Agriculture
10 March, 2024
Field day double tops off stud's great week
TERRICK West Poll Stud capped off a stunning week winning the ram and ewe competitions at last Friday’s Loddon Valley Merino Field Day. It was the McGauchie family’s first success in the prestige best pen of three rams since 2008. The stud also...
TERRICK West Poll Stud capped off a stunning week winning the ram and ewe competitions at last Friday’s Loddon Valley Merino Field Day.
It was the McGauchie family’s first success in the prestige best pen of three rams since 2008.
The stud also won the best pen of three commercial ewes in only the second year of that competition.
Friday’s successes came after another stunning return for Terrick West to the Great Southern Supreme Show at its new location in Bathurst.
Max - TW 220405 (M61) - won the champion Medium wool August shorn poll ram and went on to win the Champion August shorn poll ram and junior Champion August shorn poll ram.
He was the reserve champion August shorn Medium wool poll ram and champion August shorn Medium wool poll ewe.
Terrick West had 12 Great Southern ribbons on show for the field crowd touring four on-property stud displays in the region and inspecting rams displayed by member studs at Janiember Park, Serpentine.
Ram judges Daniel Rogers and Will Miller said the Terrick West entry had been a standout and it was hard to find faults.
Good wool length saw Alan Harris’ Koolevale Stud awarded second and Norm Weir’s Kerrilyn third with special mention made of the well-presented trio at Willera Merinos.
This year’s ewe competition honoured the contribution to the Merino industry of Ian Bennett who died last year and was judged by son Leigh and Graeme Harvey.
Second was John Humbert’s Kedleston Park with Kerrilyn third.
Loddon Valley Stud Merino Breeders’ Association president Kevin Hynam said the larger trade display at Janiember Park had helped boost the number of farmers from across Victoria and southern New South Wales at this year’s field day.
Mr Hynam said the introduction of the fleece competition had also been a success with 30 fleeces entered from studs and commercial farmers.
“We see there is real potential to increase the involvement of commercial famers in the field day through the fleece competition,” he said.
“Our studs have many regular buyers of their rams .. the competition expands the potential for involvement and showcasing the progeny of our member studs at work on commercial farms.”
Mr Hynam said farmers should keep an eye on fleeces being clipped in district shearing sheds over the next six months and place them aside ready for next year’s competition.
“Wool has been the backbone of the Merino industry and I hope there is a good focus among our studs and their farmer clients to help us grow this new competition at the field day.”
Meanwhile, Terrick West is already preparing for its next tilt at show success.
Claire McGauchie will take a team to Horsham for the annual Wimmera Merino Show this month while father Ross heads to the Royal Show in Sydney where he will judge Merino sections over Easter.
“The Wimmera event is the only Victorian show on the calendar for August-shorn sheep,” he said.
Before judging, the McGauchies have their flock heading into the shearing shed this week.
- CHRIS EARL