Wagin Woolorama: Good season and sheep prices has Merino, British Breed entries strong and spirits high

A sense of buoyancy in WA’s sheep industry is having a flow on effect for this year’s Wagin Woolorama, with entry numbers up and organisers preparing for a bumper crowd. Merino and Poll Merino Sheep steward Peter Foley said entries were looking set to beat last year’s 210 entriess. A huge $40,000 prize pool is on offer in the Merino and Poll Merino section, including about $16,000 in cash and the remainder in large-scale prizes specifically tailored for farmers. The show last year introduced the 4Farmers Supreme Animal of the Show Award to honour the best animal out of the Merino, British and Australasian Sheep Breeds and Cattle sections, with a Charolais cow from Boyup Brook-based Venturon stud taking out the prize – winning a two-wheel motorbike. This competition will return to judge the ultimate show animal on Saturday, March 12. Kojonup-based Angenup Merino and Poll Merino stud took out the supreme exhibit in the Merino and Poll Merino competition last year, with a four-tooth, medium wool Merino ram. A young Poll Dorset ewe won top spot in the interbreed, marking a joyful return to the show for the first time in two years for Narrogin-based Leween run by Claire and Tim Shephard. British and Australasian Breeds steward Josh Kippin said entries in his section were expected to swell from just under 200 last year to 250 this year on the back of a good season and high livestock prices. Eleven breeds will be judged in the British and Australasian Breeds section, including White Suffolk, Suffolk, Ile de France, Poll Dorset, Border Leicester and Dorpers. Each category champion will then go head-to-head for the interbreed grand champions for best ram and ewe before a best of show is awarded. Mr Kippin is manning the section with his fiancé Robyn Adams for a second year after getting involved as a way to give back to industry, meet new people and have a bit of fun. The pair live in Tambellup and both attended the WA College of Agriculture – Denmark. “The numbers are up this year, which is exciting but brings us some challenges,” Mr Kippin said. “It was a good year last year and prices are high. Sheep are looking good. “I am quite excited to see the sheep that come through with the meat breeds.” A change to the status quo this year means British and Australasian exhibitors are able to bring more sheep this year, with entrants now allowed 21 sheep after previously being able to only bring 15. Mr Kippin said the move had been welcomed by entrants. “We had just under 200 sheep in the shed last year, we are looking at about 250 this year,” he said. “From memory, 260 is about the record. “The industry is really strong at the moment. The way the market is, more people are getting into sheep and are really focusing on better genetics and targeting different traits.” The Wagin Woolorama committee has been flat tack holding busy bees to make the shed look and work the best it can during the event, with the shed the centrepiece of the show. Mr Kippin said there had been a series of busy bees focused on animal welfare, drainage, and making the ground even so the sheep were “more comfortable”. This year’s British and Australasian Sheep Breeds section is sponsored by Unigrain, with $30 up for grabs for first prize and $15 for second. Judging will kick off at 8am on March 11, with all sheep set to be penned by 7pm on Thursday, March 10, and presentations held at 6pm on March 11. Judging for the Merino and Poll Merino Sheep section will also kick off on Friday, March 11 with trophy presentations at 2pm on the Merino Judging lawn.