HAMPSHIRE DOWN
CONSISTENCY paid off for Anthony and Judy Pearce, Telpara, Mount Torrens, with their even line-up of Hampshire Downs earning high praise from judge Peter Button, Ramsay Park, Minlaton.
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Mr Button awarded the champion ram sash to a 123-kilogram sire, which sported an 11-millimetre fat depth and 46mm eye muscle depth.
“The champion has a perfect carcase, nice and meaty through the lines, and is deep and square,” he said.
“It was very good on its legs and feet and had a nice, open face, which I like to see in a Hampshire.”
Mr Button described the stud’s champion and reserve rams as a “beautiful pair”.
He was also impressed by the consistency across Telpara’s ewe entries, especially his top two selections.
“The ewes are very similar in champion and reserve, but the champion has extra carcase, depth, width and is beautifully filled down through the twist with lovely shoulders,” he said.
The champion ewe weighed 99.5kg, with 14mm fat and 45EMD.
Mr Pearce said his flock was displaying the breed characteristics he was striving for, with the present generation’s bloodlines predominantly based on genetics from New Zealand stud Teviot Dale.
“They have good weight-for-age, structure, with the typical Hampshire traits,” he said.
“We’re trying to breed characteristics like early maturity and responsive traits.
“They’re a docile sheep, and our younger family members can handle them.”
The family runs about 50 Hampshire ewes and sells 20 rams a year, while also operating a Suffolk stud.
