Australian White Royal champ shares $400k in sought-after Platinum genetics

Almost $400,000 in genetics potentially sits behind the breeding of the champion Australian White ram, selected at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on April 17.

The ram, Tattykeel 240125, shown by Tattykeel stud, Black Springs, in the April/May-drop class, has high-priced ancestors on both sides of his family tree.

His grandsire on his father's side is Tattykeel 'Platinum' 210184, which sold for a $240,000 sheepmeat record price to a syndicate of four Australian White studs in 2022 at the stud's on-property sale.

On his dam's side, his grandsire is Tattykeel 'Anzac' 210163, which sold to the SheepMaster Parent Stud in Western Australia for $150,000 in 2021.

Tattykeel's James Gilmore said the champion had already been used in the stud's embryo-transfer program, as well as having semen frozen.

He said they were still deciding whether to sell the ram or retain those genetics.

Reserve champion ram, Tattykeel 240156, stood second to the champion in that class before coming through to the championship judging.

The reserve was also descended from Tattykeel Platinum.

Mr Gilmore said the ram had also been used in the ET program, with some embryos on their way to the United States, as well as being used in the stud.

"These rams should have lambs on the ground at 16 months," he said.

He said with these strong genetics in the offing, there was an expectation the rams should exhibit the highly hereditable traits of their grandsires.

Judge Steve Pederick, San-Souci, Bundaberg, Qld, said splitting the rams in the championship lineup was a tough task.

"Certainly they all have very good structure, excellent heads, strong muzzles and very good black points," he said.

But he said the champion stood out for his balance, length and spring of rib.

"That muscling, this is only a young ram, so to be this powerful is a great sign for where the breed is going," he said.

Mr Pederick's difficult task did not ease up in the ewe judging.

"These are three very even sheep," he said of the championship contenders.

"They're very balanced and all young ewes already in production, which is a great attribute.

"I like all these ewes but the balance of the first (placed) is why she's the champion."

The ewe, Tattykeel 240093, a twin-born ET ewe, came from the April/May-drop class.

Reserve champion, Tattykeel 240011, was the winner of the June/July-drop class.

Mr Gilmore said both ewes had already been flushed for the ET program at 10 months of age, six weeks ago.

"(The champion) gave eight, A-grade freezable embryos - which is a great flush for that age," he said.

"It's a pretty fair effort to be here six weeks after an embryo flush."

Mr Gilmore said while the stud had been actively engaging an ET program across several breeds, it was particularly strong in the Australian Whites breeding.

"Tattykeel Australian Whites have surpassed 32,000 embryo transfers since the breed's inception," he said.