Narelle and Bruce Nixon, of 'Clovelly' at Frogmore have claimed the top flock for their maiden merino ewes at the 4th annual ANZ and NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association Southern Tablelands Flock Ewe Championship.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The championship was held on Friday, March 15 and included the top two winning flocks from the Boorowa, Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga Flock Ewe Competitions.
Judging was Doug Constance, of 'Werralong' in Berridale and Ben Lane, of 'Windridge Farms' in Young and former manager 'Uardry'.
"The winning flock they extremely even, a well-bred line of ewe hogget, with soft handling wool with a well-aligned and defined crimp," Mr Lane said
"The ewes have a good open head and excellent body shape with a very sound constitution and structure."
The ewes produced 19.2 average micron. "They are extremely fertile for that micron," Mr Lane said.
He also said the ewes should join very well as they are in excellent condition.
"These days we talk about looking after your young ewes well and this is a perfect example," he said.
"I enjoyed looking at their skin type with the really soft handling wool, good staple length and with a good carcase."
They are an uncomplicated sheep with very correct conformation, Mr Lane said.
Mr Nixon said the breeding philosophy on 'Clovelly' is simple.
"We want something that is easy, free growing and cutting a good soft stylish fleece averaging 19 micron," Mr Nixon said.
"We had always been a first-cross enterprise but decided a couple of years ago to phase them out and this year will be the first time we will join Border Leicesters to our classed sheep.
"But we are only going to join the top 60 percent to keep our good standard of first cross ewe to sell."
Mr Nixon admitted his maiden ewes had a good run through the drought grazing in big paddock and having plenty of room.
"They have only been fed in the past three or four weeks since they were entered in the Boorowa flock ewe competition," he said.
The flock won that competition.
Mr Nixon also paid tribute to his mate, neighbour and fellow shearer for his work classing the Tara Park-blood flock and also Guy Evans from 'Tara Park', Boorowa for his support.
Past winner of the Berridale ewe competition and this year's judge Mr Constance complimented the Nixon's on the presentation of their sheep.
"They are a great line of sheep ... structurally correct with a good skin type and good nourishment coming through in a hard year," he said.
One point Mr Nixon wanted to make was he keeps the older ewes as breeders if they continue to get in lamb.
He tags their progeny to follow their genetic progress through the flock.
"We think the older ewes if they are productive will continue to add to our flock and we can place pressure of the maidens," he said.
The 'Clovelly' flock was classed at 30 percent.
Speaking generally to the assembled crowd, Mr Lane addressed the issue of having an outside influence on the breeding and selection of Merino flocks.
"I think it is worthwhile getting someone in to class your sheep," he said.
"It will open your mind, makes good conversation at classing about what you are targeting and looking at.
"Classing your sheep should be a good day."
Second in the championship was awarded to the Tara Park-blood flock entered by Matt McGrath, 'Clear View South', at Boorowa.
They are classed by Guy Evans, 'Tara Park', in Boorowa, Mr Evans classed the maidens at 19 percent.
Mr Lane said, overall, the tough seasonal conditions have affected the sheep, however positive on-farm practices are producing profitable flocks.
