Keeping their type ensures Merino productivity at Boorowa

They were the words of Dermot McGrath when discussing his sheep husbandry ideals during the 36^th annual flock ewe competition run by the Boorowa Show Society.

"The first 18 months of their lives is the most important and we do our best here to ensure they have everything going for them," Mr McGrath said.

Mr McGrath, with his wife Teena and sons Rory and Marty, from Clear View Partnership, Boorowa, were judged winners of the competition with their 350 June-shorn Tara Park-blood maiden ewes, which had been classed at 30 per cent.

"We focus on breeding a well-structured sheep, which is fertile and cuts a bright soft-handling type of wool," Mr McGrath said.

"We have a profitable type and we had a really good result in our lambing last year.

"It proved that it is just the weather that affects our lambing.

"When you strike a good year you can get good results."

Judges for the competition were Sam Picker, Bigga, and Richard Chalker, Lach River, Darbys Falls, while associate judge was Paddy Lowe, Thalabah Merino stud, Laggan.

Mr Chalker was impressed with the 'type' of the McGrath-bred ewes.

"The Tara Park sheep are a type, and it is great that some studmasters just stick to their type," he said.

"People can go there and buy with confidence the type of sheep they want in their flock.

"This is a very good commercial flock. They've got good wide hips with big underlines and big belly wools."

Mr Chalker thought the wool was the best he had seen during the day long event.

"It is well aligned and soft handling and they are very 'shearable' ewes which is what we are trying to breed," he said.

"It is not rocket science when breeding sheep - we are not trying to reinvent the wheel. Once you get your eye in with your type of wool and your type of sheep, and get your structure right, that's the main thing."

Mr Picker was also impressed with the maiden ewes and said they were a credit to the McGrath family.

"They have a long, bright staple and the wool is soft," he said.

"The sheep stand very well, with a long body and a good carcase.

"They are a very productive animal."

During judging, associate judge Paddy Lowe thought they were the best sheep he had seen throughout the day.

"They are a very consistent and even flock, square and well covered," he said.

The maiden ewes are classed by Tara Park studmaster Guy Evans, along with Marty and Rory McGrath.

Craig and Diana Pearsell, Lagoon Creek, Rye Park, were presented with the Joyce Mason Encouragement Award, for their Gunnegalderie/Boxleigh Park-blood maiden ewes.

Their breeding objectives encompass an easy care Merino with a focus on fertility and growth.

"I like challenges and seeing what I can do with our sheep," Mr Pearsell said.

They have been joining their ewes as lambs to see if that can increase production.

"We use teasers prior to joining to tighten up our lambing," he said.

"We marked 129pc twins last year and 42pc of the ewes on display were born as a twin."

Their wether lambs are shorn twice before sale and Mr Pearsell uses Australian Sheep Breeding Values when making his ram selection.

"But I still need bright, crimpy wool, with good length because we shear twice a year on a plain body," he said.

AWARD WINNERS

First: Dermot and Teena McGrath, Clear View Partnership, Boorowa.

Second: Matt McGrath, Clear View South, Boorowa

Third: Murray Dymock, Dymock Ag, Boorowa

Fourth: Bruce and Narelle Nixon, Clovelly, Frogmore

Fifth: Tom Gunthorpe, Mt Buffalo, Rye Park

Shortwool winner: Tom Gunthorpe, Mt Buffalo, Rye Park

Joyce Mason Encouragement Award: Craig and Diana Pearsell, Lagoon Creek, Rye Park

Dual Purpose Award: Murray Dymock, Dymock Agriculture, Boorowa

People's Choice: Dermot and Teena McGrath, Clear View Partnership, Boorowa