Ewe hogget competition heats up

12-05-2010 | Not Specified

Judging in the New Zealand Ewe Hogget competition is in full swing with judges seeing a large number of first-time entrants.

The competition's national convener, George Fletcher, says there have been a lot of new exhibitors this year which augurs well for the future of the contest.

All the flocks seen so far have been on-track in terms of production and quality and judges have been particularly impressed by the positive attitudes of the exhibitors.

This year there has been a significant increase in the number of fine-wool entrants, particularly in the Canterbury region, which Fletcher says could be due to a fine-wool flock winning the competition last year.

Despite drought in some regions, all the flocks have been well-presented and Fletcher says the judges are taking climate into account when assessing the sheep.

Judging will be completed by the middle of May.

At the regional level, Kyle Burnet, Moa Flat, was the overall winner in the West Otago-Southland Merial Ancare Ewe Hogget competition and was top in the composite section. Nelson and Fiona Hancox won the crossbred section, Eddie and Grace Thwaites the Coopworth. Fergus and Katrina Templeton won the Romney section and were second overall. Julian Kelly won the super flock section. This is a special section for farmers running more than 2000 ewe hoggets.

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