Tattykeel dominates in the Poll Dorset ring after Bendigo sheep show hiatus

Tattykeel dominated the Poll Dorset ring at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show with their consistent type claiming ribbon after ribbon on Saturday.

Under the eye of judge Charlotte Cain, Carisbrook, it was Tattykeel's ewe, 240019, that was awarded supreme exhibit.

Sired by Tattykeel 220308 and out of Tattykeel 210550, the ewe rose from the under 1.5-year-old close shorn class.

Tattykeel stud co-principal James Gilmore, Black Springs, NSW, said it was the ewe's first time in the showring.

"We held her aside for a bare shorn purposely," he said.

"She's got a huge carcase, a beautiful top, and she's an embryo transfer (ET) ewe lamb so probably the top 1-2 per cent of the ewes in our flock.

"She ticks all our boxes."

Mr Gilmore said the ewe would be retained.

Pictures by Alexandra Bernard

Ms Cain said the ewe caught her eye early on.

"She handles herself extremely well, has got a great hind leg, beautiful Dorset type and great neck extension," she said.

"On the day, she just looks like a champion."

The ewe claimed grand champion ewe ahead of reserve champion ewe, Tattykeel 240015, before going on to be sashed supreme over the grand champion ram, Tattykeel 240088.

The ET-bred senior champion ram, sired by Tattykeel 220308 and out of Tattykeel 210046, was no stranger to the showring.

Mr Gilmore said he was undefeated in his class, having claimed supreme ram exhibit at the Sydney Royal Show and champion Poll Dorset ram at the NSW State Sheep Show in Dubbo, NSW, recently.

"He's a bit bigger style of ram to the ewe but still the same style of sheep," he said.

Mr Gilmore said the stud would retain semen from the ram for their ET program and offer him in their on-farm sale in October.

Ms Cain said he was a "beautiful, stylish ram".

"There's plenty of meat through, so smooth through the shoulder down to that tail end, a beautiful head on him, very correct, doesn't do much wrong," she said.

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Tattykeel was also awarded most successful Poll Dorset exhibitor.

Mr Gilmore said they were "over the moon" with the success.

"There is a lot of prep and genetic work over a lot of years to be where they are," he said.

He said the stud had not exhibited at the ASWS for about 10 years, but wanted to come back to continue to promote their genetics.

"Probably every fifth year we should be popping down to shows further down into Victoria to promote the Poll Dorset breed and what we do and why," he said.

Mr Gilmore said they currently ran 1000 Poll Dorset ewes in the stud, in a completely closed program.

Tattykeel also claimed reserve senior champion ram with 240074 and junior champion ram with 240193.

Hillden Poll Dorset stud, Bannister, NSW, was awarded reserve junior champion ram with Hillden 538-24.