JUST four studs shared all 10 major ribbons in the March-shorn Merino competition, with both the grand champions exhibited by Mid North studs.
The Meyer family’s Mulloorie stud, Brinkworth, had two of the three champions in the grand champion March-shorn ewe line-up, with its medium wool exhibit sashed the winner.
Medium wool judge and World Federation of Merino Breeders president Will Roberts, Victoria Downs, Morven, Qld, commended the champion ewe it on its commercial production traits.
Mr Roberts said the industry was moving away from sheep that were “overly covered”.
“Ewes that have open faces but maintain cover on their legs and underline have an advantage, as it is beneficial for them when it comes to getting in lamb and raising that lamb,” he said.
The two-tooth ewe had a fibre diameter of 18.7 micron, with a standard deviation of 4, 21.4 coefficient of variation and a 99.5 per cent comfort factor.
Mulloorie’s Peter Meyer said the ewe – by a One Oak ram – won its class at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic, and stood out for its wool-cutting ability and correctness.
After taking home the reserve grand champion March-shorn Merino ram sash last year, Greenfields stud, Hallett, won the main prize this year with a two-tooth strong wool exhibit.
The ram was growing a 24M fleece, with 3.1SD, 15.2CV and 99.8CF.
Greenfields stud co-principal Robert Sullivan said the grand champion was sired by Greenfields H31, which was supreme Merino at Adelaide in 2015, and helped the stud win the national pairs competition in the same year.
Strong wool judge Russell Jones, Darriwell stud, Trundle, NSW, said the grand champion ram was very well balanced.
“It carries itself well for the body it’s got, it’s got good width and depth … it’s clear in the muzzle, and it’s brilliant in its fleece,” Mr Jones said.
The Sullivans also exhibited reserve grand champion March-shorn Merino ewe with a medium wool sheep, which had come into the top line-up once the Meyers’ medium wool ewe had been sashed grand champion.
