A QUALITY lineup of Ryeland exhibits netted Michael and Julie Osborne, Ryeview Stud, Millicent, the titles of champion ewe and champion ram.
Having shown Ryelands at Adelaide for more than four decades, Mr Osborne said the British breed had flown under the radar since the introduction of other prime lamb producing breeds.
Mr Osborne praised the breed's weight to muscle ratio, saying they use Ryeland rams over a Merino ewe at their Millicent property to produce 'nice, nuggety lambs'.
The champion ewe certainly didn't fly under the radar, with judge Daniel Lutz, Uptown Suffolks and Loffler Poll Dorsets, Henty, Vic, liking the fact that the Osborne's exhibited a ewe with its fleece.
"In the prime lamb industry, skins and fleeces add a lot of value at the end of the chain," he said.
"This ewe has beautiful tight downs wool and what the breed should have and what all terminal sires should have."
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The champion was exhibited in the ewe under 1.5 years class and scanned 6 millimitres of fat and had an eye muscle depth of 35mm.
Mr Lutz praised the ewe's balance, shape and muscle pattern, saying with a quick trim that it would represent the breed extremely well in the Interbreed competition.
He thought the same of the champion ram, which was entered in the Ram over 1.5 years fairly and evenly shorn class.
"It was a great lineup of rams and is a real credit to the exhibitor," Mr Lutz said.
"The ram I chose as champion I felt would represent the breed really well in interbreed.
"It holds itself well in the ring and is the reason I chose it.
"The reserve champion (entered in the ram under 1.5 years class) was also really eye-catching, with good balance and muscle pattern and should do well next year when it's a bit older."
