A Poll Boonoke and a Kerrilyn ram took out the grand champion and reserve champion March shorn broad ribbons in the Australian Merino All Purpose section of the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.
Poll Boonoke 180874, shown by Australian Food and Agriculture, was judged the Champion March shorn with a score of 85.8 (out of 100) just ahead of the Kerrilyn ram's 85.2..
The champion scored 24 points for visual wool and 22 carcase visual on top of a total of 39.8 points out of 50 for total objective measurements. The ram came from the medium two tooth class that comprised 18 entries.
The double poll ram was an ET lamb sired by White River 160546 with figures of 19 micron, 2.8 standard deviation, 99.8 per cent comfort factor, 14.7 co-efficient of variation and 43 milimetres eye muscle depth.
Poll Boonoke stud master Forbes Murdoch said PB180874 was identified at marking as a potential outstanding sire for the stud and his progress was carefully monitored. He was used in the Poll Boonoke stud's December 2018 AI program (when seven months old) for the 2019 lambing. Mr Murdoch said the ram had lambs on the ground now, which were already showing good potential.
The reserve champion ram came from the class for March shorn soft bold two tooths and scored 24 points for wool visual appraisal and 22 points carcase visual. That went with a total of 39.2 from 50 objective. The April 2018 drop ram had an EMD of 43mm, micron of 19.6 and 99.9pc CF.
Breeder Norm Weir, Kerrilyn, Dunluce, said the young ram was "one of the best rams I have ever bred".
"His dual purpose ability is what we are trying to achieve in our poll flock," Mr Weir said.
The ram earlier placed sixth and first Victorian entry of 38 rams in the class for two tooth, medium/fine March shorn.
Next best was a Wilandra, NSW, ram from the fine/medium two tooth class that scored 84.7.
