TOP SIRE 2025–2026 NSW FLOCK EWE COMPETITIONS Return to Merinos pays off for Parkes winners Glen and Sharon Woods of Cooks Myalls Pastoral Company, Parkes, were all smiles after claiming the champion flock title at the 26th annual Doug Bicket Memorial Ewe Competition. Their prize-winning flock were a run of 19.8-micron Overland-blood ewes, classed by Parkes local Ian Lovell. The Woods family moved away from Merinos 25 years ago, transitioning to Dohnes as a result of a poor wool market at the time. As the wool market improved, the Woods made the switch back to Merinos nine years ago. “We had ended up with extremely large animals that were very hard to handle and ate a lot of feed,” Glen said. “The wool market had improved a lot and looked very sustainable. We decided we needed to take advantage of this and re-adjust the balance of our flock.” When transitioning back, Glen said they were determined to retain their focus on fertility, noting lambing percentages and lamb sales were the biggest profit drivers in their business. The Woods family have achieved this, recording 127% lambing in 2023. Glen said they had been scanning and providing twin-bearing ewes with better access to higher quality feed, which has seen rates improve by as much as 20%. Judges Nigel Roberts, Dunbogan, Elong Elong, and Hayden Cox, Bocoble, Eumungerie, were left in awe of the depth and width of the Woods’ ewes. “The constitution of these ewes is incredible,” Nigel said. “Their depth of barrel and width through their bodies, coupled with their ability to carry and rear such high numbers of lambs makes them an incredible line of commercial ewes.” Judges placed the Westray Park-blood ewes of Ray and Judi Unger, “Waratah”, Peak Hill, in second place. Their flock is managed under a vastly different strategy to other entrants displayed on the day, running an organically certified farm including grain, beef, hay, wool and lamb enterprises. Unable to use traditional drenches and animal care chemicals, Ray spoke on the way his sheep fit within their system. “We aim for good quality white wools that will shed water. If we can achieve this, this will help minimise any blow fly problems,” Ray said. “We hardly ever have any issues with worms, however if we do see a problem in young sheep we will give them some apple cider vinegar and garlic as a natural solution.” Hayden said he was impressed with the wool cutting potential of the “Waratah” ewes when offering judging comments. “These are big framed ewes that are going to cut a lot of good quality wool,” he said. “They are very impressive and the top end of the mob are exceptional ewes.” Taking home the Encouragement Award was a run of Darriwellblood ewes presented by the Watt family, “Allambie”, Alectown. The flock is classed by Russell Jones and cuts 19.8-micron wool. Doug Bicket Memorial Ewe Competition (Parkes) | Friday 21 February 2025 Photo captions. 1– Winners Glen, Jesse and Sharon Woods, Cooks Myalls Pastoral Company, Parkes. 2– A substantial crowd of more than 60 people followed the ewe competition circuit, pictured checking out the runner’s up flock of Judi and Ray Unger, “Waratah”, Peak Hill. 3– Emily Hall, AgriWest, Parkes, presented Robert Watt, “Allambie”, Alectown, with the Encouragement Award. Photos: Supplied. 1– 2– 3– – 124 –
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