Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge: Wether trial shows $30 divide
AUSTRALIA’S biggest wether trial’s most recent data has shown a difference in sheep value of more than $30.
AUSTRALIA’S biggest wether trial’s most recent data has shown a difference in sheep value of more than $30.
The Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge 2016-18 final shearing was held last week, with 50 teams going through the shed at Wagga Wagga TAFE in NSW.
Using five-year average prices, when the preliminary fleece and carcass value of each team was equated, there was $31.88 between the top and bottom sheep.
Graham Reid, of Wallambee Pastoral Company at Tallimba in NSW, has participated in all three trials since the challenge began.
He said while it was good to compare his 17 micron Pastora-blood Merino flock with other operations, the biggest drawcard to the event was mixing with like-minded operators passionate about sheep.
“It is also an assurance of the direction our flock is going in. We are happy with where it is, but it can always be better,” Mr Reid said.
The Wallambee team shore 3.5kg of 16.4 micron wool, achieving a fleece value of $4.03 above the average.
This, teamed with a carcass value $1.59 above average, meant the wethers’ value was $5.61 above the trial average.
Topping the fleece value (and coming in second overall) was G&H Bahr, The Rock, NSW, with their team of Pastora-blood cutting 3.7kg of 15.7 micron wool, valued at $13.95 above the trial average.
In first place was Esperance, WA’s Hargate Park team.
The Hargate Park wethers were Pyramid-blood, cut 3.6kg of 18.6 micron wool, with their fleece value coming in 89c below the trial average, but they made up for it in carcass value, with nearly 10kg more than the average, equating to $13.22 more than the average carcass value.
Overall, this left the Hargate Park team $12.32 more valuable than the average.
Trial Convenor Craig Wilson, of Craig Wilson and Associates, Wagga Wagga, said a very tough season had meant the wool cuts were lighter, but it still highlighted the potential profit difference of genetics.
“The important thing it shows is the averages have changed, but the deviation between the teams haven’t, and the rankings haven’t moved much at all,” he said.
Mr Wilson said much more analysis of the figures would be done to bring the numbers back to a net profit per dry sheep equivalent.
Son of the challenge’s namesake Tim Westblade, of Pastora Merinos at Lockhart, NSW, was in the shed to see eight of his client’s teams shorn.
He said while the trial was a good marketing tool for his genetics, it also closely replicated a commercial operation.
“It as close as you can get to on-farm reality, and it gives us a real sense of direction. If teams are lacking anything we can work harder on that trait,” Mr Westblade said.
He said with the buoyant sheep and wool market, sheep income was matching that of cropping.
“The exodus out of sheep and into cropping is over.”
A new trial will begin next month, and a small number of spots are still available.