CV and 99.7CF respectively.
“It is a good class to promote young sheep and the dual purpose attributes of the Merino,” Tom said.
Vic judge John Carter said they were a “good even pair with very good rear ends and good productive loose skins to cut a lot of wool”.
