Best of the best: meat sheep, dual-purpose breeds judging under way
Supreme all other breed prime lamb exhibit
It was a race of the Poll Dorset exhibits for the title of supreme all other breed prime lamb exhibited between the supreme ram and the supreme ewe, both exhibited by Tattykeel studs, Black Springs.
Both exhibits rose to the top of an additional six breeds in their respective gender classes with Tattykeel 240040 winning the ewe section and Tattykeel 240088 winning the ram section.
Steve Pederick, San-Souci, Bundaberg, Qld, said it was very close between the two exhibits.
"The ewe has terrific balance, stands naturally and I think she's a great sheep," he said.
"Both these sheep have excelled through the show and with good reason."
Supreme all other breeds prime lamb exhibit
In the words of judge Bianca Williams, it was "no easy task" to pick a winner in the supreme all other breeds prime lamb exhibit.
"It is no easy task to judge a Valais Blacknose against a Dorper, and they're all from different parts of the state," she said.
But the decision came down to the Poll Dorset ram, exhibited by Tattykeel, Black Springs.
Ms Williams praised the "beautiful" ram, Tattykeel 240088, saying it had a brilliant carcase, good length and paraded itself well.
Supreme all other breeds prime lamb ewe
It was a tight competition between five ewes during the judging of the supreme all other breeds prime lamb ewe with the Poll Dorset exhibit coming out on top.
Exhibited by Tattykeel studs, Black Springs, Tattykeel 240040 won the top ribbon after competing against another seven breeds.
These included Valais Blacknose, White Suflolk, White Dorper, Dorper, Australian White and Corriedale.
All the ewes eligible in the competition won the grand champion sash in their respective breed classes.
Judge Marty Koolstra, Kallista Wiltshire Horn stud, Dandenong Ranges, Vic, said the Poll Dorset ewe displayed excellent muscling in her hind quarter and he admired the amount of loin on her.
Supreme prime lamb
It came down to a battle of two Suffolk entries in the judging for ASBBA breeds supreme prime lamb animal in the interbreed judging, with both from the Bowen stud, Millthorpe.
Alistair Day, Bordertown, SA, said as the Suffolk judge and a Suffolk breeder, he was proud of the two exhibits.
"They're outstanding, structurally correct and with good breed type," he said.
"They're very balanced and pretty hard to split."
In the end, it came down to one point difference between the two, with the ewe triumphing.
The ewe - Bowen 24-0425 - was a shorn, milk-tooth, making her showing debut.
Supreme prime lamb ram
Greg Good, Bowen Suffolks, Millthorpe, continued his success in the interbreed classes of the supreme prime lamb ram with his Suffolk ram Bowen 24-0410.
The competition assessed the grand champion ram winners of each breed, involved in the Australian Stud Sheepbreeders Association.
This included Border Leicesters, Hampshire Downs, Suffolks, Wiltipolls, Wiltshire Horns and Any Other Breeds, which was represented by a Lincoln ram.
Judge Alistair Day, Allendale studs, Bordertown, SA, commended the young ram on his power throughout and strength of his head.
Supreme prime lamb ewe
A Suffolk with "terrific style" took the eye of the 12 judges in the supreme prime lamb interbreed judging.
The competition assessed the best of breed ewe winners from the breeds involved in the Australian Stud Sheepbreeders Association.
This included Border Leicesters, Hampshire Downs, Suffolks, Wiltipolls, Wiltshire Horns and Any Other Breeds.
Judge David Pipkorn said the Suffolk ewe, Bowen 240425, shown by the Bowen stud, Millthorpe, was a "standout".
"She has beautiful balance and terrific style," he said.
"The carcase traits and there and she's well-filled in the hindquarter.
"She's a commercially relevant animal and that breeding will flow through for generations to come."
Peter Taylor Memorial Perpetual trophy
The Gilmore family has continued their success in the interbreed judging, winning the Peter Taylor Memorial Perpetual trophy.
Graham, Kirsty and James Gilmore, Tattykeel stud, Black Springs, were announced the winners of the prestigious award with their team of Poll Dorset exhibits.
The team consisted of one ram - Tattykeel 240088 - and two ewes - Tattykeel 240015 and Tattykeel 240040 - all still displaying milk teeth.
Second place was awarded to Bowen Suffolk stud, Millthorpe, with their team of three, while Rocdell White Suffolk stud, Bigga, were awarded third place with a team of three.
The top three teams competed against an additional nine teams for the top spots.
Judge Peter Baker, former Loddon Park Corriedale studmaster, Baringhup, Vic, said the winning team was a magnificent group of sheep.
JA&MY Gilmore Perpetual trophy
The JA&MY Gilmore Perpetual Trophy is returning to its roots, after being won by the Gilmore family's Tattykeel stud for their Poll Dorset entry.
The trophy awards a breed pair, made up of the champion ram and ewe from each breed.
The winning duo was ewe Tattykeel 240040 and ram Tattykeel 240088, both out of milk-tooth classes, exhibited by the Tattykeel stud, Black Springs.
Second place went to the White Suffolk entry of Rocdell, Bigga, with third place to the Suffolk entry, exhibited by Bowen Suffolk stud,
There were 12 breeds out on the ring, scrutinised by the entire judging fraternity of Steve Pederick, Brenton Heazelwood, Peter Baker, Barend Cronje, Roger Traves, Cherie Pagan, Alastair Day, Roger Wilkinson, David Pipkorn, Kevin White, Marty Koolstra, Bianca Williams and associate judge Megan Baker.
Ms Pagan, Cooinda Border Leicesters, Gilgandra, said all the entries deserved to be out in the ring and it "came down to the finer points" to select a top three.
She said the Poll Dorset entry was a standout, with the White Suffolks a close second.
