MULLOORIE stud has taken out the Merino SA Ram of the Year title at the Northern SA Merino Expo on Thursday, after "exceptional" sire, Louis, was commended for being a cut above the rest.
The lineup was extremely strong, according to judges Nareeb Nareeb Merino Stud's Richard Beggs, Glenthompson, Vic, and Belbourie stud's Paul Hendy, Marnoo, Vic, but the Mulloorie ram was deserving of the top title.
Sired by Mulloorie Elliot, the two year-old sire had wool figures of 21.8-micron fleece, 3.7 standard deviation, 17.0 coefficient of variation with a 99 per cent comfort factor.
The homebred sire's father was a son of a WA-based stud, Mianelup sire, that was bought by Mulloorie and bred stud sire Elliot, that went on to claim Ram of the Year at Burra in 2018.
Brinkworth-based stud breeder Paul Meyer said Louis would be retained in the stud to help maintain the dual purpose attributes of Mulloorie's genetics.
"We are focussed on maintaining a good depth of twist and bone, and spring of rib," Mr Meyer said.
Louis carries the double poll gene and is invited to attend the Rabobank National Merino Sheep Show and Ram Sale, at Dubbo on August 23, to compete for the Australian Supreme Merino Ram of the year.
Greenfields stud at Booborowie was sashed reserve for its homebred sire, D248.
Sired by Greenfields Lofty and boasting 147 kilograms of body weight, the stud reserve's figures included 20.1M wool, 2.8SD, 13.9CV, 99.9pc CF and 132pc for greasy fleece weight.
At just over two years old, stud co-principal Robert Sullivan said it would be retained in the stud.
"Its sire has produced very good progeny for the stud for about three to four years.
"This ram was actually used in the stud at the end of last year and we have a really good drop of lambs from him on the ground."
The reserve will be shown at Royal Adelaide Show.
"It has really come on well, he needed to recover from working but as the year went on, he improved so much," Mr Sullivan said.
The Pringles Crouch Hogget Ram of the Year was won by Collinsville stud.
The May 2021-drop, 130kg ram was sired by CV Imperial 521, with wool figures of 19.2M, 2.7SD, 14.1CV and 99.8pc CF.
Its sire was sold in half-share to Westray stud, Peak Hill, NSW, for $30,000 in 2018, and the hogget was embryo bred and out a special Collinsville ewe, Prince 829.
Collinsville stud's Tim Dalla said it was a "special" ram.
"Always had terrific balance and growth, with an excellent poll factor.
"This is a special ram."
But, it will be offered as a feature ram in Lot 2 at the on-property sale on September 20.
Reserve hogget was picked up by Collandra North's Sydney Lawrie, who selected the ram for the hogget lineup to showcase its spring of rib, depth of body and the packed on, free-growing wool.
"Its just a really solid ram with good genetics," he said.
The 15-month-old will be kept in the stud and mated in November.
Sired by White 35, a ram that was named Eyre Peninsula Ram of the Year in 2019, the 119kg ram's wool measured 22.3M, 3SD, 13.5CV and 99.5pc CF.
The Michell Wool Pen of Three Hogget Rams was taken out by Collinsville stud, second went to Greenfields and third was won by North Ashrose.
The Stock Journal's VANESSA BINKS and MARK SCOWN went along to Jamestown to capture all of the action.
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