Grassy Creek Merinos have stolen the top spot in the Merino production classes at the Sydney Royal Show, scoring a total of 574.5 points with their Grassy Creek 160042 ram.
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The two- to four-tooth Merino ram exhibited by the Corkhill family from Grassy Creek Merinos, Boorowa, was by Grassy Creek 463 Mundy and from Grassy Creek 110078.
Racking up an impressive high point score, the ram cut 14.3 kilograms of wool at 15.9 micron with a yield of 69.1 per cent and fleece value of $302. It had a fibre diameter co-efficient of variation (CV) of 22pc with an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 33mm, fat depth of 10mm, body weight of 112kg and was given a subjective measurement of 95.
Earlier in the week, the GC160042 ram placed fourth in the fine-medium wool class and was said to be consistently up front by stud owner, Michael Corkhill.
The ram is bred well with both its sire and dam having a strong show history, Mr Corkhill said.
Its sire, Mundy, was the champion fine-medium March shown ram at Bendigo in 2015, the reserve champion March shorn fine-medium wool at Canberra in 2016 and the reserve champion fine-medium March shorn Merino in Sydney 2016.
Mundy also won senior production ram two years ago cutting 17.6 kg at 16.7 micron as a six-tooth ram.
Second place across the board for the rams went to the Rayner family from Grathlyn Merino stud, Mudgee, with their two- to four-tooth Merino ram which scored 534.5.
A six-tooth and over ram, exhibited by the Chapman family from Hinesville Merinos, Delegate, received third overall with a point score of 527. The Hinesville Status Quo ram was first place in the senior production class section and recorded the highest body weight of the section at 148kg .
Highest points ewe to Nerstane
The overall winner of the production ewe class went to the McLaren family from Nerstane Merino stud, Woolbrook, with their Poll Merino entry that was also the reserve grand champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ewe of the show.
The prize winning ewe was by Nerstane 53, sired by the Willandra Desmond ram, from a Nerstane Poll ewe.
Receiving a total of 512 points, the two- to four-tooth fine-medium wool ewe recorded a score that was a significant 60 points higher than the next placed ewe.
It cut a 12.8kg fleece of 16.8 micron wool with a yield of 70.3pc and $247 fleece value. The high scoring ewe had a CV of 28 and EMD of 38mm with a fat depth of 14mm, body weight of 87kg and subjective score of 98.
Nerstane co-principal, Jock McLaren, said the ewe had a rich wool and her ability to produce the cut for micron as only a two-tooth was what got her there.
Second overall in the ewe section scored 452 for Adina Merinos, Cooma, with their two- to four-tooth Merino ewe who was the reserve grand champion fine-medium wool Merino ewe.
The McLaren familys grand champion medium Merino wool ewe of the show received third overall with a point score of 443.
First place in the six-tooth and over ewe was won by Thalabah Merinos, Laggan, with their Thalabah Nellie entry. The Merino ewe scored 423 points and recorded the highest eye muscle depth of all the animals entered in the Merino production class.
Nellie was previously named the grand champion ewe of the Great Southern Supreme Merino show in January.
