The dual purpose reputation of the Merino sheep was illustrated at Gippsland's annual wether production trial recently.
This was the third year of the three-year trial - every year is an opportunity to assess and value fleeces off the five wethers from 17 participants from Gippsland Hume and Yass. The flock was agisted on a Stratford farm, where all sheep were managed under the same conditions, year-in, year-out, to try to ensure breeding and sheep classing expertise were the main deviating factors.
Wethers were entered from Gippsland – Seaspray and Giffard West to Forge Creek and Walpa – from Everton Upper in Hume Shire and from Yass, NSW.
The wool classers at the valuation day - Elders' Mal Nicholls and Rex Bennett - were very impressed with the fleeces, even though they showed the effects of Barbers Pole worm.
"The sheep are presenting very well, in forward condition. The stretch and outlook are improving all the time,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The fleeces are showing a fair bit of tender wool at the tip, which we can trace back to Barbers Pole worm in about July last year.
"Otherwise the wool is tremendous."
Mr Bennett said there was very little discount on the fleeces; rather, that premiums were being paid because of breeding and wool handling outcomes.
"Every fleece is being skirted very well, so the product we're being presented with are magnificent. We’ve added some premiums to the fleeces, for very sound wool and for good spinning wool," he said.
"We're only discounting for colour and tenderness; and only one sheep has showed signs of dermatitis."
Fleece valuation was based on the clean price of wool averaged across the past 12 months.
The most valuable fleece was off a wether bred by David Weir, Yass (NSW), who uses Bogo Merino bloodline, with a weight of 8.7kg, micron 17.5, yield of 73.5 per cent and valued at $101.99.
This year’s winners of the fleece valuation were a surprised Garry and Kaye Davidson, Walpa, with Middleview and Hazeldean bloodline wethers. Their average fleece value was $92.72, from five fleeces average 18M, 7.9kg and 74.9pc yield. Their most valuable fleece, $96.61, was 18.2M, 7.8kg and 75.2pc yield.
Runners-up were Russell and Marg Bennett, Everton Upper (second) – using Rocky Point and Bogo bloodlines – and John and Trevor Bennett, Everton Upper (third) – who breed their own rams from Rocky Point sires.
Russell and Marg Bennett’s fleeces averaged $85.87, 18.2M, 7.0kg and 78.2pc yield; their most valuable fleece was $95.38, 19M, 8.1kg and 78.7pc yield.
John and Trevor Bennett’s fleeces averaged $84.19, 18.7M, 8.7kg and 79.5pc yield; their most valuable fleece was $87.64, 18.6M, 6.6kg and 80.4pc yield.
Across the 17 participating woolgrowers drafts, the micron averaged 18.6M, weight 5.8kg and 76.4pc yield.
In 2016, the shearing place-getters were Russell and Marg Bennett, Everton Upper (1st), St Katherine’s, Darriman (2nd) and Garry and Kaye Davidson, Walpa (3rd). In 2015, the shearing place-getters were Russell and Marg Bennett (1st), John and Trevor Bennett, Everton Upper (2nd) and Garry and Kaye Davidson, Walpa (3rd).
In this the third year, the wethers are also assessed for live carcase value and, when these values were added to the combined three year fleece values last Friday, Garry and Kaye Davidson were declared the overall winners. Their wethers weighed 59-63kg and averaged $128.05 value, with a ranking of 11 among the 17 drafts. Added to their three-year shorn fleece values, the Davidson’s won with a combined fleece and carcase value of $354.05.
They were very pleased with the unexpected win. Their wool and sheep business won the Flock of the Year competition when it was held in Gippsland a couple of years ago.
“These wethers are the last of the Middleview bloodline, since the stud was dispersed and we’re still to see how the new bloodlines we’re using will compare,” Mr Davidson said.
In second place overall was St Katherine’s, Darriman, using rams bred from Roseville, Park, Cottage Park and Tara Park bloodlines. Represented by Trent Anderson, St Katherine’s average carcase value, rated 5th, was $138.82, which combined with a three-year average fleece value of $209.34 (18.1M). Their final score was $348.16.
Third place went to Rory and Jeanette Blandford, Meerlieu, whose wether carcase score ranked 1, at an average value of $151.88. The Blandford’s use CentrePlus, Bindawarra and Pendarra bloodlines. Their fleece average value was $193.22 (19.5M), giving them a final score of $345.10.
They just tipped Russell and Marg Bennett into 4th place, on a final score of $345.08, based on a significant fleece average value of $217.03 but an average carcase value of $128.05 – they ranked 11/17 in the carcase values.
