Champion ram – Yentrac, Tatura
Reserve champion ram – Fairbank, Hagley, Tasmania
Champion ewe – Yentrac, Tatura
Reserve champion ewe – Fernhill, Ballan
ASSBA Objective Measurement – Lyntree, Ballan
Most successful exhibitor – Yentrac, Tatura.
WHEN assessing the exhibition of Southdown rams for the championship, judge Greg Skeggs, Tasman Peninsular, Tasmania, noted the resurgence of the breed.
Mr Skeggs has bred Southdown sheep since 1977.
“I will be very strict on shoulders,” he said.
“One of the breed attributes is their ease of lambing and we must preserve that.
“Southdowns are a unique breed noted for their doability in all conditions.”
Mr Skeggs awarded the ram championship to Rob and Katie McCartney, Yentrac stud, Tatura, for their ram which had graduated from the Best Yearling class.
“The champion ram handled well,” he said.
“He is a well muscled sheep, with good colour and not too dark, all good breed characteristics.”
Mr McCartney has been breeding Southdowns for 35 years because he likes their style and muscling.
“It is a breed which gets in your blood,” he said.
The reserve champion ram, bred and shown by Chris Badcock, Fairbank stud, Hagley, Tasmania, had come from the Pen of Two Rams.
The champion ewe was bred and exhibited by the McCartney family, Yentrac stud, Tatura and had come from the Pen of Two Ewes under one and half years.
Mr Skeggs was very complimentary when sashing the champion ewe.
“She is very feminine with smooth shoulders and is well balanced,” he said.
“She is slightly better in the shoulders than the reserve champion.”
It is a breed which gets in your blood.
- Rob McCartney, Yentrac stud, Tatura
The reserve champion ewe which was bred and exhibited by Graeme Dehnert, Fernhill, Ballan had graduated through the one and half year ewe class.
Mr Skeggs said it was a great show of Southdowns and very true to breed type.
“They have excellent hindquarters with muscle and clean shoulders,” he said.
