TOP SIRE 2026–2027 NSW FLOCK EWE COMPETITIONS Well-bred, well-suited flock places “Nanena” ahead Genomics have proven to be a valuable tool for the Owens family who won the 31st annual Bathurst Merino Association Maiden Merino Ewe Competition. Their ewes claimed the Warwick Larnach Memorial Trophy for champion flock as well as the People’s Choice award, after being assessed by judges Glen Rubie, Lachlan Merinos, Forbes, and Alan McGufficke, Cooma. Dan and Steve Owens run a mixed livestock operation at “Nanena”, The Lagoon, south of Bathurst, consisting of 65% sheep and 35% Angus cattle. In 2024, they had 2079 ewe lambs, with 76% of that drop joined to Merino sires. They breed their own Merino rams from a nucleus flock and use genomic testing to ensure they are on track with their breeding objectives, which was said to be particularly useful when they shifted to polled genetics. The Owens’ prioritise body weight, fibre diameter, fleece weight and fly resistance, with a primary goal to breed sheep with bright, fine wool. When offering judges’ comments, Glen said there could have been five winners on the day, but he described the “Nanena” flock as well-bred and well-suited to the local environment, which placed them ahead of the other flocks. “They were structurally sound with outstanding wool-growing skins,” he said. The Owens’ lamb down in August/September. They are shorn the following April at eight months of age, then join the 12-month shearing cycle with the rest of the flock. Their main fleece line averaged 6.28kg of 16.9-micron wool in 2025, while the hogget line averaged 4.44kg of 16.3-micron wool. First-time entrant Robyn Cosgrove, Charlton, earned a spot on the podium with her Bella Lana-blood ewes, which placed second and received the Peter Moore Memorial Trophy. Robyn said she aimed to breed a sheep with good wool cut and carcass traits so she could turn her wether lambs off before they hit 12 months of age. She lambs in March/April, recording a three-year lambing average of 115%. The flock, shorn in October 2025, recorded average figures of 6.5kg of 17.5-micron wool cut in the main fleece line, while the hogget line average 5kg of 16.5-micron wool. The third placed flock from Terry Dobel, “Mulgrove”, Triangle Flat, took home the Nutrien Ag Solutions Trophy. He displayed one of the biggest flocks on the day with 800 of his 2024-drop ewes presented for judging. The “Mulgrove” flock was mostly Nerstane-bloodlines, with some influence from Yarrawonga and home-bred rams. They were shorn in March and produced an average of 5.5kg of 17.3-micron wool at the 2025 shearing. 31st Bathurst Merino Association Maiden Ewe Competition | Friday 6 March 2026 Photo captions. 1– The Owens family, “Nanena”, The Lagoon, won the Warwick Larnach Memorial Trophy as first placegetters of the 2026 Bathurst Merino Association Maiden Ewe Competition, pictured at the presentation are (L–R) Alan McGufficke, Danny and Steve Owens, Glen Rubie and Robynanne Larnach (front). 2– Inspections of the Owens’ sheep wool underway. 3– An exclusive look at the Merinolink sire evaluation sheep at the Owens’ property. (Photos: Bathurst Merino Association) 1– 2 – 3– – 128 –
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