The Karger family at Isla Downs south west of Isisford can lay claim to being one of the best wool producers in the Longreach region, thanks to yet another win for their Merino fleece at the Longreach Show.
The broad ribbons adorning their fleece last week proclaiming it as the show's champion flock fleece and the champion locally-grown fleece follow on from similar success in 2019.
John Karger has been using Egelabra bloodlines for over 20 years and put some of their repeated success down to the sheep classing they do with the stud's classer Paul Kelly.
"We class for type and soundness and it's starting to pay off," Mr Karger said.
He also paid tribute to wool classer Jamie Waterman, part of Dave Grant's NGS team, for her attention to detail, and said the good season they were experiencing had likely contributed to the way the wool presented.
"This year just passed is the first full shearing to shearing since we came to Isla in 2002 that we've not had to feed at all," he said. "We're a family-run show and we just want a sheep that lives and performs in our type of country."
After experimentation, they settled on an early April shearing date.
The Roselea Merino stud at Muckadilla showed the grand champion fleece of the show, scoring 89 points with a ram's fleece that weighed 13kg skirted.
Fleeces from the Chandler family's Isisford property Oma helped win the wool aggregate trophy.
There were more than 220 fleeces competing, which judge David Hart from Nutrien said was an amazing effort.
"I didn't realise what a high standard it would be," he said. "You are producing the right type of wool for the area, and it's what processors want.
"It's obviously a good season, but it's lovely, soft wool in its own right too."
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
