Vic Poll Dorset breeder dedicates first supreme win to SA stalwart

An outstanding Poll Dorset ram from the Ivadene stud at Hexham in Victoria, which had the perfect combination of visual appeal with elite performance, has claimed the breed's top honours.

Judge and White Suffolk breeder David Pipkorn, Detpa Grove stud, Jeparit, Vic said the "extra power and grunt of Ivadene 240253" was the deciding factor over the ewe from Alastair, Jayne and Angus Day's Allendale stud, Bordertown, which was a month older.

"He is a ram that should tick the boxes for most people as a really good sire," he said.

"He has the smoothness and balance and correctness across the structure and figures."

The June 2024-drop weighed 120 kilograms and had an exceptional eye muscle depth scan of 56 millimetres and fat scan of 9.5mm.

The Felix 22804 son had a post weaning weight of 16.3 and Terminal Carcase Production Index of 154.9.

The supreme ram was sired by Felix 22804 and out of one of the stud's top ewes, which has been used as an ET donor.

Ivadene stud principal Lachie Kelly said it had been a "long-term goal" since first starting showing at the Royal Adelaide Show about five years ago to win their first grand champion ram.

He was emotional to achieve this and also take supreme.

"The win is tremendous because we hold the Adelaide Show in the highest regard as a sheep competition in Australia," he said.

"It has been a tough run for us seasonally this year like a lot of people so this is nice to have something like this to hold onto."

He dedicated the win to industry stalwart Graham Day, Allendale stud, Bordertown - who was watching on in the stands - for his contribution to the industry and particularly his support of young breeders.

"I have had a friendship with Alastair Day and his family for quite a while and Graham has been a primary inspiration to me in breeding sheep," he said.

Mr Kelly and his wife Sophie, who also run the LSK studs, bought the Ivadene stud during 2021 from Lee Hartwig at Glenrowan.

They have continued to run the two flocks separately on their western Vic property and take rams back to north east Vic for Ivadene's client base.

"We made a commitment to the breeders and all of their clients that we would take on the responsibility of continuing it and doing it to the best of our ability," he said.

The ram will be one of the feature lots at Ivadene stud's ram sale on Benalla on October 7.

"He is our latest leader in combining performance with type and structural correctness, it is the hardest challenge to combine all three but it is the challenge we are aiming to achieve," Mr Kelly said.

The grand champion ewe from the Allendale stud was described by Mr Pipkorn as a "classy outfit" with terrific balance.

"She has that little bit of x factor when she is parading, enough femininity, but also enough power to produce some outstanding rams," he said.

The winner of the April drop class weighed 92.5kg with a 47mm EMD and 15.5mm fat scan was sired by Allendale 255 who sired a large percentage of the Day family's show team.

"It is his first progeny and he has left his mark with good Dorset type and fleshing," Alastair said.

The reserve champion ewe, exhibited by Dan Roe, Danroe stud, Kangaroo Flat, was the winner of the July class.

"She is one of the progeny out of a few mated ewes that I bought last year from the Newbold stud with the aim of getting something a bit different, " he said.

"I was trying to snag a good ram lamb but instead I got six ewes."

Mr Roe said it had been a "surreal day", also winning his first broad ribbon in Adelaide - junior champion ram.

Mr Pipkorn said he was impressed with the length and balance of the August dropm which was 123kg with an EMD of 50mm and fat of 9mm.

"He has a great spine on him and the width of loin and length of loin, he just has so much potential there," he said.

Mr Roe said the ram, which he admitted was a "surprise" from leaving ram lambs in for too long in a paddock, would be for sale.

The ram epitomised what he was trying to breed.

"I have done a bit of a pivot - length and height were important for a little while but as per my shearers' advice I have tried to breed more moderate rams," he said.

Reserve junior champion ram was won by Brett and Amanda Shepherd, Mullinger Park, Kybybolite. The ram which was the result of their first AI program with ewe lambs was sired by a Rangeview ram.

"He is not extreme anywhere but very sound everywhere - he is a ram that people can use with confidence," Mr Pipkorn said.

Allendale stud was also given the nod for reserve senior champion ram and notched up wins in the sire's progeny class and the breeders group.