In Bookham, a single wether trial has now been running since the 1960s.
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Every four years since then, the Bookham Agricultural Bureau has been collecting lambs and drafting them onto a host property.
The lambs are run on that property for four years. Each year, they are shorn, and the fleece is measured by the Department of Agriculture for fleece weight, micron and total wool value.
At the end of the four years, carcasses are weighed, with the results compiled into the trial.
The experiment is a useful comparison of bloodlines within the merino breed, says David Hazell, secretary of the Agricultural Bureau.
It began with only four participants, but has grown to encompass up to 40 in past years. This year, they are hoping to have approximately 30 competitors.
In the past, participants have come from as far afield as Cooma and Canowindra.
The trial is still taking entries, if people want to see how their genetics stock up. The trial has separate sections for both commercial and stud Merino breeders, and welcomes entrants from both.
While sheep are graded, it’s not a competitive process, just a useful guide for producers, Mr Hazell says.
“[It’s] not necessarily a competition, just for your own benefit to see where you’re at,” Mr Hazell said.
“There’s more to running sheep than just a wether trial.”
- To participate in the Bookham Agricultural Bureau’s Wether Trial beginning on February 21, contact David Hazell on 0458 182 442