Central Murray Best Wool Best Lamb Carcass Competition had a record 177 carcases entered from 27 local producers for its 10th anniversary. Producers were spread from Blighty in the East, Balranald and Wanganella to the North, Quambatook to the South West and Kerang/Murrabit to the South East, with this year’s competition attracting a greater number of youth.

Delivered by Rick Ellis with administration support from Natalie Schlitz for Central Murray Best Wool Best Lamb and Western Murray Land Improvement Group, Rick said this year’s competition was excellent as the process and quality of lambs were topnotch.

“In the past, we’ve used the Swan Hill showgrounds and worked with the show committee, but this year, we did our induction directly at the abattoirs, it was better for animal welfare,” said Rick.

“It was a big job, but it worked. The use of EID tags greatly improved traceability within the abattoir.”

On induction, the lambs were weighed and scanned for eye muscle depth and fat, with a second scan performed in the chiller on day three.

“The quality of the lambs was really good, we’ve had a pretty handy season.” said Rick.

The upset of this year’s competition was that the humble Merino took out the top two spots!

Champion went to David and Sally McDonald of Gonn Pastoral on 281.42 points. David describing himself as a “hobby farmer” these days with just 2,000 ewes, was surprised with the outcome.

“I was very surprised to beat all the genuine lamb producers, to be perfectly honest,” 

“The Merino carcasses are improving, which is good to see.”

“I think it is something that’s possibly come from selecting for fertility in the merinos. We’ve been selecting for fat and eye muscle depths, and that’s obviously had a bearing on the carcasses in a big way.”

“With selection pressure for fat and eye muscle depths and post weaning weight, carcasses will improve and give you the better lambing percentages.”

“We’ve been using Australian breeding values to pick up those traits, and they’re obviously starting to show through.”

“Natalie and Rick did a great job organising the whole thing.”

Reserve Champion went to McCrabb family of North Bundy Pastoral on 279.12 points.

Emma McGrabb said their operation runs about 4,500 ewes with a real focus on dual quality merino’s.

“We have a real focus on the dual quality of the Merino, with the wool being still very important and increasingly the carcass side of things.”

“We were pretty surprised to take out the reserve.”

“I think the biggest thing about the hook comp is the intramuscular fat, the eating quality side of things. It’s really hard to know what that looks like on a live animal. It was our first insight into where we might sit for eating quality. It was a very pleasant surprise.”

With their first year in the comp Barham High School were commended for their 2nd placing amongst the prime medium entrants.

“I’m full of praise for that Jamie Loy at the High School.” said Rick Ellis.

“To get three even lambs off five acres is remarkable.”

The competition wouldn’t be possible with a large group of sponsors, and volunteers. Long-term supporter Woodward Foods Australia donated the cool room facilities, personnel and processing, the event Gold sponsors were Riverina Sustainable LWMP with supporting sponsors Pooles, Elders, BR&C, Swan Hill Stockfeeds.

CMBWBL Carcass Comp Committee/Volunteers include local producers Simon Ettershank and Guy Treweek, and Elders stock agent Matt Rowlands. Assistance from MLA was greatly appreciated with the help of Lachlan Jeffers, Marnie Hodge and Victoria Ledger.

Competition results

Champion: Gonn Pastoral (281.42 points)

Reserve champion: North Bundy Pastoral (279.12 points)

Class 1 (14 – 17.9kg)

• 1st Eromunga Trust (277.92 points)
• 2nd Eromunga Trust (276.38 points)

Class 2 (18 – 24.9kg)

• Gonn Pastoral (281.42 points)
• North Bundy Pastoral (279.12 points)

Class 3 (25 – 31.9kg)

• Eromunga Trust (277.81 points)
• Mooloomoon (276.48 points)

Lamb by breed and teams breakdown

Class 1: 6x lambs total

• 6 Merino lambs, 2x teams

Class 2: 81x lambs total

• 30 Crossbred lambs, 10x teams
• 3 Wiltshire Horns, 1x teams
• 54 Merino lambs, 18x teams

Class two 1st and 2nd went to Merino lambs teams

Class 3: 84 lambs total

• 9 Dorper lambs, 3x teams
• 6 Merino lambs, 2x teams
• 6 White Suffolks, 2x teams
• 63 Cross breds, 21x teams

Class three 1st and 2nd went to crossbred teams

CMBWBL workshops to be held in the Wakool/ Moulamein/Deniliquin region in early 2026. 

See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 2 October 2025.