A massive strong woolled ram from Mulloorie, Brinkworth and Tintinara, which turned heads at the Elders SA Stud Merino Expo in March, did it again in Bendigo, Vic, at the weekend.
The Poll Merino ram – named Elliot after the Mianelup stud’s Elliot Richards, WA – was awarded grand champion strong wool ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show.
This earned the ram a spot on the mat with the final six sheep for supreme exhibit.
The two-year-old ram, which took out the SA Ram of the Year at Burra, has performed well for exhibitors, the Meyer family.
It was bred in the purple – son of a Mianelup ram, out of a Mulloorie Kenny ewe.
Judge Tom Davidson, Moorundie Park, Gulnare, described the 165 kilogram ram as a “textbook strong wool” ram.
“It is great on its feet, square and deep with a great hindquarter and long stapled gutsy wool,” he said.
Its solid wool tests included a standard deviation of 3.2, coefficient of variation of 13.9 and a comfort factor of 98.7 per cent.
An elated Paul Meyer said it was one of the stud’s biggest highlights, showing at the ASWS.
“There were some really good sheep in the classes we went through so to get this far and win the grand champion is a great honour,” he said.
“(Elliot) has that nourished, long stapled wool with plenty of character and good on his feet and legs.”
The ram will compete at the Crystal Brook Show early next month for a chance to represent SA at the Dubbo, NSW, National Merino Show & Sale.
