How to win a production class: the traits that bring a fleece value to $171.82

While coming away with broadribbons from the mat marks a high for many at Sydney Royal, the shearing and scanning data in the Merino production class offers a different assessment of commercial relevance.

There were 20 sheep put forward with Mark Hedley, AWN, judging the fleece and David Zouch, Crookwell, judging the carcase traits.

Scanning was carried out by Chris Parker, Summit Park, Hamilton, Vic, and shearing by Ian Elkin, Canberra, and Jacob Carmody, Boorowa.

In the two and four-tooth ram class, Lach River, Darbys Falls, finished on top with Lach River 21639.

The ram, which was also sashed grand champion strong wool ram, measured 21.3-micron fibre diameter, 15.1 kilograms greasy fleece weight, and 81 per cent yield, to finish with a fleece value of $171.82.

For carcase traits, he scanned 42 millimetres eye muscle depth, 9mm fat, and weighed 114kg.

All up, the ram was given a subjective score of 84, which was based on squareness and body type, and finished on 435 points out of a possible 500.

Richard Chalker, Lach River, said he was by the $88,000 Collinsville 33 that the stud purchased in partnership with Westray Merinos.

Mr Chalker said they had already sold semen from him. He favoured the ram's structure, eye muscle and fat measurements.

He said he was a great example of a modern-day Merino and the win in the production class proved the profitability.

Coming second in the same class was Alfoxton, Armidale, on 407 points and Demondrille, Harden, was third on 403.5.

The Merino production class at the 2025 Sydney Royal

Pictures by Rebecca Nadge.

Thalabah, Laggan, claimed the six-tooth ram class with Thalabah 21659, who had earlier been sashed the reserve grand champion fine wool ram.

He presented at 18.8 micron with 14.7kg GFW, 71.2pc yield, and a fleece value of $154.23. He weighed 123kg with 42mm EMD and 10mm fat.

Overall, he was given a subjective score of 62 points to finish on 431.5.

Coming in second was Koonwarra, Boorowa, with a score of 430, while Nerstane, Walcha, was third on 409.

In the two and four-tooth ewe classes, Adina, Cooma, came out on top with Adina 22148.

The ewe measured 17.4 micron with 9.6kg GFW, 69.7pc yield, and $106.70 fleece value. She went on to scan 38mm EMD and 12mm fat at 79.5kg.

She scored 84 subjective to finish on 358. Lach River finished second on 352 and Merryville, Boorowa, third on 342.

Merryville then went on to win the six-tooth ewe class with Merryville 21677, who measured 18.1 micron with 11kg GFW and 73pc yield for a $136.03 fleece value.

She weighed 83kg and scanned 39mm EMD and 9mm fat and was given a subjective score of 83. All up, she finished on 384.5.

Merryville also finished second and third with 383 and 373.5 points, respectively.