'Sirey' White Suffolk ram catches eye in state show feature breed judging
The supreme White Suffolk sash for the NSW State Sheep Show is heading interstate after a Victorian stud claimed the win in the feature breed judging at Dubbo on Friday and Saturday.
Judge Peter Angus, Maroola White Suffolks, Mallala, South Australia, who is the national White Suffolk president, selected the "eye catching" champion ram from the Mertex stud, Antwerp, Victoria, out of a large line-up of sheep, that also included four first-time competitors.
"The ram caught my eye right from his class, with his sirey outlook and presence," he said.
"He's a very stylish White Suffolk ram and parades well.
"He has a lovely type, with carcase, balance and correctness."
Mertex's Tim Jorgensen said the ram, Mertex 240605, had impressed at home as well.
"He is the standout of the 2024-drop," he said.
The champion was sired by a ram, Mertex 220505, that had been reserve senior champion ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show and the Royal Adelaide Show in 2023 before selling for $14,500 at the Elite Show and Sale at Bendigo, Vic.
The sire also went back to Detpa Grove 200247, bought for $14,000.
This was the ram's first showing but he will go on to compete at the ASWS, Adelaide and the Elite sale before being retained in the stud.
Reserve champion went to Rocdell 240024, a two-tooth wool entry, described by Mr Angus as a similar styleto the champion - "we just have one in wool and one shorn".
"He is a terrific White Suffolk type, very clean White Suffolk points," he said.
"All up, it was a very strong lineup."
Rocdell's Cameron Picker, Bigga, said the ram had been shown at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April, standing second in the same class as the eventual Sydney champion.
The ram has already been used within the stud as a ram lamb.
It was sired by Sunnybanks 200116 or 'Max', which had been the top price ram, at $15,500, in the 2021 Elite Sale, and was out of Rocdell 220050.
The ram also won best White Suffolk head.
In the ewe judging, it was Rocdell that claimed the champion ribbon, with Mertex in reserve.
Mr Angus said the champion ewe, out of the two-tooth, wooly class, was "beautifully well-balanced" and a lovely exhibit.
"She was very structurally correct with excellent breed type and style," he said.
Champion Rocdell 240049, was sired by Sunnybanks 210037, which was reserve junior champion at the Elite Show at Bendigo, Vic, from dam Somerset 250.
Mr Picker said they had used two Sunnybank sire in their artificial insemination, which they generally operate every second year to bring in fresh genetics.
He said Sunnybanks 2137 had bred some "exceptional ewes", while Sunnybanks 116 had sired a "nice group of rams", including the reserve champion ram.
He said they had been seeking some style and carcase attributes in their program.
Mr Picker said the ewe had previously been champion White Suffolk at the Royal Bathurst Show.
"She's a nice, stylish, well-muscled ewe," he said.
The ewe has already been joined and they hoped to have progeny on the ground later this year.
The reserve champion ewe, Mertex 240590, was a half-sister to the champion ram, also by Mertex 220500, out of dam Mertex 190606.
Mr Angus said she was a wonderful White Suffolk type of ewe.
Mr Jorgensen said the ewe had impressed at home with her eye muscle.
He said she was on her first showing, but would also be heading to ASWS, Adelaide, the Elite sale and Sheepvention.
Mr Angus said it was a pleasure to judge the White Suffolk classes in the breed's 40th anniversary year as feature breed with a great line-up of White Suffolk sheep.
"There were several new exhibitors, which is encouraging, and the students from Farrer and Macarthur were terrific ambassadors for their schools and the future of the breed and the sheep industry," he said.
Most successful White Suffolk exhibitor was Mertex.
