Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge 2018-2020 Wool Challenge Report 2nd Shearing Assessment 2020 Craig Wilson & Associates 1 Featherwood Road Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 P: 02 6926 2365 M: 0428 250 982 www.craigwilsonandassociates.com.au Acknowledgements Sally Martin, Sally Martin Consulting Pty Ltd, Young Sam Moorfield, Sally Martin Consulting Pty Ltd, Young Rachael Gawne, Sally Martin Consulting Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga Marty Moses, Moses & Son, Temora Adele Offley, Moses & Son, Young Lexi Cesnik, Moses & Son, Wagga Wagga Will Sullivan, Craig Wilson & Associates, Wagga Wagga Geoff Casburn, NSW DPI, Wagga Wagga Geoff Lindon, Australian Wool Innovation Erica Berntsen, CSU Student, Wagga Wagga Date of publication: May 2020 Disclaimer Whilst Craig Wilson & Associates and contractors and any contributor to this material (“us” or “we”) have used reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in this material is correct and current at the time of publication, it is your responsibility to confirm its accuracy, reliability, suitability, currency and completeness for use for your purposes. 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Neither may information be stored electronically in any form whatsoever without permission. 1 | P a g e Financial and In-kind Contributors to the 2018-2020 PWMMC 2 | P a g e 3 | P a g e Table of Contents Contents Financial and In-kind Contributors to the 2018-2020 PWMMC .......................................................................... 2 From the Challenge Convenor .......................................................................................................................... 5 About the Peter Westblade Merino Challenge (PWMMC) ................................................................................. 6 Peter Westblade – 1949 to 2008 ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.0 Trial Design ................................................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 How the wethers were selected? ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 How the wether lambs were allocated to the Wool Challenge and Meat Challenge? ..................................... 7 1.3 How to read and interpret this report? ............................................................................................................. 7 2.0 Entrant Details ........................................................................................................................................... 8 3.0 Merino Challenge Management ............................................................................................................... 10 3.1 What traits were measured in the Wool Challenge? ...................................................................................... 10 4.0 2018 - 2020 Wool Challenge Summary ................................................................................................ 12 4.1 2020 Wool Challenge Results .................................................................................................................. 13 4.2 Wool and Mutton Prices .......................................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Clean wool weight and fibre diameter .................................................................................................... 17 4.4 Wool and Meat Values ............................................................................................................................ 21 4.5 RAMPOWER Indexes ................................................................................................................................ 23 4.6 Within Team Variation ............................................................................................................................. 25 4.7 The Yield Story ......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.8 Body Wrinkle Scores ................................................................................................................................ 28 4.9 Body wrinkle and clean wool weight compared ...................................................................................... 29 5.0 Individual team results ....................................................................................................................... 30 Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................................................... 72 1. MerinoSelect Indexes – a ram buyers guide ........................................................................................... 72 4 | P a g e From the Challenge Convenor The Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge 2018-2020 has once again proven beyond any doubt the capacity of superior Merino genetics to dramatically affect the profitability of any sheep and wool business. The PWMMC provides a platform for all breeding philosophies and we encourage all commercial Merino breeders to test and benchmark the relative merits of their flocks’ genetics. The two years of the trial has provided vastly different seasonal conditions in terms of nutrition with the second year allowing the wethers to display their full genetic merit. The PWMMC has attracted teams from across Australia. States represented in the Challenges include Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. The teams represent a wide cross section of the Merino bloodlines and major wool and sheep meat growers. Entrant’s flocks are typically larger scale and professionally managed. The information contained within this report aims to give entrants and indeed the wider Merino breeding community an understanding of the diversity and production capacity of Merino genetics across a range of bloodlines. The variation in the general merino sheep population of Australian would be significantly more than that measured within this trial. The data is presented in several formats highlighting the entrant’s different breeding objectives. As expected, there is not only production differences between the entrant teams but also within the teams. Peter Westblade was passionate about breeding the most profitable sheep, assisting his clients and fostering young people in the Merino industry. I feel very proud that we can run this Challenge in Peter’s name and thank all supporting partners and sponsors for their shared vision, financial and moral support. Financial and in-kind contributions from Australian Wool Innovation, Sally Martin Consulting Pty Ltd, Moses and Son Wool Broker, Bluechip Livestock, Zoetis, Riverina Wool Testers, Conqueror Milling, Worner Transport, Kooringal Horse Stud, NSW DPI and Fletchers International Exports have made the PWMMC 2018-2020 possible. I trust that the information within this report gives the entrants a very strong understanding of their flock’s genetic strengths and weaknesses arming them with the power to make more informed decisions within their own businesses. Thanks to my family for your support and to the entrants that have placed their sheep within my care. Craig Wilson 5 | P a g e About the Peter Westblade Merino Challenge (PWMMC) Australia’s largest commercial evaluation of Merino genetics the Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge (PWMMC) assists Merino breeding enterprise make more informed decisions on their Merino genetics. The PWMMC has two components consisting of a Meat Challenge and a Wool Challenge. The Meat Challenge is a unique initiative of the PWMMC measuring commercially relevant growth and carcase traits. The information and data analysis presented in this report shows entrants and the wider sheep industry the financial opportunities that exist through high performance Merino genetics and is specifically related to the Wool Challenge outcomes. PWMMC 2018-2020 40 teams of 30 wether lambs - Even up shearing April 2018 Meat Challenge - Wool Challenge - 39 teams of 15 40 teams of 15 wethers wethers 1 Assessment - Yarragundry West 2 Assessments April Collingullie Feedlot and 2019 and March 2020 Fletcher International Export - July 2018 Peter Westblade – 1949 to 2008 Peter Westblade (pictured right) has been described as a visionary, innovator and successful stud Poll Merino Breeder; he was also an inspiring sheep classer using objective measurement, a mentor to many and a champion of worthy causes. Peter Westblade was born in Lockhart, NSW and left school at 16 years of age. Peter established himself by buying his grandfather’s 400-hectare