NSW stud claims supreme title in White Dorper ring at Bendigo with young ewe

A junior champion ewe rose through the ranks to claim supreme exhibit in the White Dorper ring at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo on Friday.

Burrawang 241121 Candy, exhibited by Burrawang Dorper and White Dorper stud, Ootha, NSW, was awarded the top spot under the eye of judge Brad Edson, Red Rock Dorpers and White Dorpers, Keith, SA.

Affectionately known as Candy, the nine-month-old embryo transfer ewe was sired by Burrawang WD 230282 Crinkle and out of Burrawang 220223.

Burrawang stud manager Grace Hadley said she was a very feminine ewe.

"Structure is our big, foremost thing," she said.

"She's very structurally sound and that just shows."

Pictures by Alexandra Bernard

Ms Hadley said she was very pleased with the results, given it was the ewe's first appearance in the showring.

After claiming the supreme ribbon, she said the ewe now must prove herself in their program, where they run 2500 White Dorper and Dorper stud ewes.

"She'll go back into our normal flock and she'll have to prove herself for at least two lambings, and then if she can perform, she'll go into the embryo transfer program," she said.

"She's got to back it up and prove she has fertility."

Mr Edson said she was a "very feminine, very beautiful young ewe".

"She caught my eye from the start - I thought 'wow, that little ewe is going to take some beating today'," he said.

Burrawang Candy was awarded supreme White Dorper exhibit ahead of the grand champion ram Deepdale Steel 230190, exhibited by Deepdale Dorpers, Merrinee.

The ram, sired by Burrawang 180435 Iron Jack and out of Burrawang 180992, was 137.5 kilograms and measured a fat depth of 8 millimetres and 53mm muscle.

Deepdale stud master Wicus Cronje said he admired the ram for his "sheer strength, masculinity, length, depth and capacity".

Mr Cronje said it was very hard to breed a ram that carried that amount of meat, while still walking well and being incredibly balanced.

"He walks really well and that's what caught the judge's eye," he said.

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Mr Cronje said the ram was one of their top breeders so would play a large role in the breeding program going forward.

He said Deepdale currently ran about 1500 stud ewes and was building up to 3000, half White Dorpers and half Dorpers.

Mr Cronje said they were focused on strong carcase quality for their clients.

Mr Edson said the ram was "bulletproof" and showed all the attributes wanted for the breed.

"The amount of meat he is carrying is phenomenal," he said.

Deepdale Steel was awarded senior champion ram ahead of reserve African 220944, and junior champion ram African 240860, both exhibited by Dell African Dumisa Dorper and White Dorpers, Moama, NSW.

The reserve junior champion ram was Tullinga 240457, exhibited by Tullinga Dorper Studs, Condoblin, NSW.

The senior champion ewe was awarded to Deepdale 220589, exhibited by Deepdale Dorpers, while reserve senior champion ewe was Burrawang 200781, exhibited by Burrawang.

The reserve junior champion ewe was awarded to Dumisa 230120, exhibited by Dell.