2019 marked the centenary year of the Polwarth Sheep Breeders Association of Australia.
Inside the special edition newsletter:
Congratulations to Taljar stud (Kangaroo Island) who took out top accolades at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show winning the Supreme Interbreed Long Wool Ram and Reserve Champion Interbreed Long Wool Ewe. Interbreed judge was Gavin Wall from Melbourne.
Statistics for the ram included: age 2 years;
Weight 127kg;
Micron 22.1;
CV 16.6;
SD 4;
CF 99.1;
Eye muscle depth 40;
Width 80;
6mm fat coverage.
Announcement of the Interbreed Champion Longwool Ram
Statistics for the ewe included: age 2.5 years;
Weight 98kg;
Micron 21.6;
CV 16.7;
SD 3.6;
CF 99.3;
Eye muscle depth 42mm;
Width 92mm;
8mm fat coverage.
Ewe had lamb at foot; June drop; weight 37kg.
Taljar’s Interbreed win featured on the front cover of the Stock Journal
Taljar’s Supreme Interbreed Champion Longwool Ram and Reserve Interbreed Interbreed Champion Longwool Ram
Following her associate judge role for the Polwarths at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, Kayla Starkey has gone on to achieve Runner-up in the Senior Judging Section for 15-25 years at the Royal Adelaide Show. Kayla scored 131, only three points behind the winner on 134 points. Well done Kayla!
Kayla Starkey, pictured middle, was the Runner-Up in the
Senior Judging Section at the recent Royal Adelaide Show
The Australian Sheep and Wool Show held in Bendigo from 14-16 July 2017 was once again a big few days for the association. Congratulations to the following Polwarth studs, Catholic College Bendigo, Challicum, Fairview, Homeleigh, Moorabbee, Riverview (Tasmania) and Taljar (South Australia) for presenting such an impressive line-up of sheep. Chief judge Noel Littlejohn from Tasmania and associate judge, Kayla Starkey from South Australia commented on the quality of sheep presented for judging. This year the Supreme Champion Polwarth was taken out by Fairview for a ram under 1 1/2 years.
For the first time, we held a Junior Judging Competition where students associated with Catholic College Bendigo stud participated in a Beginner Handler's class and Fleece Judging class. Thanks to studs Rainbow and Bonnie Bray for supplying fleeces and Fairview and Moorabbee for supplying sheep for the junior judging competition. Special thanks to Ted Wilson from Landmark who was roped in at the last minute to judge the fleeces. Ted did a fantastic job briefing our young contestants on what qualities to look for in their judging.
CCB participating in Interbreed Group
Inaugural Junior Fleece Judging Competition
Judge, Noel Littlejohn and Associate Judge, Kayla Starkey
Supreme Champion, Fairview Stud
Ram lineup
Participating in the Interbreed Ram and Ewe
Participating in the Interbreed Ram and Ewe
Roxford was awarded overall Reserve Champion Fleece at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show. The magnificent fleece scored 97.00 and was just pipped by a Merino fleece which scored 97.10.
Fourteen Polwarth fleeces were entered by Roxford, Rendlesham, Riverview, Moorabbee, Challicum and Catholic College.
The Campbell Town Show was held on the 2nd and 3rd June 2017, with Riverview taking out the most successful exhibitor in the Polwarth Section.
On the weekend 8th and 9th of April, members of the Polwarth Sheepbreeders Association gathered for a social get-together.
The weekend was hosted by Tarndwarncoort Polwarths and Fairview Polwarths near Colac. Members travelled from Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria for the weekend.
On Saturday we visited Tarndie where the Polwarth breed began in 1936. We took a short walk around the property, finishing in the wool shed where we discussed the management of the flock and inspected some sheep and fleeces. The Dennis family market Polwarth wool directly though their Farmgate Woolshop. We enjoyed soaking up the history and browsing through the wool shop.
https://tarndie.com/
Most members took advantage of the opportunity to stay overnight in the historic Tarndwarncoort Homestead. On Saturday evening we enjoyed a delicious two course meal at Tarndie in the Ciderhouse. A highlight of the evening were guest speakers Alistair Calvert, State Wool Manager for Roberts Limited in Tasmania and Chris Kelly, Managing Director of Australian Merino Exports Pty Ltd. Alistair and Chris spoke about the recent and prospective demand for Polwarth wool overseas and provided the association with 'food for thought' in terms of future direction. Special thanks to Judith Nicolson for organising Alistair and Chris.
On Sunday morning, members travelled over to Fairview Polwarths where we started with a General Meeting. This was a goo d opportunity to discuss a number of agenda items including preparation for the Bendigo Sheep Show in July. Members then headed off down to the Fairview shearing shed to have lunch and view some sheep. Unfortunately, the day was somewhat spoilt by torrential rain and gale force winds. The autumn break had arrived
with a vengeance, putting 48mm in the rain gauge.
www.fairviewpolwarths.com.au
Farm walk at Tarndawarncoort
Around the wool table at Tarndawarncoort
In the Fairview Shed
Inspecting sheep at Fairview
Inspecting sheep at Fairview
