Two ewes took out the supreme exhibit titles at Bendigo

How did two livestock agents take out the winning ribbons at Bendigo?

LIVESTOCK agents regularly working in prime lamb markets have won the major meat sheep awards at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo at the weekend.

Tim and Marianne Ferguson, Mallee Park Poll Dorsets at Hopetoun, won supreme short wool exhibit with a ewe that showed enough carcass and style to beat out an impressive line-up of champion rams.

Tim works for Landmark at Ouyen as well as running his 3036ha family farm with his parents Wal and Judy.

The sash for supreme long wool exhibit was won by an 11-month-old Border Leicester ewe bred by Will Schilling, Glenlee Park at Dimboola, who works for agency DMD at nearby Horsham.

It was a big win for Will, who is only 24 years old and founded his stud flock a decade ago with earnings from working in shearing sheds.

“I’ve never won a broad ribbon before so its huge,’’ he said.

Will said his job gave him regular insight into the commercial realities of breeding sheep and producing prime lambs.

“I see a lot of different operations, and get to see where the industry is going,’’ he said.

“With Border Leicesters some people will say the wool is not important but it is as prime lambs have to have that good coverage of wool and quality skin.

“The ewe that won supreme has what I would call ideal wool for a Border Leicester — it is nice and bright and crimpy and she has wool from head to tail. You need that nice crimpy type wool to carry into the Merino flock to produce stylish and productive first-cross ewes.’’

Meanwhile, Tim said for him the goal of producing sheep with carcass shape, depth of body and length would never go out of fashion as the result was yield and weight. He said two years ago when judging at the Adelaide Royal a Poll Dorset ram with standout carcass attributes caught his eye and he awarded it champion. He was so taken with the sire he bought it for $18,000 from Kurralea Poll Dorsets, Ariah Park, NSW.

Young stud sheep sired by this ram formed the base of Mallee Park’s successful show team at Bendigo.

“That ram has really clicked for us and is producing sheep with great depth, length and carcass,’’ Tim said.