FOR the fifth year in succession, Graham and Di Jenke, Wattle Glen stud, Strathalbyn, took out the most successful Corriedale exhibitor at the Royal Adelaide Show.
Judge Andrew Michael, Leahcim, Snowtown, awarded Wattle Glen both champion ram and champion ewe, praising both champions as great examples of the meat-producing breed.
With an eye muscle depth of 46 millimitres and 11mm of fat, the champion ram - which was exhibited in the ram over 1.5 years class - was described by Mr Michael as having "perfect figures" and a "worthy champion".
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"I couldn't go past this ram for a number of reasons," he said.
"It's white in the wool, it's deep in the body, it's square and has a beautiful head.
These days we've got to listen to the information so it has terrific weight and is carrying a terrific amount of fat. Maternal sheep must have fat and so that is highly correlated to eating quality and everything else we need to be looking at.
"Its number ticks all the boxes for me and it also handles well and walks well."
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Wattle Glen were also awarded champion ewe, which the judge thought was a great example of meat production in a maternal sheep.
"It would be as good in the carcase as any terminal sheep you could get," he said.
"It's a testament to the breed and is a serious meat machine."
"I've got absolutely no doubt that if we were to bone this sheep out it would be a massive yield carcase and that is what producers get paid on - how much red meat is produced."
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