The students have broken in and trained the wethers in order to compete in the school wether competition section of the National Merino Show against students from around the state.

They have spent several weeks feeding and cleaning the wethers, along with teaching them how to parade.

The competition is run over two days on August 28 and 29 in conjunction with the Rabobank Dubbo National Merino Sheep Show and Ram Sale, at the Dubbo Showgrounds. 

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Teams of three wethers are exhibited by schools and judged first on their ability to produce wool and meat over the next five years.

They are then shorn and fleece testing performed to determine their wool value. The final stage is where wethers are weighed and ultrasound scanned for eye muscle depth and fat depth and judged for their meat value.

A champion team is awarded for the wether team with the highest combined meat and wool value.

The schools are also judged with the Best Presented School and Champion School awarded for presentation, cleanliness and knowledge of the merino sheep and wool industry.

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Before competing in Dubbo, the students will enter their wethers into the Bedgerabong Show this weekend. During the Bedgerabong Show, the wethers will be judged on their wool, structure and parading ability.