TOP SIRE 2025–2026 INDUSTRY NEWS AMPT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHTS The Australian Merino Production Trial has reached new heights in 2025 with 70 teams of wethers from across Australia entered, making it the largest commercial evaluation of Merino sheep in the country. The 2025–2027 AMPT trial includes more than 50 teams from NSW, six from TAS, four from SA and one each from QLD and WA, representing 40 bloodlines. Started in April 2025, each producer’s team of 30 wethers were divided into two groups. Half were sent to Fletcher International’s feedlot at Kiargathur Station, Condobolin, while the other half are being run on pasture for two years at one of three locations: Yorke Peninsula, SA, Kiargathur Station, Condobolin, or Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre. Throughout the trail reports will be released. The first meat traits report is set to be completed in October 2025 and the first wool assessment by June 2026. Organisers are excited to see such strong growth in the number of teams entered in the trial, which has grown significantly from 730 wethers representing 50 teams entered in the previous trial. The 2023–2025 trial wrapped up with the final evaluation shearing in February 2025 where results highlighted a difference of $80 per head between the top and bottom performing teams, combining shearing results from 2024 and 2025 along with carcase results to record a combined sheep value. Craig Wilson, Redgum River Pastoral Company, has spent more than two decades collecting Merino benchmarking data and is managing the trial. “With 50 teams, you’re going to get a fair amount of variation but I always say no one ever puts their sheep in these trials to prove how bad they are,” he said. “You can see teams of sheep side-by-side and you can’t really pick the difference. Then when they’re shorn and the results come in, there’s a $15 to $20 difference per head.” He said the trial showed the potential of true dual-purpose sheep with strong traits in both carcase and wool. “You can absolutely 1– – 12 –
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