Wool producers check out wethers at the trial shearing day. Image – Simon Freeman Photography.
EARLY results from the latest shearing evaluation in the Australian Merino Production Trial have again highlighted the value of good genetics.
Trial convenor Craig Wilson said the results from the shearing last week again showed the enormous variation in fleece production and value between the top and bottom wether groups.
The average fleece value was $73.04 across the Temora and Condobolin trial sites, with a range of $49.37 between the top and bottom performing teams.
In the Condobolin teams, the top performing Pastora blood wethers from Rockview Ag had a gross fleece value of $98.60, just ahead of Flandang Farming’s mixed blood team with a $96.10/head return. Greendale blood wethers featured in three teams in the top 10 at the site, including the Greendale Partnership team that cut $92.84 a head.
In the Temora teams, the Greendale Partnership wethers cut $84.40 a head, ahead of O. and J. Cay’s Greendale blood team return of $79.48/head.
Craig Wilson at the Merino production trial shearing. Image – Simon Freeman Photography.
Mr Wilson said complete results are expected to be released to entrants next week, with full anonymous results published on the website.
He estimated about 200 people attended the three-day event and 90 people came to the dinner.
Mr Wilson said he feels the trial is gaining traction among breeders and growers.
“We’ve got genuine buy-in and there is definitely more interest in the sheep and wool game.”
He said the results of the trial, combined with the positive wool and sheep meat market, and the impact of the current fuel and fertiliser cost crisis on cropping operations, justified a new look at sheep and wool.
“It continues to highlight what we’ve been saying for a long time.
A big team of helpers clocked on at the trial shearing. Image – Simon Freeman Photography.
“But I think with the (wool) prices the way they are it emphasises the role of good genetics,” he said.
“If you’ve got the kilos there you are getting paid for it.”
Mr Wilson said the fantastic outcome for the industry from the trial is that it has shown that some Merinos can produce intramuscular fat at 6.5pc and a trial team that achieved that IMF result has ended up third overall in fleece value across the two sites at the latest shearing.
He said the Rockview Ag team at Condobolin produced an average of 9.4kgs of greasy wool at 17.2 micron from 11 months growth and their brothers dressed 32 kilograms back in August.
See some Simon Freeman Photography images of the shearing on the trial’s Facebook page.
Mr Wilson said Fletcher International Exports has been very supportive of the trial to illustrate the opportunities for profitability in Merinos and all wethers are processed at the company’s Dubbo plant.