THE Funke family achieved an enviable feat in the lamb production terminal competition, providing the top trade entries for three breeds - Poll Dorsets, Suffolks and White Suffolks - from their Bundara Downs stud, Western Flat.
The competition, which takes two young rams from Lambplan-participating flocks, compares the animals on structural assessment, skin and wool, type for breed and suitability for either trade or export markets.
Bundara Downs won the trade section on 230.33 points with White Suffolks and were also runner-up with another White Suffolk pair on 222.17.
Greg Funke said the win supported the stud's breeding objective of balancing figures and visual aspects.
"We try and balance our muscle growth figures and eating quality traits, and the visual aspect of the muscling," he said.
The two top rams, an April and a May 2018-drop, won their individual classes in the White Suffolk judging.
Export class winner Lachy Day from Days Whiteface, Bordertown, said it was a "real thrill" to top the section, also winning it seven years ago.
"I really like these classes - they are the most commercially-relevant at the show," he said.
Mr Day said his two White Suffolk rams were both AI sired by a new high performance Felix ram.
Days Whiteface scored 222.21 ahead of Valma Poll Dorsets, Whitemore, Tas, and Alistair and Jayne Day's Allendale Poll Dorset stud, Bordertown.
Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
