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Merino studs hope for 2025 wool boost at Loddon Valley Merino Field Day
Nutrien Riverina area wool manager Michael Baker, Terrick West Poll Merino stud co-principal Ross McGauchie, stud classer Chris Bowman, and stud co-principal Claire McGauchie, Prairie.Dave Walsh, Mount Camel, Koole Vale Merino stud principal Alan Harris, Costerfield, and Australian Sheep Breeders Association president Peter English, Bendigo, caught up at Serpentine.Willera Merino stud principal Simon Coutts, Serpentine, with some of his stud ewes which were scanned last week and due to drop in April.Kerrilyn Merino stud principal Norm Weir and farm manager Ross Smith, Dunluce, caught up with friends and potential clients at the field day.Kamarooka Park Poll Merino stud principal Erroll Hay, Kamarooka, was optimistic for the wool job in 2025.Gerard Woodhouse, Raywood, Brendon Lanfrinchi, Maryborough, Darryl Jensen, Diggora West, Ross Dohnt, Maldon, Garry Griffin, Raywood, Craig Potter, Elders Ararat, Erroll and Jan Hay, Kamarooka Park Poll Merino, Kamarooka, and Michael Elmes, Narrandera, NSW, at the stud's open day. The clients and friends of the stud caught up on the past year.Kedleston Park Poll Merino stud principal John Humbert, Calivil, was joined by Nicole Davies, Nutrien Bendigo, at his open day.Bennmann Poll Merino stud principals Dean and Charmane Bennett, Everton Upper, were optimistic about an increase in wool prices for 2025 and exhibited their top sheep at the Serpentine Recreation Reserve.Woolgrowers Liam, 14, and Trevor Bennett, Everton Upper, with Wood Park Poll Merino stud principal Stephen Huggins, Hay, NSW.London Valley Merino Field Day president and Hynam Poll Merino stud principal Kevin Hynam, Longwood, with Tom Simmons and Kelvin Shelley, AWN.Some of the Merino rams on display at the field day.Tamaleuca Poll Merino stud principals Kevin and Danni Crook, Ouyen, exhibited some of their best Merino ewes and rams.Jack and Steve Wheeler, Eildon Springs Merino, Laxton, with some of their rams on display at the Serpentine Recreation Reserve.Bruce and Ryan Dean, Forest Springs Merino, Joel Joel, had chatted to several woolgrowers during the field day.
Loddon Valley Merino Field Day
Pictures by Barry Murphy
Merino studs at the Loddon Valley Merino Field Day on Friday hoped for better wool prices and better weather in 2025.
The region's top Merino breeders exhibited a selection of their sheep on the day with existing and potential new clients inspecting their genetics without the pressure of ram sale day.
Stock & Land was on the ground to snap up all the action.
Along with on-property field days at four studs, eight studs exhibited their sheep at the Serpentine Recreation Reserve, all ahead of the ram selling season later this year.
The exhibiting Merino and Poll Merino studs included Kamarooka Park, Terrick West, Kedleston Park, Willera, Bennmann, Eildon Springs, Forest Springs, Hynam, Kerrilyn, Koole Vale, Tamaleuca, and Woodpark.
The field day hosted two competitions including a best group of three lambs, as well as a memorial fleece competition, held in memory of Ian Bennett from the Akeringa stud, Waubra.
Nutrien, Elders and AWN agent teams attend the field day to check in with clients.
There was plenty of discussion on the tough year that 2024 was for woolgrowers, with feed and water supplies for many in the region still challenging.
However, most stud operators were hopeful for a wool price lift of some form this year, mostly driven by a reduced supply.
Stock & Land will report the full woolgrower outlook over the coming days.
