Agriculture
3 June, 2024
Stud sheep part of first school wether contest
SHEEP from a Loddon-based Merino stud are being used in the first Victorian Schools’ Wether Challenge. Norm Weir’s Kerrilyn stud has put up 66 wethers now at 11 schools across Victoria. The Australian Wool Innovation initiative gives students...
SHEEP from a Loddon-based Merino stud are being used in the first Victorian Schools’ Wether Challenge.
Norm Weir’s Kerrilyn stud has put up 66 wethers now at 11 schools across Victoria.
The Australian Wool Innovation initiative gives students a hands-on experience covering a broad range of sheep and wool production skills.
Each school team is looking after the several wethers for six months.
Norm said he had wanted to see the challenge started in Victoria.
“I was amazed that Victoria did not have the competition that is popular in other states,” he said. “We had been left behind a bit until now.”
Norm and the Victorian Stud Merino Breeders’ Association are backing the challenge’s start in the state.
It provides a unique and practical experience for the students, much different from classroom learning. Each school team will show their wethers during a competition final in Clunes in August where stock will be judged on meat and wool quality.
“The challenge is also a way of opening the eyes of young people to the wide range of careers that exist in the agricultural sector,” Norm said.