Show a welcome respite from drought challenges back home for Dorper breeders
Beyond the broadribbons, being amongst a farming community who are very much in the same boat when it comes to the drought has been the best aspect of the Royal Adelaide Show for Brummy's Blacks principal Daniel Brumfield.
The Bangham-based Dorper and Australian White breeders once again impressed onlookers and judge Steve Pederick, Sans-Souci Australian Whites, Molong, NSW, with a strong lineup of Black Dorpers.
They secured both the champion ram and ewe titles with animals under 1.5 years old, edging out senior counterparts, which Mr Brumfield took as a good indication of the stud's genetic progress.
But it wasn't the accolades that Mr Brumfield rated as the best part of the show this year.
"We've had a hard season," he said.
"Not much rain and we've been feeding out grain and a bit of straw - because there's no hay around - for months. But the sheep are still holding up well.
Mr Brumfield said it had been a nice distraction to catch up with other breeders and friends and know they weren't alone in their predicament.
"That's half the reason you come (to the show) is to talk to lots of people, you make friends along the journey. It's bloody good," he said.
Mr Brumfield was also quick to credit his show team of helpers - including Georgina Hahn, John McFarlane, his son Toby Brumfield, Emmy Finlayson and Beth Carpenter - for their efforts in helping the stud prepare, saying it wouldn't have been at all possible without them.
Their efforts were evident in the showring. The champion ram - a May 2024-drop weighing 85.5 kilograms with an eye muscle depth of 37 millimetres and fat scan of 7.5mm - drew praise from judge Pederick.
It was sired by an Edson Black ram and out of a Brummy's Blacks dam.
"He's a really well balanced young ram with a lot of growing to do yet, and he'll fill out well," he said.
"He's a good sized and good shape sheep."
The champion ewe - a June 2024-drop - also had an impressive set of arithmetic, weighing in at 73kg, with a 43.5mm EMD and 10mm fat.
"This younger ewe is very sound and very structurally ripe," Mr Pederick said.
"Most times you'd favour the mature ewe because they are in production, but I think this young ewe has great potential going forward.
"She's a nice lengthy, stylish ewe."
The ewe was also sired by an Edson ram and out of a Brummy's dam. Mr Brumfield said the junior sheep edging out their older counterparts was a good sign for the stud.
"The reserve champion ewe had two of her daughters out there and one of the daughters was champion," he said.
The Brumfields, located south of Bordertown, have been breeding stud Dorpers since 2019 and have been showing at every Royal since then.
"We enjoy showing the breed and letting people know the breed is still out there," he said.
"We're it (only Dorpers at the show this year)."
They also competed in the Australian White competition under the banner Mallou.
