Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders  

Details of State Trials



NSW  
-   Peppin-Shaw Riverina Ewe Flock Competition, Hay 2711
The Peppin-Shaw started in 1987 and has been held annually since except for two years, one due to drought the other due to rain.  Its aim is to promote the commercial sheep in the Hay district on their own property.  It enables potential buyers to see the young ewes in their own environment and the judges encourage discussion during forums in the sheep yards.  An air-conditioned coach follows the judges from property to property for two days, or follow in own car.  Contact the Secretary, Stacey Lugsdin, 0428 931 931 or President Peter Thomson 02 6993 8152 / 0400 080 151.

-   Don Brown Memorial Ewe Competition, Condobolin 2877
          Contact Carol-Ann Malouf 02 6895 2274 Email: maloufca@westserv.net.au


WA - MERINO is the most profitable breed of sheep in the market place, according to the results of independent trials conducted in WA.

Ewe productivity trials to benchmark sheep for both meat, total weight lambs produced, and wool production have been undertaken for some years by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA).  With over 21 teams benchmarked to date and another 50 still progressing through the program the results support the dominance of the Merino breed.  Amongst the teams are a SAMM x Merino cross, F1 and F2 Dohne Merino x Merino cross and a Finn x Merino cross.

The table below shows the average income from both meat and wool for all teams, with the top 16 teams being all Merino bloodlines.

Estimated total income per ewe, using performance data from different Merino types and crosses over three shearings and two lambings in WA ewe productivity trials

Team rank
 

Wool returns

Meat returns

Total returns

Breed type

1

$102.91

$59.40

$162.31

Merino

2

$104.52

$55.03

$159.56

Merino

3

$95.51

$63.97

$155.47

Merino

4

$93.93

$59.65

$153.58

Merino

5

$93.11

$59.44

$152.55

Merino

6

$96.58

$55.88

$152.46

Merino

7

$90.93

$59.48

$150.41

Merino

8

$90.86

$51.64

$142.50

Merino

9

$82.60

$52.42

$136.68

Merino

10

$77.41

$59.15

$136.55

Merino

11

$75.67

$60.76

$136.44

Merino

12

$76.27

$57.05

$132.32

Merino

13

$76.82

$55.14

$131.96

Merino

14

$68.84

$59.74

$128.59

Merino

15

$63.70

$64.87

$128.57

Merino

16

$67.85

$58.90

$126.75

Merino

17

$59.08

$66.57

$125.65

F1 Dohne

18

$55.59

$67.62

$123.21

F2 Dohne

19

$52.76

$62.82

$115.58

Merino

20

$41.89

$70.54

$112.44

F1 SAMM

21

$52.87

$57.67

$110.55

Finn cross
Total average income                        $136.91
 
DAFWA Project Manager, Sheep Genetics, Dr Johan Greeff said the Merino is the major sheep breed in Australia, but recent importations of new breeds had created the impression that the Merino was not as productive as claimed.  Overseeing the research and productivity trials Dr Greeff said the results supported the Merino’s dominance.  The productivity trials are an ongoing activity and more results will be available as more research is conducted.
 
“DAFWA maintains and co-ordinates benchmarking activities and conducts data collection, data analysis and the establishment of the trials,” Dr Greeff said. 
For more information contact Dr Greeff on 08 9368 3624.

© The Australian Association
of Stud Merino Breeders Limited

The Australian Merino Centre
Level 2, RAS Administration Building
1 Showground Road
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127

Telephone: 02 9763 2744
Fax: 02 9763 1878
E-mail: office@merinos.com.au


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