Young sheep handler Ruby Maher loves working with 'cuddly' Corriedales

Age is no barrier for sheep handler Ruby Maher.

The eight-year-old from Young, NSW, has been showing the family's Corriedale sheep for several years at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.

On Saturday morning, she was busy getting the family's three-year-old ram ready for competition.

Ruby's mother Melissa Henry said her daughter had grown up around sheep.

The family has a 25-acre property, Quebon Coloured Sheep, where they have 35 Corriedales.

Ruby was showing Quebon Rainbow, which placed second in his class.

"Rainbow was named by Ruby," Ms Henry said.

"It's a fitting name as this black ram can throw any natural colour depending on how he is joined to - black, grey, brown or white.

"His sire is grey and is dam is brown.

"Coloured genetics are really interesting and when understood, can be bred for."

Ms Henry said Ruby had developed a love of sheep from a young age.

"I had the sheep before Ruby was born, so she has really grown up with them," Ms Henry said.

"Now she shows them herself, and she's been clipping him this morning.

"She's really taken to it."

Ms Henry said she loved the Corriedale breed.

"I love the Corriedales for their maternal traits," she said.

"They're just such a beautiful breed, they're great mothers, and I love their wool as well."

Ms Henry said they also had a great temperament.

"Breeding for temperament is really important on our farm," she said.

"It makes management so much easier when they're quieter."

Ms Henry said the three-year-old lamb competing was "particularly quiet".

He has enjoyed success at the show previously.

"He was champion lamb ramb two years ago in the coloured sheep section," she said.

Ms Henry said Corriedales had unique wool.

"It's soft and easy to handle," she said.

"We sell it to hand spinners and filters, and they love working with the coloured Corriedale wool.

"There's definitely a market for it."

Ruby said she hoped to one day run her own sheep farm.

She said competing in shows was fun and she loved working with the three-year-old ram.

"He's really cuddly," she said.

She helps feed the sheep at home and is well aware of the quantities of grain and hay they need.

"Ruby loves seeing the newborn lambs in spring and checking the ewes with me each morning before school.

"She names her favourite lambs and loves watching the lamb zoomies across the paddock at dusk."