Sheep graziers 'two bob' each way

There were nearly 100 sheep entered in this year's show, driven largely by the introduction of an "all-purpose Merino" category.

Just before the show the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rose 70 cents a kilogram to a four-year high, and it continued its upward climb this week.

Demand was particularly strong from Indian and Chinese buyers.

Midlands Agricultural Association president John Taylor said the 177th show was a success, with awards being taken out by both Tasmanian and interstate studs.

"I know prices going up is a good thing but most of the people had entered before that happened," Mr Taylor said.

Entries in the all-purpose class - the first time it had been offered at Campbell Town, Tas - indicated graziers were keeping their options open.

"I reckon if you are running a Merino operation where you are producing a medium wool and a decent carcase you are getting the best of both worlds," Mr Taylor said.

He was among a number of producers at the show who said they believed the EMI would continue to climb.

"It is a demand-driven price rise at the moment and once Europe comes out of the doldrums economically they will start buying."

Victorian stud Glendonald, Nhill, took out the Supreme Champion Merino Ram trophy and Grand Champion Merino sash with a 22-month-old animal.

Glendonald's Rob Harding said the unnamed animal was from a Tara Park ram and returned figures of 19.6 micron, 99.8 comfort value and 12.6 co-efficient of variation and weighed 140 kilograms on-property.

He said he went to Campbell Town to support the Tasmanians.

"The Tasmanians have always come to (the Australian Sheep & Wool Show at) Bendigo and previous to that to Melbourne so I thought it was about time I went to their show to show appreciation for the effort they put in to get across and back again," Mr Harding said.

"They have done a terrific job supporting our shows."

Frank Chester, Camelford, Lake Leake, Tas, exhibited the most valuable fleece at the show, weighing 7.1kg at 17.8M and with a yield of 78 per cent.

He also took out the multi-purpose ram award, with a fleece micron of 14.3; the animal weighed 110kg and was a clear winner with 84 points.

"It's been a fairly hard 12 months and the sheep have come through reasonably well but it'll be a hard slog through winter," Mr Chester said.

Wool prices should continue to climb, he said.

"I can't see them coming back as there is not a lot of wool to come up until the spring, so it's fairly positive and nice to see."

The fleece came from a three-year-old commercial ewe running on improved pastures of coxfoot, clover and rye.

Graziers - even those who had traditionally produced wool - were also keeping an eye on meat sheep, he said.

"I think everyone is pretty conscious it is wool and meat as a package.

"Basically all Merinos will be bred for wool with an eye on doing ability and eye muscle."

NSW breeder Andrew Davis, Demondrille, Harden, backed up his 2014 wins in the supreme ultra-fine/super fine and superfine sections by taking out the trophies again this year.

"It's a strong show," Mr Davis said.

"There is strong competition down here, with six or seven studs from Victoria, plus Tasmanian studs, plus a couple from NSW."

The two-year-old ram which took out the trophy weighed 138kg, with 16.8M wool, a co-efficient of variation of 13.7, a standard deviation of 2.5 and a comfort value of 99.8.

"The ewe flock is getting smaller and smaller so we have to spread ourselves wider and wider - the best way to get people to see your product is to showcase sheep at these events," Mr Davis said.

"We think a fair bit of him.

"We have collected semen and artificially inseminated 70 ewes to him and they will start lambing in September."

The Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders president Georgie Wallace had success with the grand champion fleece of the show from her Trefusis stud.

Trefusis also took out the reserve champion Superfine ram title and was the most successful exhibitor in the Merino/Poll Merino section.