TWO judges could not go past a ewe from Bob and Idrienne Neill's Wheetelande stud, Farrell Flat, for the supreme champion White Suffolk exhibit in this year's feature breed.
Geoff Gale, Galaxy Park, Monarto South, judged the rams earlier in the day, with Ros Funke, Bundara Downs, Bordertown, judging the ewes.
They came together to decide the supreme exhibit and Mr Gale said the ewe was hard to go past.
"She's a very muscled ewe and a very long-bodied ewe, with a very good head," he said.
"To me, with 46 millimetre eye muscle depth, she's just as impressive as the champion ram with 54EMD."
The July 2014-drop ewe weighed 106 kilograms with a fat score of 9.5. She measured 14.9 for post weaning weight, -0.8 for PW fat and 1.4PWEMD.
It was the first time the ewe had been shown anywhere.
The ewe was sired by Gemini 207 and its dam was Wheetelande 7040.
The Wheetelande stud has been running since 1992 and taking out supreme exhibit with ewe was a fitting win for the Neills, as they will be dispersing their stud next year.
They will be offering 220, 2010-11-drop unmated ewes and 120, 2014-drop unmated ewes on January 11, 2016, at their property at Farrell Flat. Their rams will be sold in October.
Wheetelande has been showing at the RAS since 1999 and it was the first time they had taken out the supreme win.
"We're breeding for size, length and meat, as well as good muscling," Mrs Neill said.
Grand champion ram came from Lachie and Kylie McCrae's Somerset stud, Cavendish, Vic.
The Somerset stud was started back in 1997 and has been showing at the RAS for almost 10 years.
"We concentrate on the muscling trait, but while still maintaining the White Suffolk type," Mr McCrae said
Its July 2014-drop grand champion ram weighed 131.5kg with a fat score of 7, 54mm EMD, 15.4 PWWT, -0.8 PWFat and 1.4 PWEMD.
The stud won champion interbreed and White Suffolk ewe at the 2009 RAS. That champion ewe was the mother of the dam of this year's grand champion ram.
The grand champion ram was sired by Wingamin Trifecta.
The ram was shown at this year's Sheepvention in Hamilton, Vic, in August, where it won the junior pairs class. Since that time it has put on 20kg and 6mm of eye muscle.
Mr Gale said the grand champion ram took out the title because of his muscle.
"This ram is a package of meat, and that's what this industry is meant to do, put meat on Merinos," he said.
"He's a very upstanding ram and he's very good on his legs."
The grand champion ram had earlier won junior champion ram.
Reserve junior champion was won by Lachy and Lou Day's Days Whiteface stud, Bordertown, with Mr Gale describing the reserve as a "very smooth ram".
The Days also won reserve senior champion ram.
Mr Gale described the reserve senior as a "very good, very meaty ram that carries well through the shoulder".
The Days also won most successful ram exhibitor.
Senior champion ram was won by Clive and Deb Shillabeer, Wingamin, Karoonda.
The ram weighed in at 136kg, with fat score of 7.5, 49mm EMD, 15.3 PWWT, -1.1 PWFat and 1.1 PWEMD.
Mr Gale said the senior champion had a good White Suffolk head.
"This is the type of sheep that will go on to breed trade lambs and export lambs," he said.
The Shillabeers also won most successful exhibitor.
White Suffolk
Judges: Geoff Gale, Galaxy Park, Monarto South (rams) and Ros Funke, Bundara Downs, Bordertown (ewes)
Exhibitors: 27
Entries: 343
Supreme exhibit: Bob and Idrienne Neill, Wheetelande, Farrell Flat
Grand champion ram: Lachie and Kylie McCrae, Somerset, Cavendish, Vic
Senior champion ram: Clive and Deb Shillabeer, Wingamin, Karoonda
Reserve: Lachy and Lou Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown
Junior champion ram: Lachie and Kylie McCrae
Reserve: Lachy and Lou Day
Grand champion ewe: Bob and Idrienne Neill
Reserve: Clive and Deb Shillabeer
Most successful exhibitor: Clive and Deb Shillabeer
Paula Thompson
Stock Journal's markets editor.
Stock Journal's markets editor.
