Mt Ascot ewe triumphs over ram to take supreme exhibit at State Sheep Show
It was a true family affair at this year's Queensland State Show at Roma, where two branches of the Brumpton family went head-to-head in a thrilling contest for the supreme exhibit title, with a Merino ewe from Mount Ascot Stud edging out a top poll Merino ram.
Exhibited by Nigel and Rosemary Brumpton of Mount Ascot Merino Stud, Mitchell, the ewe named Heather edged out a top poll ram from the Jolly Jumbuck Stud, run by siblings Felicity, Charlie and Lachie Brumpton, to claim the top honour.
The decision came down to the wire, with Western Australian judges Jeremy King of Rangeview Merinos and Grantly Mullan of Eastville Park Stud ultimately favouring the ewe's overall productivity and wool coverage.
"We've decided to go for the ewe today, just purely on production," Mr King said.
"I believe the ewe will cut more wool than the ram. She has a big productive skin, but she tests very well for the amount of wool she's going to cut.
"If the ram had a bit more cover like the ewe, it would be a different story.
"The overall finish of the Mount Ascot ewe just got her over the line by a fraction."
The supreme exhibit, a September 2024 drop bred via artificial insemination, weighed in at 103 kilograms and recorded a wool micron of 18.4, with a standard deviation of 2.7, a coefficient of variation of 14.9, and an outstanding comfort factor of 99.8, which is unique for a ewe in the strong wool category.
Mount Ascot stud principal Nigel Brumpton said the win was a proud moment in his decades of breeding.
"It's the first time I've ever got supreme exhibit with a ewe," Mr Brumpton told the Queensland Country Life.
"I've had supreme exhibit with a ram before, but never a ewe. A big outstanding ram is hard to beat, but when you get a ewe of this calibre, it's quite exceptional."
Mr Brumpton was optimistic about the ewe's future in his breeding program.
"Heading down the track, I think she'll breed some exceptional progeny for us," he said.
"She was exhibited in the strong wool section, but she's only 18.4 micron, which is a tremendous test. A score of 99.8 for comfort in that section is a great achievement."
The ewe will now go on to compete at a select number of country shows across Queensland, before heading to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo and then to the National Sheep Show in Dubbo.
"She'll be certainly competitive," Mr Brumpton said.
"She's from an outcross line we've been trialling to add a bit of bulk and size and she's certainly delivering."
The ewe also swept several major awards at Roma, including champion strong wool ewe, grand champion ewe, Queensland junior ewe of the year, Queensland ewe of the year, supreme merino exhibit, and finally supreme exhibit.
The Roma State Show, organised by the Queensland Merino Stud Sheepbreeders Association, saw 65 entries from nine studs across western Queensland, including 34 Merinos and 31 poll Merinos.
No New South Wales exhibitors entered this year due to ongoing dry seasonal conditions in the south.
Jolly Jumbuck Stud had a strong showing, particularly in the poll categories, taking out supreme poll exhibit, Queensland junior ram and ram of the year, and several champion and reserve titles across ram and ewe sections.
Nigel Brumpton said he was especially proud to see his children from Jolly Jumbuck competing so well.
"I really feel proud for the kids to be able to come up and be competitive and take on all of those categories," he said.
With lamb prices over $8/kg and mutton over $6, Mr Brumpton said the future of the sheep industry in Queensland looked bright.
"The season at home is unbelievable, and the genetics in Queensland sheep were very competitive here today," he said.
Major winners list:
Merino Section
- Junior Merino Ewe: Mount Ascot (strong wool); Reserve: Mount Ascot (medium wool)
- Champion Strong Wool Merino Ewe: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Wilgunya
- Champion Strong Wool Merino Ram: Wilgunya; Reserve: Mount Ascot
- Champion Medium Wool Merino Ewe: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Wilgunya
- Champion Medium Wool Merino Ram: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Coban
- Champion Fine Wool Merino Ewe: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Wilgunya (Dirranbandi)
- Champion Fine Wool Merino Ram: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Coban
- Grand Champion Merino Ewe: Mount Ascot (strong wool)
- Reserve Grand Champion Merino Ewe: Mount Ascot (medium wool)
- Grand Champion Merino Ram: Mount Ascot (medium wool); Reserve: Coban
- Champion All Purpose Ewe: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck
- Champion All Purpose Ram: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Wilgunya
- Grand Champion All Purpose: Mount Ascot (ewe); Reserve: Mount Ascot (ram)
- Merino Breeders Group: Mount Ascot; Reserve: Coban
- Group of Three Rams: Mount Ascot
- Merino Aggregate: Mount Ascot
Poll Merino Section
- Junior Champion Poll Ewe: Victoria Downs (medium wool); Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck (medium wool)
- Junior Champion Poll Ram: Jolly Jumbuck (medium wool); Reserve: Roselea (fine wool)
- Champion Strong Wool Poll Ewe: Jolly Jumbuck; Reserve: Victoria Downs
- Champion Strong Wool Poll Ram: Jolly Jumbuck
- Champion Medium Wool Poll Ram: Jolly Jumbuck; Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck
- Champion Medium Wool Poll Ewe: Victoria Downs; Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck
- Champion Fine Wool Poll Ewe: Roselea (Hacker family); Reserve: Roselea
- Champion Fine Wool Poll Ram: Jolly Jumbuck; Reserve: Roselea
- Grand Champion Poll Ewe: Victoria Downs; Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck
- Grand Champion Poll Ram: Jolly Jumbuck (medium wool); Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck (fine wool)
- Poll Breeders Group: Roselea; Reserve: Jolly Jumbuck
- Poll Aggregate: Jolly Jumbuck
Queensland State Sheep Awards
- Queensland Junior Ewe of the Year: Mount Ascot
- Queensland Junior Ram of the Year: Jolly Jumbuck
- Queensland Ewe of the Year: Mount Ascot
- Queensland Ram of the Year: Jolly Jumbuck
- Supreme Poll Exhibit: Jolly Jumbuck
- Supreme Merino Exhibit: Mount Ascot (ewe)
- Supreme Exhibit of Show: Mount Ascot (ewe)\
