The South West Slopes
Sire Evaluation Cootamundra 2025 - 2027
The South West Slopes (SWS) Sire Evaluation is a collaborative extension program coordinated by SheepMetriX with support from the SWS Sheep Breeders, Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Ass (AMSEA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).
The purpose of the 2025 SWS Sire Evaluation is to evaluate the production and genetic performance of industry leading Merino sire’s progeny under the same management and environmental conditions. The SWS Sire Evaluation provides an independent assessment of the sire’s progeny.
Sire Evaluations provide valuable genetic benchmarking to Ram Breeders who enter a sire, and assists ram buyers through identifying genetics that are suitable to their environment and that value add to their businesses profitability.
The 2025 SWS Sire Evaluation is one of our most exciting to date, having the entire ewe base (foundation ewes) genomic tested, adding a layer an additional layer of information. It is the first of its kind in Australia!
The South West Slopes Sire Evaluation is coordinated by Sally Martin (SheepMetriX), who has successfully been running Sire Evaluations over the past 23 years. The newest Sire Evaluation site is located near Cootamundra, NSW, on a mixed farming property.
Host Location: Cootamundra, NSW
Ewe Base Bloodline: Willandra Merinos
Number of Sire Entrants: 16 (including 2 link Sires)
Number of Ewes to AI: 1120
We have some of the brightest minds in the industry assisting us along the way…
Our SWS Sire Evaluation Committee consists of a range of industry professionals from ram breeders and service providers to commercial producers and sheep classers.
Some of the leading Merino Studs in Australia have nominated a sire, check out the line up below:
Aloeburn Poll Merinos, 230469
Avenel Merino Stud, 210052
Bella Lana Poll Merino Stud, 230680
Billandri Poll Merinos, 210979 (Link)
Bogo Merinos, 230829
Bundilla Poll Merinos, 231813
Grassy Creek Merinos, 230476
Gullen Gamble Poll Merinos, 230597
Kurra Wirra, 200427 (Link)
Lachlan Merinos, 220118
Mumblebone, 230511
Rocklyn Merinos, 230857
Tallawong Merinos, 230001
The Yanko Merino Stud, 230023
Poll Bonooke, 220173
Yarrawonga Merino Stud, 210958
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AI commenced in November 2024. Over 20 enthusiastic people and 2 teams of vets were involved. Over 550 ewes were inseminated per day.
Thanks to all the businesses who helped make the job so easy!
Key Performance Traits:
The 2025 Progeny will undergo a series of performance measurements, including:
Fleece Tests - Greasy & Clean Fleece Weight, Micron, yield, staple length and strength, wool quality scores (independent classer)
Reproduction Traits - pregnancy scanning and genomic testing for pedigree, udder and teat scores
Structure & Conformation Traits - Shoulders, back, jaw and hocks
Growth Traits - body weights, eye muscle and fat scanning
Parasite Resilience Traits (Flystrike & Worms) - breech wrinkle, breech cover, Dag scores, worm egg count testing & genomic testing on fly struck sheep
Eating Quality Traits - lean meat yield, intra-muscular fat, shear force and dressing %
Foot Health Traits - foot structure scoring, footrot exposure (off site)
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