In the 15 years the North East Merino Breeders Group has been running at an all purpose ram competition as part of their annual sale day, it has never been so close.
A ram from each of the participating studs were in the final eight rams that were pulled out as finalists (with two from Toland).
An incredible 0.2 of a point separated the final score of the winning Toland Poll Merino ram to the Bennmann Poll Merino in reserve.
The top ram had a final score of 75.3 out of a possible 100. This combined a visual assessment of the wool by Matthew Ipsen, Cahirblonig Merino stud, Wareek, and of the carcase traits by Wallace Binnie, Coledale Poll Dorset stud, Bungeet; with objective measurements.
The May 15-drop ram’s wool measured 18.4 micron, 3.0 SD, 16.1pc CV, and 99.8pc CF; it weighed 90.5 kilograms and scanned 5mm fat and 36mm eye muscle depth (EMD).
It narrowly beat the Bennmann entry thanks in part to its slightly better wool visual assessment, and heavier weight.
The reserve also had impressive figures of 17.9M, 3.2 SD, 17.9 CV, 99.8 CF, 84 kilograms, 7mm fat and 39mm EMD.
Bindawarra won champion wool ram, with a ram that measured 19.7M, 3.0 SD, 15.0 CV, 99.8pc CF.
Phil Toland said fierce competition between such high quality rams indicated the improvements in the region’s breeding programs in the past 15 years. He said the objective measurements showed the studs were breeding more dual purpose, productive sheep.
