Canberra Royal 2025: Supreme Babydoll packs plenty of growth in small package

While Babydolls are typically considered a small-statured breed, it was the growth and length of the champions that had left judge Kelvin Cronk, Old Junee, impressed.

"I can't believe the growth on this fellow," he said of the champion ram, which came from the Roogulli Farm stud, Bungendore.

He said the ram, from the over two-year-old class, had the length of rams considerably taller.

Babydoll breed standards require the sheep to remain within 48 centimetres to 61cm height at the shoulders.

Champion ram Roogulli 220012, known as Spritz within the stud, was in competition against its son, Roogulli 240010, out of the under 12-month class.

Mr Cronk said while the size of the older ram had it in contention, he was impressed with how quickly the ram was catching up.

In the ewe judging, this time the tricolour ribbon went to the junior of the offering, Roogulli 240002, out of the under 12-month class.

"Based on the growth factor, I have no hesitation in awarding the junior," Mr Cronk said.

"She's a nice, well put-together ewe.

"She's phenomenal."

Reserve champion ewe went to Roogulli 230032 from the over 12-month class.

In selecting the supreme, it was the ram that triumphed.

"The frame and structure is absolutely perfect," he said.

Roogulli Farm's Jennie Curtis said they were working to breed a modern Babydoll, and she was making use of some of the modern Southdown genetics to improve some of the issues.

"We're trying to breed for balanced sheep - a meat sheep that is easy lambing," she said.

She is involved in a new registry of Babydolls, Babydoll Sheep Breeders, which has more than 1000 sheep from 84 studs registered, including a mix of coloured and white sheep.

Ms Curtis said they were working to build numbers in the stud, with some new genetics arriving this week, but already plan to lamb 110 ewes this year.

She said they were trying to increase their production with the aim to sell them as small flocks to buyers.

"People want them on smaller farms," she said.

"It looks like a short sheep but there is a lot of meat.

"They do create a smaller cut but you don't necessarily want a big sheep in the freezer."

Ms Curtis said there was also good demand from orchardists and vineyards among others.

She said another positive of the breed was their good temperaments, in part from centuries of breeding in Britain, where they would need to be housed during winter.

"It makes sense they would choose those that are easier to handle to bring inside," she said.

"They're very calm, docile and easy to manage."