It is said to set the benchmark for the coming season, and the Great Southern Supreme Merino (GSSM) ram show and sale is stacking up as a premier event in the breeders’ calendar.
The prestigious show, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, January 20 and 21, is set to feature 275 stud sheep, and will be followed by the sale on Monday, January 22, featuring 53 sale rams.
The show and sale will feature rams from 47 studs across the state, as well as from South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.
The event will be held once again at the Fitzroy Pavilion at Exhibition Park in Canberra after making the move from Goulburn in 2007, and it is already gearing up to eclipse last year’s impressive results.
The Merriman family, Merryville stud, Boorowa, sold last year’s top priced ram for a massive $21,000 to a syndicate of three studs – Conrayn at Berridale, Demondrille from Harden and Bocoble at Mudgee.
In total, 35 rams sold from 45 offered at last year’s sale for an average of $3367.
Merryville also impressed in the judging, sashed the supreme exhibit of the show with its four-tooth fine wool March shorn ram.
GSSM president George Merriman, Merryville stud, says the show is perfect as a sounding board for the coming show and sale season.
He said Canberra was an ideal location for the event.
“Some people don’t want the time and expense it takes to go to Sydney (Royal Easter Show), so more people are coming to Canberra,” he said.
He said the current wool prices were a great incentive to come and buy at the sale.
“I encourage stud and commercial breeders to come and inspect the stud sheep,” he said. “The more studs are supported, the more they put rams in for sale.”
He said the wool industry was in “an extremely good position”, which was great news for breeders.
