Thiele wins hogget comp title

As published in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times

March 26, 2024

Robert Thiele, Monarto South, was crowned Monarto Hogget Competition winner with his pen of four Glenlea Park-blood ewes.

Monarto South farmer Robert Thiele added another Monarto Hogget Competition title to his resume last Friday night, triumphing with four ewes described as "peas in a pod".

A multiple past winner, Mr Thiele's pen got the nod from two judges ahead of a dozen others.

Judge Luke Schreiber, Spence Dix & Co, said the uniformity of the pen was what stood out to him.

"The main criteria was the evenness of the pen and those four ewes were peas in a pod," he said.

"They were extremely well-presented, well-grown, similar in their type and in good condition."

Running a 900-head self-replacing Merino flock at Monarto South, Mr Thiele said he was stoked to win

first prize.

On Glenlea Park bloodlines for a dozen years, Mr Thiele said he aimed to breed large-framed, heavy cutting sheep with 19 micron wool.

Keeping plenty of feed on hand is one of his keys to presenting good sheep.

"My late father always told me where you can run 10 sheep, always run nine," Mr Thiele said.

Colrae Farms, Callington, were triumphant in the single ewe judging.

The Monarto Agricultural Bureau donated $2000 in proceeds from the competition to rural health not-for-profit

Fat Farmers.

HERBIG ON TOP IN WETHER STANDINGS

The wether competition was judged on a combination of carcase and fleece values after all animals were run

under the same conditions for six months at Burdett.

Topping the total values was Liam Herbig, Callington, with his wether boasting a $43.14 fleece value and $173.06 carcase value for a total of $216.20.

Mr Herbig's Merino entry had a starting weight of 44.8 kilograms and finishing weight of 67kg, with a dressing

percentage of 41 per cent, resulting in a 27.47kg dressed weight.

It carried an 18.9M wool with a greasy fleece weight of 4.7kg and washing yield of 65pc, resulting in a 3.06kg

clean fleece weight.

Rhys Erickson topped the carcase values, with a starting weight of 55 kilograms, finishing weight of 69kg, a dressing percentage of 41pc, leading to a 28.29kg dressed weight.

Brinkley producer Dean Pearson's fleece winner had a 15M wool with a greasy fleece weight of 4.3kg and a washing yield of 63pc for a clean fleece weight of 2.71kg.

At 2500 cents/kg clean, this represented a $67.73 fleece value.