A PRINCIPAL of "if it's not broken don't fix it" was what helped Merryville claim champion and reserve superfine ram at this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show.
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The Boorowa operation took out the top gong with one of its best rams (tag M25472) which was the champion March-shorn superfine ram and had a 99.6 per cent comfort factor (CF), a 14.1pc coefficient of variation (CV), an 18.4 micron, as well as a 2.6-micron standard deviation (SD).
The success was twice as sweet as Merryville also took out the reserve superfine grand champion ram, reserve grand champion Poll Merino ram and superfine grand champion Poll Merino ewe.
"There wasn't anything too different than what we've done in the past," Merryvile Merino stud principal Wal Merriman The Land.
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"He [the grand champion] was used last year as a two-tooth ram and is by a ram called Giant Test, which was used as part of our superfine stud.
"It was his first show and I think his width of body, whiteness, crimp and style are what really set him apart from the others."
Woolbrook operation Nerstane also tasted success, claiming the grand champion superfine ewe ahead of the reserve from Greenland Merino stud, Bungarby.
The grand champion ewe (tag M23960) was fresh off the back of a successful Walcha show and had an 18.2 micron, a 2.5 SD, a 99.8pc CF and a 13.7pc CV.
"It's always a pretty tough show for the superfine in Walcha and she won superfine up there, so it was good to back it up here," Nerstane stud principal Jock McLaren said.
"She has very soft handling as well as exceptional style in the wool that you don't see every day and she was bred by our Australian ram of the year N73.
"It was really pleasing to see that ram could bred this type as well."
Competition judge Philip Carlon, Queenlee Merino Stud, Uralla, said both grand champions were exceptional.
"The Merryville ram was a big up-standing ram, beautifully covered and had stylish superfine wool," Mr Carlon said. "He was magnificent siring muzzle and horn, natural standing and overall brilliant superfine ram."
"The Nerstane ewe had magnificent wool on her, tremendous softness and length of staple.
"When we saw her in the champion lineup, I think all of the judges agreed she was one of the best wool sheep there."
Bocoble Merino stud, Mudgee, took home the superfine grand champion Poll Merino and reserve Poll Merino ewe.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
