Inaugural WAMMCO Producer of the Month Award
Chris Squiers of Shirlee Downs Poll Dorset Stud Quairading, capped a prizewinning seven days last week when he was named WAMMCO’s inaugural producer of the month for September. The stud also won a number of championship ribbons and topped the annual sale at the Perth Royal Show.
The new WAMMCO award is based on the same grid system used for the WAMMCO-Katanning Agricultural Society statewide lamb competition. It is open only to members of the cooperative submitting consignments of 100 lambs or more in any month, and whereas the prize is a modest $100, the monthly contest is expected to generate keen producer interest.
Chris Squiers who farms with partner Fay and sons Adrian and Sascha, started breeding Dorset Horn sires in 1962 and moved to Poll Dorsets in 1968.
His winning consignment of 106 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino cross ewes was submitted under a WAMMCO contract and processed at Katanning on September 29.
More than 75 percent of the draft came within the 22.1kg to 28 kg, fat score 2-3 category, to attract WAMMCO’s $3.64 kg indexed price on the day. The consignment scored 381 points on the judging grid to finish ahead of Naballing Estate with 398 points and K & S.Vaux & Co., with 400 points.
Chris said he was pleased with the outcome in a difficult season.
“We were battling for feed until we got rains in August and this made it difficult to achieve the higher premium grades now set for sucker lambs,” he said. “Shirlee Downs” won Supreme champion of the breed, champion ram and reserve champion ewe in the Poll Dorset competition at last week’s Royal as well as a number of group class awards. The stud also sold seven rams averaging $4,500 to a top of $12,500 in the annual show sale.
WAMMCO’s Chief Executive Des Griffiths said his directors hoped the new monthly award would develop as a prestigious contest for members of the cooperative.
“Entry will be automatic for members submitting 100 lambs or more and the competition will reflect the increasing success of WA lamb producers not only in achieving higher weights, but also a year-round supply of premium lamb for our key markets in Europe and the US.”
Further Media Comment: Des Griffiths 9262 0999
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