Photos - Merino ewes beat the wet weather at Taralga

Adjudicating at his first Taralga event Sam Phillps, Yarrawonga Merino stud, Harden and return judge Ben Simmons. Langdene Merino stud, Dunedoo worked their way through the nine flocks entered.

Each noted with pleasure the way in which the young ewes have grown through an extraordinary season with few feet and fleece problems.

Competition co-ordinator Chris Croker noted the region had over 1,000mm rainfall in the past twelve months which had put a lot of pressure on the wool quality and sheep health.

"It has been such a big year pasture wise we have had a few problems," he said.

"There has been a bit of foot abcess with the ewes continually walking through wet clover and unable to dry out.

"But mostly the wool has weathered the wet very well with those fleeces showing good nourishment having little water stain."

Other perennial issues the wool industry faces like lambing percentages, mulesing and shearer shortage were also discussed.

But then the question of ewe size was raised and when it was pointed out ewes in WA or SA are weighing 80-90kg, entrant Ian George wondered if they needed to be that big to be profitable.

"Those big sheep aren't cutting any more wool than those here," judge Ben Simmons pointed out.

The five finalists in order of viewing during the day.were:

The finalists will be presented during the Taralga Show on 14 March with the top two placed flocks competing in the Southern Tablelands flock ewe championship on 19 March.