GREENFIELDS stud, Hallett, showed the reserve champion in the all-purpose Merino class at the Australian Sheep and Wool show with a medium wool March-shorn Poll Merino ram epitomising the dual-purpose sheep SA is renowned for.
The ram - shown by Jim, Robert and James Sullivan and families - was a complete package with outstanding wool measurements - 19.1 microns, 3 standard deviation, 15.7 coefficient of variation and comfort factor of 99.4 per cent, and a terrific carcase figures with an eye muscle depth of 40 millimetres and 6mm fat depth.
The 108-kilogram ram - Greenfields PM345 - headed the medium wool two-teeth class, putting him among the 18 rams called to the mat for the final judging.
From there the upstanding ram made the top four along with a horned ram from fellow Mid North stud East Bungaree, which was third.
The grandson of Moorundie Park B100 will be retained by the stud.
Robert Sullivan said the ram was a "very promising young Poll Merino with a lot of good virtues".
It also impressed in the general classes, becoming reserve champion March-shorn medium wool Poll Merino ram, placing a second in a class of 45 entries.
Greenfields' placing in the all-purpose class continued the success of SA studs in the feature class, winning in three of the past five years.
The winner of the all-purpose class and the $1000 trophy was a 19M ram from the McGauchie family, Terrick West stud, Prairie, Vic.
Competition convenor and wool judge Phil Toland, Toland Poll stud, Violet Town, Vic, said it was one of the closest competitions in the event's 11-year history with a "very high standard" among the 127 entries.
"It shows the Merino is a very adaptable animal producing the best wool in the world but also a carcase that is really acceptable to the trade," he said. "To win you need a balanced animal. At the top we are looking for the perfect sheep and these are getting close."
Mr Toland said the event had grown through the support of breeders with more than 100 entries for each of the past five years.
"It is the biggest class of the show and it could get bigger depending on the breeders. If we had ewes like we probably should, we could double it," he said.
Half the points in the commercially orientated class were allocated from objective wool and meat measurements, with the remainder subjectively determined by two judges who looked at conformation and structure, wool quality and cut, and carcase attributes.
