Medium wool was the fleece type of choice on the backs of both supreme exhibits in the Merino judging at Sheepvention in Hamilton.
Oakbank Merino and Poll Merino stud, Gre Gre North, took out supreme Merino ram, while Wurrook Merino stud, Rokewood, was sashed supreme Merino ewe, with both being commended for their quality, bright, white, medium wool.
Oakbank’s Warren McRae said he saw great potential in his ram, who was polled and came out of the open 19 months and over class.
The ram had also won supreme Merino exhibit at the Hay Sheep Show, NSW, earlier this year, and reserve grand champion ram at Balmoral.
Its fleece measured 20.5 micron, 2.9 standard deviation (SD), 14.1 co-efficient of variation (CV), and 99.9 per cent comfort factor (CF).
It’s the third year in a row Wurrook has been awarded supreme Merino ewe of the show, and the stud’s Luke Banks said it was still an excellent feeling.
Mr Banks thought the rising two year-old ewe was impressive for her size, and well-covered wool.
He said it represented the stud’s objective to breed bigger sheep that cut more wool.
Merino judge Angus Munro, Poll Boonoke and Wanganella, Deniliquin, NSW, said Oakbank’s ram was hard to overlook because of his size and scale.
“He’s just an upstanding ram, with a really sirey head and outlook,” Mr Munro said.
He said the ewe also had outstanding structure, as well as an “outstanding, high quality, well-covered fleece”.
Joely Mitchell
Joely started her career at Stock & Land as a cadet journalist in 2016. She is now the editor of the paper.
Joely started her career at Stock & Land as a cadet journalist in 2016. She is now the editor of the paper.
