South Australian studs made a clean sweep in the state of origin tussle at the Dohne judging at the 2019 Australian Sheep & Wool Show, winning both major championships.
The Kelly family, Glen Holme stud, Manoora, took out champion ram in just their second year showing at Bendigo with Glen Holme 172565.
The three judges; Landmark stud stock's Rick Power along with respected classers Michael Elmes,Narrandera, NSW and Phil Venning, Clare, as well as associate judge Charlotte Treloar from Elders Broken Hill, said the April 2017 drop, was a clear winner for its "fantastic dual purpose attributes".
"He has magnificent wool for the Dohne type and is certainly a ram that other breeders will look to to get that wool quality back into their flock- it is extremely soft and has magnificent handle," Mr Power said.
"The ram is very structurally correct in his neck coupling,along his top line, through his shoulders and right down to his toes, he is very well balanced."
The champion was sired by a Glen Holme ram and out of the stud's highest wool producing ewe, a ewe they bought from Jelmagh stud, Lochaber, when they bought the whole flock in 2015.
Allen Kelly said 172565 was the "complete package" with its lustrous fleece but also depth of body and high ranking Australian Sheep Breeding Values.
It is a trait leader for yearling clean fleece weight at 20.8, as well as fibre diameter coefficient of variation of -1.5 and a Dohne+ index of 167.3.
Glen Holme has already got lambs on the ground by 172565 and will use the ram again this year.
"The Dohne is a balanced animal and the (the champion) is a balanced animal," Mr Kelly said.
Also vying for champion ram was the Vic bred ram from Stirling stud, Glenthompson and a ram from the Macquarie stud, NSW.
But it was a ram exhibited by the Hall family, Ulooloo stud, Hallett, which was elevated to reserve champion.
Ulooloo also claimed the broad ribbon in the pairs judging, which was judged on uniformity of type.
This was for two impressive sons of Ulooloo 130027.
Ulooloo 170164, which was also the reserve champion ram, will be retained while the other ram in the pair, Ulooloo 170195, was offered in the Dohne helmsman sale at Bendigo.
The topped the sale selling for $4000 to one of the stud's Mid North commercial clients.
Stud co-principal Rob Hall said the pair epitomised what they were trying to breed "well-muscled, well covered sheep with quality Merino wool which stand well on their feet and legs".
Reserve champion in the pair went to Macquarie stud, NSW, while the Vic winning pair was from West Wail stud, Pimpino.
The previous day the fleece judging was held with the Macquarie stud coming out on top with a fleece from their 2018 reserve champion ram from the ASWS,
Judge and Elders district wool manager Charlotte Treloar said the fleece was an "absolute stand out" for its weight and nourishment.
"Dohnes have come so far with their wool and you could put this fleece in the Merino tent and it would be hard to pick the difference," she said.
