A Grathlyn ram who rose to the top of a very competitive ultra superfine class proved too hard to beat at the 2021 Armidale Stud Ram Show on Tuesday.
With this year's sale attracting 70 Merino and Poll Merino sheep from leading studs across, judges Steve Phillips and Aaron Granger had a difficult task in sorting through the quality lineup that hit the mat.
A 15.7 micron March shorn ram from the Rayner family, Mudgee, was a clear winner for the ultra superfine champion ribbon before being declared the supreme exhibit.
The son of a 2017 Bendigo ultra-fine champion ram and out of a 2016 Sydney ultra fine champion ewe had a 99.8 per cent comfort factor, 2.8 standard deviation and coefficient variation of 17.9.
On delivering the results, Mr Phillips of Yarrawonga stud said the incredible ram was a top sheep for his type and a credit to the breeders.
"He is just so well built, very good wool, good tests, beautiful head and ears," he said.
The Grathlyn stud topped the annual sale last year with an $11,000 ram but, for stud principal Max Rayner, taking out the show's top gong was a real honour.
"He is an exceptionally good sheep and it is a great year to have a good one for sale because there is a lot of demand and ultra fine wool is selling so well; we are back in the limelight again," he said.
"It's sort of any ultra fine man's dream. This is the pinnacle for fine wool sheep...you save your best for Armidale, or you try to."
Also standing out on the mat was the fine/medium wool champion ram from the Power family of Airlie stud at Uralla who was later declared reserve grand champion.
The 19.9 micron March shorn ram was by a ram with Airlie 331X One Oak 63 blood and out of a special Airlie stud ewe.
He had a 99.8 per cent comfort factor, 2.7 SD and 13.6 CV.
The Lette family of Conrayn stud at Berridale exhibited the champion pen of three rams.
Show results
Champion ultra superfine ram: Grathlyn. Reserve: Conrayn.
Champion superfine wool ram: Conrayn. Reserve: Grathlyn.
Champion fine wool ram: Laraben. Reserve: Airlie.
Champion fine/medium wool ram: Airlie. Reserve: Merryville.
Champion August shorn ram: Grathlyn.
Champion Poll ram: Laraben. Reserve: Airlie.
Champion pen of three rams: Conrayn.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
