2013 Dubbo Sheep Show

Seymour Park Poll excels

Article written by Jodie Rintoul, Farm Weekly – 06 September 2013

WA continued to show it is a force to be reckoned with in Merino breeding when a ram from the Seymour Park stud, Highbury, was sashed the grand champion Poll Merino ram at last week’s Rabobank National Merino Show and Sale at Dubbo, New South Wales.
The lone WA entry in the show ring from the Blight family’s stud, Highbury, Seymour Park Louis, shared the 3600km trailer ride to Dubbo with the stud’s WA supreme ram, George, and while Louis may have only initially set out to be a travelling companion, he certainly made the trip worthwhile for stud principal Clinton Blight and his father Michael.
The 22-micron, August shorn four-tooth ram, which was shown by the Blight family, was also sashed the champion August shorn medium wool Poll Merino ram.
The Seymour Park sire was sashed the reserve grand champion Poll Merino ram at the Williams Gateway Expo and the champion two-tooth ram at Wagin Woolorama earlier in the year.
At the recent Rabobank Katanning Stud Merino Show and Sale it was part of the stud’s grand champion pair and was sashed the reserve champion August-shorn medium wool Poll Merino ram.
The ram had wool measurements of 22.0 micron, 3.2 SD, 14.5 CV and 99.4 per cent comfort factor.
The ram was from the stud’s yellow tag family and based on Shahs breeding.
Judge Joe Dahlitz, Roemahkita Poll Merinos, Cummins, South Australia, said the Seymour Park ram was a complete and safe sire and there was nothing he didn’t like about him.
“He is a big, square, deep ram which is good on his feet and he also has a pure clean muzzle,” Mr Dahlitz said.
“He is also has a great underline and top line and carries a tremendous long-stapled wool with superb wool quality.”
But it wasn’t only in the show ring where Louis had an impact, the ram was also offered in the sale where it created strong interest.
In the end it was knocked down for $5500 to the Kedleston Park Poll Merino stud, Calivil, Victoria.