2017 Katanning Rabobank Stud Merino Show

Poll Merino section

Excerpt from article written by Jodie Rintoul, Farm Weekly, Thursday, August 24, 2017

Standing behind the St Quentin ewe in the ewe classes and taking home the reserve grand champion August shorn ewe ribbon was a classy Poll Merino exhibit from the Blight family’s Seymour Park stud, Highbury.

When the ewe received the reserve grand champion ribbon Mr Steve Phillips, Yarrawonga stud, Harden, New South Wales, said it was structurally very good and had a tremendous barrel.

“She stands up very well and is a good square ewe, with a nice clean head and poll,” he said.

“She is also very productive with great staple length.”

In the early round of judging the ewe was sashed the champion August shorn Poll Merino ewe and won its initial class ahead of two other ewes to be sashed the champion August shorn medium wool Poll Merino ewe..

The four-tooth ewe carried wool figures into the ring of 19.6 micron, 3.1 SD, 15.8 CV and 99.6pc CF.

 

The Seymour Park stud took home the reserve champion March shorn Poll Merino ram ribbon when its classy fine-medium wool sire got the judge’s nod.

Mr Ian Michael, Nyowee stud, Balaklava, South Australia, said the ram was a terrific wooled sheep with good structure.

“He has a fantastic fine-medium wool and is nice and square,” he said.

The ram was also sashed the champion March shorn fine-medium wool Poll Merino ram when it won its initial class in front of 18 other sires.

Here Mr Phillips said it was a very productive sire with a great skin.

“He stands up well, has a pure muzzle and his wool quality is exceptional,” he said.

“It is a beautiful, stylish, fine-medium wool.”

The two-tooth ram, which is sired by Seymour Park George, has wool figures of 19.0 micron, 2.8 SD, 14.7 CV and 99.8pc CF.

 

Woodyarrup, Seymour Park share honours

Excerpt from article written by Travis King, Farm Weekly, Thursday, August 24, 2017

This year’s Elders Expo Four was the tale of two extremes with one stud notching its first win in the completion, and the other winner, a regular first placegetter in the competition.

Two winners are announced in the competition – one for a group of rams shorn before April 20 and the other for rams shorn after April 20.

This year 24 teams competed in the before April 20 shorn class and four in the after April 20 class.

The aim of the competition, which this year recognise 23 years of Elders’ sponsorship, was to crown the most outstanding team of four rams from the previous year’s drop in terms of their evenness and type.

In the bigger category it was Seymour Park stud, Highbury, that had cause for celebration racking up its first win in the event.

The four rams caught the eye of judges Don Jackson, Kojonup and Ken Smith, Kingussie stud, Dumbleyung, during the judging as they classed the group as the most even of the entries presented before them.

Three of the rams were sired by Seymour Park George and one was by Seymour Park 908.

The group stood out for its frame and wool types with the rams’ fleeces testing at 20.6 micron, 3.1 SD, 15 CV and 99.6 per cent comfort factor, 20.8 micron, 3.1 SD, 15 CV and 99.6pc CF, 19.4 micron, 3 SD, 15.55 CV and 99.9pc CF and 19 micron, 3 SD, 15.5 CV and 99.9pc CF.

Judge Don Jackson said it was a unanimous decision between he and Mr Smith to award the first place ribbon to Seymour Park.

“They were a very even team, that stood well and had good frames and good wool,” he said.

Seymour Park stud principal Clinton Blight offered three of the rams in the sale the day following the judging and the rams sold for $17,000, $7500 and $9000 respectively.

 

Ram Sale 2017

Excerpt from article written by Courtney Walsh, Farm Weekly, Thursday, August 24, 2017

A mixed result was the name of the game at this year’s Rabobank Katanning stud Merino ram sale held last Friday at the conclusion of the 2017 Rabobank WA Sheep Expo & Sale.

Taking the Guernsey for second top price value of the sale was the Blight family’s Seymour Park stud, Highbury, with their Poll ram in lot seven selling to Richard and Willa Steel, Carribber stud, Southern Cross, for $17,000.

Mr Steel said he was delighted with his choice.

“I am very happy with the lovely, white and stylish wool on the ram,” Mr Steel said.

“It’s got a nice thickness to it as well. This is our first time buying from Seymour Park but we came down to have a look on Kevin Broad’s recommendation and were happy with what we’ve seen.”

Mr Steel said he thought it was a good value purchase and was confident the young sire will do well at its new home in Southern Cross.

Sired by Seymour Park George, the ram had wool figures of 20.8 micron, 3.0 SD, 14.4 CV and a 99.3pc comfort factor.

Seymour Park offered a further two Poll rams during the sale, the first of which sold to the Mullan family, Quailerup West stud, Wickepin, for $7500.

Co-principal Todd Mullan said he is confident the Seymour Park sire will complement the direction of the Quailerup West flock.

“He’s a good, consistent ram,” Mr Mullan said.

“He’s deep barrelled and good in the twist with lustrous, white wool which is what we’re looking for.”

Also sired by Seymour Park George, the ram measured 3.1 SD, 15.0 CV, 99.6pc comfort factor and 20.6 micron.

The final Seymour Park ram on offer sold for $9000 to Cranston Pty Ltd, Dwarda, aided in the bidding by Paul Keppel, Elders Narrogin.

The ram was sired by Seymour Park 908 and had figures of 3.0 SD, 15.5 CV, 99.9pc comfort factor and 19.8 micron.

Mr Keppel said Cranston was a return buyer at Seymour Park and was looking to try a new family line.

“In particular, the wool quality and cut on the Seymour Park ram were the things that focused the bidding,” he said.