IN WHAT is thought to be a first for the Great Southern Supreme Merino (GSSM) show, a Poll Merino has been awarded supreme exhibit of the show.
The Chapman family, West Plains Poll Merinos, Delegate, took out the top award with their fine/medium March-shorn Poll Merino ram.
The ram, West Plains Mercenary, first won his long-wool class, before being named champion Poll Merino ram, grand champion Poll Merino, and then supreme exhibit.
It had fleece measurements of 20.3 Micron, 3.3 Micron standard deviation (SD), 16.3 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and 99.6pc comfort factor (CF).
Fine/medium judge Peter Capel, Bungulla Merinos, Manilla, said the West Plains supreme ram had an exceptional structure, a long stapled well sprung fleece, and was a complete stud sire.
Mercenary was put up over the grand champion Merino, exhibited by Merryville stud, Boorowa.
The Merryville Merino was a four-tooth fine/medium wool ram with fleece figures of 18.3 Micron, 2.7 Micron SD, 14.8pc CV and 99.8pc CF.
Grand champion ewe of the show was won by Wurrook Merinos, Rokewood, Victoria, with the grand champion Poll Merino ewe exhibit.
An August-shorn four tooth, the superfine ewe was by the grand champion Poll Merino ram at GSSM in 2013.
Alfoxton Merinos, Armidale, continued its success on day two of the event, exhibiting the champion junior Poll Merino ewe and ram of the show, as well as champion August-shorn ewe.
Tara Park Merinos, Cooma, won the junior champion ram and ewe in the March-shorn judging, with the ram going on to be junior champion exhibit of the show.
Jamie-Lee Oldfield
Livestock editor for The Land.
Livestock editor for The Land.
