Good show from Navanvale
WA Merino breeders were well represented at the Australian Sheep and Wool show at Bendigo on the weekend.
Sixty-one Merino and Poll Merino sheep from 24 studs made the trip across the Nullarbor and were all evenly matched, according to co-coordinator and ram preparer Ashley Lock, of Narrogin.
The supreme award was handed to a magnificent NSW Grathlyn superfine Merino ram, while a couple of top awards went to the Navanvale stud, Williams, with principal Chris Hogg saying it was his family's best showing yet at Bendigo.
"Unfortunately our best ram, which was supreme at Wagin Woolorama, was unable to make the trip — sick with kidney stones — however, while it is recovering, we made good representation with a ram from a different pedigree background," he said.
Validating the stud's breeding depth and progress, Navanvale's 19.3 micron strong wool entry was named champion March-shorn Merino ram and a Navanvale 20.9 micron Merino was judged reserve champion medium-wool ewe.
Grathlyn stud co-principal Andrew Rayner said it was his family's first supreme win at Bendigo, after 40 years of exhibiting at the country's premier sheep show.
The ram sold for $25,000 to a NSW syndicate and Mr Rayner said the price was "terrific", considering lower fine wool fleece values.
