Date: Immediate release
Showing off their features at the Royal Melbourne Show - Wiltshire Horn sheep feature breed 2019
- · Wiltshire Horn sheep will be on full show as the feature breed for this year's Royal Melbourne Show.
- · Ten year old Wiltshire Horn ewe successfully lambs triplets.
- · Quality carcass and longevity are key features of this superior tasting meat sheep.
The call of the Royal Melbourne Show sheep feature breed has got a busy Doctor to drop the stethoscope for a sheep halter. Marty Koolstra is an Emergency Physician at the William Angliss Hospital and has been a Wiltshire Horn Stud breeder for nearly a decade. Marty and his sheep are entering the show ring for the very first time to avail of the opportunity of being feature breed.
"They are simply a fantastic breed" says Marty. Marty runs 80 stud ewes, about 100 commercials and currently has 15 rams on his properties in the Dandenong ranges and at Wangaratta.
"We chose Wiltshire Horns in 2012 because of their low maintenance qualities. They naturally shed their wool in spring, have good feet, produce a quality carcass and have good mothering with high fertility. They also maintain their dentition which gives them longevity. We frequently have ewes rearing twins and triplets that are over ten years old. In fact a ten year old had triplets in the recent heavy rain in the Dandenong ranges, and as doctors would say, mum and babies are doing well!
Wiltshire Horns are a meat sheep, a quality carcass and are among the best tasting lamb you will find according to John Clarke the President of the Australian Wiltshire Horn Sheepbreeders' Association. " I'm a veteran Angus Stud breeder and know my meat and you won't get better tasting lamb than Wiltshire Horn!" Judges at previous shows are surprised when they get hands on with the breed at how muscly the animals are.
Jane Reeves, a new stud breeder from Poowong agrees. "We tried a few different breeds but have gone to Wiltshire Horns because of our land size and locality, they are a good size sheep for market, as a bonus they don't have any foot problems and don't need shearing, they are a genuine easy care breed" Jane has 11 Wiltshire Horn sheep including her ram.
The Australian Wiltshire Horn Sheepbreeders' Association are honoured to have Wiltshire Horn sheep as the feature breed at the Royal Melbourne Show. The sheep will be at the show on display from Saturday September 21 until Sunday September 22. Judging of the Wiltshire Horn sheep exhibit will start at 1pm in the Animal Pavilion when over 60 sheep, including spring lambs, will be showing off their features!
Australian Wiltshire Horn Sheepbreeders' Association
The aim of the Australian Wiltshire Horn Sheepbreeders' Association is to develop and promote the Wiltshire Horn breed and to provide support to breeders of these unique sheep through a variety of activities.
We believe in working together to ensure the breed maintains its quality and esteem within industry. By supporting our members with events, tools and guidance, our cooperative approach allows breeders to enjoy their Wiltshires to the greatest possible extent.
Royal Melbourne Show feature breed 2019
Wiltshire Horn sheep are the feature breed of sheep at the Royal Melbourne Show from Saturday September 21 until Sunday September 22.
Judging of the Wiltshire Horn sheep exhibits will start at 1pm in the Animal Pavilion.
Tickets are available online at https://royalshow.com.au/.
Wiltshire Horn Sheep
Wiltshire Horns have many features that make them suitable and a popular choice for many different enterprises. These include high fertility, good mothering, large frames often with long bodies, good muscling, lean meat, intelligence, ability to do relatively well in poor conditions, horns in both rams and ewes, and wool that is naturally shed in Spring are all characteristics that draw people to this breed.
Wiltshire Horns are very popular with small farmers. As a shedding sheep, the hassle (and cost) of finding a shearer for a small flock is eliminated. Crutching, mulesing, dipping or treating for lice or fly strike are also not necessary. The 'easy care' of this breed is one of the key features that excites people at first.
https://wiltshirehornaustralia.com.au/gallery
