TOP SIRE 2026–2027 NSW FLOCK EWE COMPETITIONS “Big and stretchy” does it for Cumnock judges The “big and stretchy” Merino ewes of Phil and Anne Salter were hard to look past according to judges at the Cumnock and District Flock Ewe Competition. Nine flocks from across the region were on display under the scrutiny of judges Alistair Keller, Elders Stud Stock, SA, and Angus Munro, Merrygoen. “We can see that sheep are making a lot of money here,” Alistair said about the Salter’s Roseville Park-blood flock. “You can see the type he’s chasing. They’re big and stretchy ewes, well-typed and well put together.” The Salter’s run 2000 Merino ewes at “Greydene”, Gumble, where they aim to breed a functional sheep with fertility and consistency. “As long as they have a nice wool and nice coverage, they’ll fit in our flock,” Phil Salter said. The Salter’s were lambing in spring and autumn but started transitioning to a spring-only lambing in recent years for easier management alongside their cropping operation. The flock averaged 150% at scanning and 100 to 110% for lambing, cutting an average of 6kg of 18.8-micron wool at their June shearing in 2025. The Salter’s flock was also named People’s Choice, voted by the almost 80 attendees who travelled the circuit on the day. “People’s Choice means a lot because there’s a lot of different people there having a look,” Phil said. “It’s a great day to get off your own dunghill and see what everybody else is doing. Everybody’s got a different opinion on what a Merino is and what works for them.” “Boomey Park”, Molong, owned by Peter and Odette Morley and managed by Gus Shannon, placed second. They run 3600 Darriwell-blood Merino ewes, focusing on wool cut, fertility and structure. The flock, classed by Michael Elmes, is culled at a rate of 40%. In third place was Matthew Philipson, “Ballot Box”, Yeoval, who had a run of Westray Park-blood Merino ewes on display. Blake Cannon-Tremain classed the flock at a rate of 31%. Lambing is split between April/May and June/July, which Matthew said was to better distribute management and feed resources. Matthew’s flock was commended for its wool production, with average figures of 18.3-micron and 8kg for wool cut noted at their September shearing. Providing feedback, Alistair said he had a balanced line of ewes. “We can see the direction you really want to go and we can see the fertility coming through with them which is a real profit driver,” he said. “If you take an extra 10% when classing, you’ll tidy them up really quickly.” The 2026 Encouragement Award was won by the Tremain family, who had a line of predominantly Hazeldean-blood ewes on display. Brett and Nicole Tremain, along with daughters Ailee and Lynsey, run 30,000 sheep between their Yeoval and Blackall properties and have introduced Roseville Park and Lachlan Merino genetics in the past three years. Cumnock and District Flock Ewe Competition | Thursday 26 February 2026 Photo captions. 1– Judges Alistair Keller, Elders Stud Stock, SA, and Angus Munro, Merrygoen, with Phil Salter, “Greydene”, Gumble, (centre) who had a line of Roseville Park-blood Merino ewes on display, which went on to win the Cumnock and District Flock Ewe Competition as well as the People’s Choice award. (Photo: NSW SMBA) 2– Angus Shannon, Angus Munro, Alistair Keller, Russell Jones and Tom Kirk inspecting the second placed “Boomey Park” flock. (Photo: Kate Kirk) 3– Judges Angus Munro, Merrygoen, and Alistair Keller, Elders Stud Stock, SA, with Matthew Philipson, “Ballot Box”, Yeoval, (centre) and his Westray Park-blood Merino ewes that placed third. (Photo: NSW SMBA) 1– 2– 3– – 124 –
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