URGENT UPDATE: A group of international veterinarians is currently visiting Rich Avon, engaging in a pre-conference tour ahead of the International Sheep Veterinary Congress set to take place from October 27 to 31, 2025 in Wollongong. This event has attracted around 500 delegates worldwide, with 30 international veterinarians taking the opportunity to explore the renowned Merino property owned by the Guthrie family.
The visiting veterinarians represent a diverse group from countries including Canada, the United States, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, and Spain. Among the group is a Canadian veterinarian who has garnered significant attention for her innovative dual enterprise: operating a sheep dairy that specializes in milking Friesian sheep alongside an artificial insemination breeding centre. Her work integrates Australian Merino genetics, highlighting the global influence of Australia’s sheep breeding practices.
As part of their tour, the veterinarians are witnessing the annual shearing at Rich Avon, where a skilled team of five shearers is currently shearing 3,000 Merino ewes. The guests have the opportunity to observe this vital agricultural process firsthand, enhancing their understanding of sheep farming practices in Australia.
In an exhilarating development, the shearing team briefly paused to travel to Glendemar at Marnoo, where they supported shearer Nikki Lyons in achieving a world record by shearing 502 Merino ewe lambs in a single nine-hour day. This remarkable achievement adds a memorable highlight to the visiting veterinarians’ Australian experience and showcases the exceptional skills involved in sheep shearing.
This event underscores the importance of international collaboration in veterinary science, particularly in the field of sheep production. The insights gained from this visit will likely have a lasting impact on the participating veterinarians and their respective practices back home.
Stay tuned for more updates as the International Sheep Veterinary Congress approaches, and more developments unfold from this significant gathering of global veterinary professionals.
