A WHITE Dorper ram with "huge muscling" earned high praise from judge Geoff Gale, Galaxy Park, Monarto South, on its way to being crowned grand champion ram.
The champion ram, from Brad and Tanya Edson, Red Rock, Keith, had previously won junior champion at this year's Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic.
The ram - which still has its lamb's teeth - weighed 89 kilograms with an 8 millimetre fat score and 45mm eye muscle depth.
Mr Gale praised the ram for his "huge muscling".
"If you talk to Coles, I'd say this would be their ideal lamb," he said.
The reserve champion came from the ram over 1.5 years class and weighed 100kg, with 7mm fat and 46EMD.
"Both the champion and reserve champion ram are very good carcase animals," Mr Gale said.
"The younger ram is exceptional for muscling.
"We need to grow meat and I congratulate the breeders on the amount of meat on this ram."
Red Rock's champion ewe was a June 2014-drop and weighed 60.5kg with 6mm fat and 38mm EMD.
Mr Gale said it was a "nice, long ewe", that still had plenty of muscle.
Mrs Edson said one of the outstanding qualities of the White Dorper breed was its hardiness.
"They have the ability to thrive in harder conditions," she said.
"Their eye muscle is up there with any other breed."
The Red Rock stud has been running since 2004.
White Dorpers
Judge: Geoff Gale, Galaxy Park, Monarto South
Exhibitors: 1
Entries: 11
Champion ram: Brad and Tanya Edson, Red Rock White Dorpers, Keith
Reserve: Brad and Tanya Edson
Champion ewe: Brad and Tanya Edson
Reserve: Brad and Tanya Edson
Most successful exhibitor: Brad and Tanya Edson
Paula Thompson
Stock Journal's markets editor.
Stock Journal's markets editor.
