Mobble CEO Jock Lawrence reviews the Australian Wool and Sheep Show
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Ag Tech News
- Jul 25, 2019
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By Jock Lawrence - Mobble.
On the weekend I got the opportunity to go to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo. The big takeaways for the show were (1) The drought failed to hold people back, (2) farmers traveled from far and wide to be there and (3) top rams were going for top dollar.
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What a weekend at the Bendigo Showgrounds for the 142nd Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
I was working the Mobble stand, talking and listening to farmers about sheep prices, farm record-keeping and the hope for a wet spring.
With unseasonal sunny weather in Bendigo, it's no wonder the crowds were strong. 30,000 people were seen through the gates with 450 stalls selling anything from socks to tractors.
Very different to the chilly wet norm that Bendigo is known for this time of year.
Drought failing to hold people back
Mudgee merino breeder Andrew Rayner had been hit hard by the drought, but still traveled to Bendigo for what was his 19th consecutive year. The fourth generation farmer claimed the ribbon for grand champion ultrafine ewe on Saturday.
Organiser of the yard dog championships, Rod Cavill, said there were more competitors this year, with entrants from all over the country.
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The sheep dog trials had a Twenty20 feel, with states competing against one another for the title.
It was a fun event that encouraged large crowds to watch the dogs do their work.
Farmers from everywhere
WA, NSW, Victorian, South Australian, Queensland and Tasmanian all had studs that shone brightly at times during the show.
An example of distance is Craig Dewer, who paid $10,000 to truck his sheep 3200km to Victoria. And he said it's worth every penny.
In the internet age, it’s easy for graziers to showcase their sheep’s best qualities. But there's nothing like checking out the animals you are looking to buy in person.
When selling sheep. “There’s nothing better than ‘eye to eye’ and a handshake,” Craig said.
Craig's from the property Broomehill, 320 kilometres south-east of Perth, a bloody long way to be carting sheep!
Top rams going for top dollar
Victorian Merino stud Glenpaen was all victorious at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at the weekend, topping the ram sale yesterday.
The Miller family’s stud from Brimpaen in the Wimmera scored a rare grand champion double. With the ram selling for the equal top price of $26,000 on Sunday!
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Glenpaen stud principal Rod Miller said “You can’t keep them all,” and that it was “about time we let a good one go [to lift the studs profile]".
It was great to see the top rams sell for top dollar, but the ram sales were not all roses.
In the later half of the sale there were a lot of 'pass ins' and a lack of excitement. One would presume this has been due to the effects of the drought and dwindling sheep numbers.
There's a lot of work to do before we will see Australia's flock numbers build back up to the glory days, but I'm filled with optimism.
The prices are strong.
Signing off,
Jock Lawrence (Chief Mobbler)
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