The premier event and hotly contested during the 66th Hay Sheep Show was the 'Riverina Wool Australia' champion hogget ram.
Drawing some of the best Merino rams from Victoria, SA and NSW, the class was judged by Jim Vandeluer, Rices Creek stud, Saddleworth, SA, Ian Michael, Nyowee stud, Balaklava, SA and Steve Phillips, Yarrawonga Merinos, Harden.
Sponsored by Mark Blazeley, the 2017 award was presented to the Daniell family, White River Poll Merinos, Minnipa, SA (as noted in last weeks The Land).
The NSW award went to the entrant from the Wanganella Merino stud bred by Australian Food and Agriculture, “Boonoke”, Conargo.
Weighing 103.5kg, and with a fleece measuring 21.2micron, Wanganella 160801 was sired by Wanganella 140271, the champion strong wool March shorn ram at Dubbo in 2015.
His grand sire was Wanganella 120001, who had been judged champion Medium Wool March Ram at Bendigo, Dubbo and Adelaide in 2013 as well as being the Elders Riverina Ram of the Year, in Deniliquin.
The Victorian award went to Ross and Claire McGauchie, Terrick West Poll Merinos, Prariie for their entry TW 6.128 sired by a Coddington Uardry Poll.
Mr McGauchie considered the structure of his young ram “correct and well balanced”.
“He has a good skin, with a visually bold crimping fleece, which has been tested at 18micron,” he said. “The industry needs these bold crimping and fine micron sheep.”
Mr McGauchie said it is important to recognize the wether trade which is a fabulous part of the industry.
“It is phenomenal what the Merino industry is doing with genetic gain, and it is not really being recognised,” he said.
Principal and manager of the Collinsville Merino stud, Burra, SA, George Millington and Tim Dalla, paraded the Elders champion March-shorn ram.
Russell and Jenny Jones, Dariwell Merinos, Trundle, were successful in the group of five Merinos class, winning the Neilson Mills Memorial Trophy. They also were awarded the Dick Circuitt Memorial Trophy for pen of three stud rams.
Stephen and Carol Huggins, Woodpark Polls, Hay, were most successful in the unhoused stud section, while David Zouch, manager “Hollow Mount”, Bigga, for owner Ken Wolf was most successful in the flock section.
