'Best ever' Collinsville ram reigns supreme Merino at ASWS in Bendigo

An enormous South Australian strong wool ram has claimed the ultimate ribbon at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, taking out the supreme Merino title.

The 170-kilogram ram was exhibited by the well-known Collinsville Merino stud, Hallett, SA.

The ram was a show stopper on the floor and was praised for his heavy-cutting fleece with coverage from tip to tail.

Collinsville stud manager Tim Dalla said the ram was the best he had ever bred.

"From a breeding perspective, he's exactly what we look for," Mr Dalla said.

"He's definitely in the top three rams we've bred, but for me, he's probably the best."

The ram was sired by Collinsville Lustre 33, who holds the second top-priced record for Collinsville and was sold for $88,000 to Lach River Merino stud, Darbys Falls, NSW, and Westray Merino stud, Peak Hill, NSW, in 2021.

Mr Dalla said the ram would not be on offer at the show's special Merino sale on Sunday "unless someone has got a lot of money".

"That was the second highest price we've got since I've been at Collinsville," Mr Dalla said.

"And his son is very hard to fault."

The ram progressed from grand champion August-shorn strong wool ram to claim the supreme Merino exhibit.

Judge Bruce Rollinson, Goolgumbla Merino stud, Jerilderie, NSW, said the supreme champion was one of the best rams he had ever seen.

"For a ram that is that heavy and that big, to stand up on his feet and be as correct as he is right along his topline [is impressive]," he said.

Mr Rollinson said the ram had a great length of staple and plenty of lock in its wool.

"We couldn't really fault him," he said.

"He's got so many good attributes.

"I don't think I've ever seen a ram as big that carries the wool down and has the evenness through his fleece."

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A ewe which travelled 3500 kilometres to Bendigo was the reserve champion Merino of the show.

The ewe, exhibit 276, was exhibited by Rangeview Merino & Poll Merino stud, Darkan, WA.

The August 2023-drop ewe progressed through the fine medium, August-shorn ewe classes on her way to being sashed the best ewe in the Merino shed.

Rangeview stud principal Jeremy King said it was the stud's first time getting such big success at the ASWS.

"We knew we had a good ewe, but we didn't realise she would go this far," he said.

"We're thrilled for the whole family.

"She's actually the kids' sheep and we have them all here."

Mr King's wife Melinda and children Tom, Gemma and Erin joined him in the celebrations.

He said the champion ewe turned out so well because of all their effort.

He said the ewe had balance throughout.

"She's a terrifically well-made ewe," he said.

"She carries a great wool and it carries all the way down through her."

He said the ewe would get back home to Darkan on Tuesday and would be used in the stud's embryo transfer program early next year.

The Rangeview stud was founded in 1952, and the Kings currently run 2500-3000 stud ewes every year.

Collinsville also exhibited the second-best ewe in the Merino shed, the champion March-shorn ewe of the show, a medium wool sheep.

Judge Steven Bolt, Corrigin, WA, said the ewe was only slightly bettered by the Rangeview April-shorn ewe.

Collandra North Merino stud, Tumby Bay, SA, was judged to be the champion March-shorn Merino ram of the show, a medium wool sheep, only second to the supreme Collinsville ram.