Dorper clean sweep for NSW stud with Dell winning top ram, ewe and supreme

A NSW Dorper stud has made a clean sweep of the top ribbons at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, winning champion ram, ewe and supreme exhibit.

Dell Dorpers, Moama, NSW, took out the top ribbon with its May 2023-drop ram Dell Jupiter.

The ram weighed 124 kilograms, had an 8 millimetre fat measurement and 53mm fat depth.

Judge Brad Edson, Coombe, SA, said his job was made difficult given the quality entrants in the showring.

"It's actually been quite difficult," he said.

"There hasn't been a tail end at all, all of the entries have been solid."

Mr Edson said he was particularly impressed by the balance of the ram.

"When I let them loose and they walked up and down, he just stood up square and showed himself off as a solid ram," he said.

Dell Jupiter was by Dell Rex, whose dam had Dell Dipstick bloodlines.

Dell Dipstick was the top-priced ram at the 2017 Dorper National Sale at Dubbo, NSW.

Dell stud manager Andrea Vagg outlined the stud's plans for the supreme exhibit.

"We will retain Jupiter for another year, then we will sell him next year at our on-property sale," she said.

"We will use him over most of our sheep that are not related to him."

Ms Vagg said she hoped he would put some good covering and shoulders into his lambs.

Meanwhile, Mr Edson said it was the ewe's "femininity" that stood out.

"She was just cutting her teeth and was showing udder development," he said.

"She was pregnant, but she was still balanced.

"They all had good coats on them."

Ms Vagg said she was happy with the growth, covering and mobility on the sheep exhibited at the show.

"They do well out west, where they are bred for, but they also do well everywhere they go," she said.

She said the stud had been working on structure, fertility and mobility, as well as feminine traits in the ewes and masculinity in the rams.