SOME of the state’s leading Merino and Poll Merino studs will be on show for the 2018 South West Slopes Stud Merino Breeders Field Day at Harden on September 4.
The event, held at the Harden Showground, has become one of the premier Merino ewes in the country, attracting 56 studs which will showcase stud sires, as well as young rams available in the upcoming spring selling season.
Also on display will be sheep handling equipment and farm machinery, a wool fashion parade, and a sheep dog display.
Field day president Steve Phillips said the event was a great opportunity to see a selection of Merino and Poll Merino genetics in one place. Between 700 and 800 sheep will be exhibited, and the event usual attracts about 1000 visitors.
“To see 56 studs in one place is almost unheard of,” he said.
“The event started quite small, with just a few studs at the Young showground, but it’s grown to be very well respected, and we now have a waiting list of studs wanting to be part of the event.
“We have got three new studs, The Yanko, Trigger Vale and Yaronga, exhibiting this year, but we’re at the limit for our marquee.”
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The booming wool market, supported by strong mutton and lamb prices, should result in an increased interest at the field day, Mr Phillips said.
It’s been a record-breaking year for all three commodities despite poor seasonal conditions across most of eastern Australia.
While it’s been a tough year for wool producers, many of whom are feeding sheep, the strong market has been a great reward for woolgrowers who have stuck with Merinos throughout the market lows.
The market hit a new high in the second week of sales following a three-week recess, with the AWEX eastern market indicator (EMI) reaching 2116 cents a kilogram, up from 1981c/kg in July.
”The Merino sheep is the shining light in agriculture, and we’ve got quite a few people who are cutting cropping acreage back and running more Merinos,” Mr Phillips said.
Last year’s ram of the year competition, judged by Ben Simmons, Langdene Merino stud, Dunedoo, Tony Inder, Allendale Merinos, Wellington, and associate judge, Sam Phillips, Yarrawonga Merinos, Harden, was won by June 2016-drop merino ram LR 16-11.44, from Richard and Brad Chalker, Lach River Merinos, Cowra.
The son of a Pemcaw ram weighed 110 kilograms, had a fibre diameter of 17.8-micron and 99.6 per cent comfort factor.
Guy Evans, Tara Park Merinos, Booroowa, took out the Wendouree Shield for the best pen of three Merino hogget rams.