Wimmera stud claims fourth consecutive interbreed win at Sheepvention

A Wimmera-based stud defended its array of interbreed titles at Sheepvention with three broad sash wins at Hamilton on Monday.

Mertex Texel & White Suffolk stud, Antwerp, won both the interbreed shortwool supreme ram and ewe titles with their upstanding White Suffolk sheep, as well as claiming the interbreed title for the pen of three rams.

The near-cleansweep victory marks the fourth year in a row the stud has won the grand champion ewe, and the second year in a row it has won the grand champion ram.

Mertex stud principal Tim Jorgensen said they were extremely pleased with the results, which only just fell shy of their success last year.

"Last year we won all the interbreed divisions we were in, the champion ram and ewe, the breeders group and the group of three rams," Mr Jorgensen said.

"This year we came second in the breeders group, we lost to the Poll Dorset group."

The White Suffolks were the feature breed at Sheepvention this year and attracted a huge number of exhibits with 144 breed entries in total.

"The competition was very strong," Mr Jorgensen said.

"There was a great line-up of sheep."

The two Mertex supreme exhibits had a lot in common.

Both the White Suffolk ewe and ram were June 2024-drops and out of the same sire, Mertex 505, that was sold at the Elite White Suffolk & Suffolk Show and Sale in Bendigo for $14,500 to Spring Creek White Suffolk, Marong, two years ago.

"They just both had that 'look at me' presence," Mr Jorgensen said.

He said the ram was a standout for the stud.

"He's got great presence and neck extension, a beautiful muscle pattern throughout his whole body, and he's exceptionally good on his feet and legs," he said.

"The ewe is also a beautiful and classy sheep with a beautiful topline."

The last three grand champion ewes Mertex have won at Sheepvention were by the same mother.

"She's had three consecutive daughters that have won the interbreed at Hamilton," Mr Jorgensen said.

He said the proven dam was still breed,ing so they might get more grand champions out of her yet.

Judge Will Milroy, Rangeview stud, Pipers River, Tas, said Mertex had continued to be extremely consistent in the quality of animals they put forward.

"Mertex keeps producing a quality line-up year in year out and there were no exceptions this year," Mr Milroy said.

"They were very deserving winners.

"Both the ram and the ewe were two very good animals with a lot of red meat content in both."

Mr Milroy also judged the White Suffolk classes on Sunday and favoured the Mertex grand champion ram over the ewe for the supreme White Suffolk exhibit.

"I ended up picking the ram because he just had a bit more style and class about him with that real sirey presence," he said.

Rene stud, Culcairn, NSW, took out the reserve for both the interbreed shortwool ram and ewe with their Poll Dorset exhibits.