Collinsville champion ram continues amazing run at Northern SA Merino Expo

A powerful Collinsville ram that has dominated the show ring recently has added another major ribbon to its tally, crowned South Australian Merino Ram of the Year at the Northern SA Merino Expo in Jamestown.

The 170-kilogram 2023-drop sire, exhibited by the Hallett-based Collinsville stud, was awarded the Supreme Merino exhibit at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo last month, and took home supreme exhibit at the Hay Merino Sheep Show in June, as well as SA Champion Ram of the Year at the Elders SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra in March.

It was the grand champion Poll Merino ram at the Royal Adelaide Show last year.

Now, the standout sire will represent SA at Dubbo, NSW, next week.

Judge Ed Morgan, Mutooroo Pastoral Company, said the Collinsville Lustre 565 ET ram stood out for his exceptional wool and meat characteristics.

"It has a very strong muzzle, very good width through the shoulders, great depth of body, very deep in the twist and heavy in the bone," Mr Morgan said.

"He's got a beautiful, bold white crimp, and he's holding his whiteness really well.

"He's just a very well-balanced, masculine ram with terrific structure and power."

Mr Morgan said the competition showcased "incredible" balance of wool and carcase merit, praising the high standard across the board.

Collinsville stud principal Tim Dalla said the ram exemplified what the stud was aiming to breed - a structurally correct, high-performance animal with balance.

"He's just a big, large-framed ram, structurally excellent, very good quality wool, plain bodied but cuts a lot of white, bright wool," he said.

"We're keeping him as a stud reserve - we already have lambs on the ground that are quite exciting. He's one of the best we've bred."

Reserve champion went to Greenfields Stud's Greenfields 31 ram, exhibited by Robert Sullivan, Booborowie.

Mr Sullivan said the reserve champion ram was by one of their own sires and had been selected as a stud reserve for his shape, structure and wool quality.

"He's a big, tall, long-bodied ram with a beautiful, rich stud medium wool," he said.

"He'll be shown again in Adelaide."

Greenfields wins prestigious pen of three hogget rams

Greenfields stud, Booborowie, added another ribbon to its haul at the Northern SA Merino Expo, winning the prestigious pen of three hogget rams competition - and the accompanying $5000 prize, sponsored by Michell Wool.

Stud principal Robert Sullivan said the award was hard-fought and highly regarded.

"It's pretty hard to win - one good ram is hard enough, but to get three good, even types together that are good enough to win this comp is a pretty good achievement," he said.

The winning team comprised three Merino rams - one of which Mr Sullivan is retaining as a stud reserve, another destined for the Adelaide Show, and the third to be offered at Greenfields' on-property sale.

"One of them was second in his class at Bendigo, but they haven't had a lot of judging elsewhere," he said.

All three rams were sired by Collinsville Buddy 32, who sold for $70,000 in 2022 to a Western Australian buyer.

Mr Sullivan thanked the sponsors and expo organisers.

"Thanks to Michell Wool for their very generous sponsorship - $5000 is a great support for the industry - and thanks to the Northern SA Expo committee for organising such a good event," he said.

Judge Ed Morgan said the winning pen stood out immediately.

"They were very long, with curved muzzles, good horn sets, great across the top line and very good on their feet," he said.

"The wool was consistent, really well crimped and nourished - beautifully even across the group and a really strong representation of South Australian sheep."

Mr Morgan also praised the consistency of pens from Collinsville and Mulloorie, who placed second and third, respectively.

Top sale rams shine in SA hogget ram of the year class

Collinsville secured two of the top three ribbons in the South Australian Hogget Merino Ram of the Year judging at Jamestown, with the winning ram set to lead its upcoming on-property sale.

Taking out first place was Collinsville Lustre 108, a long-bodied, well-covered sire catalogued as Lot 1 in the stud's 2025 ram sale.

Judge Ed Morgan said the ram showcased the production, purity and structure typical of the South Australian type.

"I went with the poll ram - he's very well structured, very pure in his muzzle, great top line and wonderful width through the front and back end," he said.

"He's got impressive wool coverage down his legs and plenty of wool cut and production. I think he'll only improve with age."

Greenfields 421, a stud reserve from Greenfields stud, Booborowie, was placed second.

Mr Morgan described the ram as "faultless".

"Very pure, strong muzzle, good horn set, really good top line, very good feet, and a well-crimped, consistent fleece right across his body with good staple length," he said.

Collinsville also claimed third place with Lustre 422 - another top ram heading to auction as Lot 2 in their 2025 sale draft.

"This ram had beautiful wool and was an outstanding sheep to look at - just not quite the same production levels as the top two," Mr Morgan said.