THE "power and strength" of the young grand champion ram from Anden stud, Woomelang, Vic, put him above the rest in the White Suffolk judging today at the Royal Adelaide Show.
The supreme exhibit was the junior champion from the ram under 1.5 years class - a July 2018-drop by Anden 170050.
It weighed 125.5 kilograms and measured 52 millimetre eye muscle depth, 10.5mm fat depth, 17.3 post-weaning weight, 0.37 bodyweight and 11.3 weaning weight.
Judge Craig Mitchell, Gemini stud, Werneth, Vic, said the ram also had a good carcase, but its power and strength was what got it over the champion ewe from Rene stud, Culcairn, NSW.
Anden stud principal Andrew Donnan said it was the first time the sheep had been shown, and while the stud had won supreme in the past, this ram was different.
"It's not as long or tall as we have had shown in the past, but its thickness of muscle and meat - it's got everything," he said.
"A good solid ram with overall balance."
Mr Donnan brought a team of six to the show, his first showing for the year.
"With the 280 entries, it's the biggest White Suffolk show in Australia by far," he said.
Mr Donnan is also judging at the show, with the Polwarth judging almost making him miss the sashing of his grand champion ram.
Senior champion ram went to the Funke family's Bundara Downs stud, Bordertown.
The May 2018-drop, sired by Ella Matta 97, weighed 130kg, with 16.7PWWT, -0.6 PWfat, 1.6PEMD 11fat and 54EMD.
It had previously been shown at the Hamilton Sheepvention, where it won its class.
Judge Mitchell said the four rams in contention were a quality line-up, but the senior champ "looked a picture", with smooth shoulders and good on its feet.
"It just had more volume than the ram in reserve," he said.
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Champion ewe went to the Rene stud, Culcairn, NSW.
Ewe judge Brayden Gilmore, Premier stud, Oberon, NSW, said the top ewe was too hard to fault.
"She's smooth, nice shape, stands perfectly, always alert, beautiful white head - too strong and will represent the White Suffolk breed well in the interbreed," he said.
It was return to Adelaide for the Rene stud, after an eight-year hiatus.
Rene stud principal Scott Mitchell thought he had a good team to make the trip, bringing across 11 White Suffolks, with two to be offered in the Elite Sale on Sunday.
"She's just a very feminine, appealing ewe, has a lot of presence about her, a lot of class, a lot of balance," he said.
"She always catches your eye with plenty of fleshing, a ewe with such a long top length holds herself really well."
The May 2018-drop was previously shown at the Canberra Royal, where she won her class and was reserve champion ewe at Bendigo.
It is bound for an ET program in a couple months time.
Rene went on to win most successful exhibitor.
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Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
