Sheep Discovery - Judging - Market Lamb & Ram Classes

Market Lambs #1 - Written Reasons 

Market Lambs #1 Adrian Austin

I liked the Market Ewes 4132.

4 covers the basic market lamb fundamentals. From the outside, she reads as the stout, powerful ewe that’s the roundest ribbed and biggest hipped. Her progression of width is only confirmed when I step into handle, as she meets my hand the boldest and fullest about her rack, and with a big, square loin edge. I admit, 1 is striking in her presence. The split eared ewe is good looking- she’s long and thin necked, while staying collected in the stand. Still, comparatively speaking, the long pasterned ewe runs out of power. She’s flatter ribbed and narrower made.

Even so, that proportionate, well balanced look sets her apart in terms of quality in my middle decision, and from there she’s just a better market animal. The long patterned sheep that’s longer hindsaddled holds the weight advantage, and she offers more touch and tone on the handle. I realize, 3 is fairly stout. This is a heavy boned, big footed ewe with some natural width and progression. Nonetheless, her looser hide only contributes to her poorer handle, plus the narrow chested ewe isn’t as comfortable in her posture within the stand. The long bladed ewe is pitched forward in her shoulder, while being rounder hipped and excessive in the set to her hock.

Yet, her added mass and dimension keeps 3 over 2 in my final decision. Simply put, this is the stouter featured sheep that lays more width and spread down her top and out through her hip. Sure, the ewe with the most leg wool is the highest cutability; but let’s be real, it’s easy to look trim and lean when you’re the hardest doing sheep that’s flat and light muscled.

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Market Lambs #2 - Written Reasons 

Market Lambs #2 Will Banks
 

I like the market lambs 2143.

There's a premium for quality within this product driven industry, and that's where I land on the 2 sheep’s ability to combine a quality, fresh look on a product driven frame. More specifically the widest chested sheep opens up the boldest and roundest in her rib when viewed from behind, but it's when I get my hands on her that sorts the pair. She handles bolder about her rack and carries this same dimension into the fullest and squarest loin edge. Now, off to the side this 1 ewe offers a look of attractiveness through her front 1/3. She's the taller shouldered, sleeker necked ewe, that's more appropriate through her breast plate. Still it's in the same view where I catch her as the weak loined sheep, and she tapers to her pins and narrows at her base from behind.

Even so, market lamb fundamentals keep it 1 over 4 in the middle; there's no question there's a clear mass and muscle advantage over the 4 sheep. From a carcass perspective, 1's the bolder ribbed, biggerr racked option that should take to the rail with a truer meat animal shape. Couple this with her added build integrity makes her the safe decision of the pair. Sure, the 4 sheep is as tall and long fronted as any, it's just from a genuine muscle standpoint that keeps her 3rd. She's the heavy conditioned, deepest chested sheep and relative to her size she's the narrowest constructed ewe, who pulls in at her hock. 

Still it's her distinct performance advantage that keeps it 4 over 3 on bottom. When sent to the rail she should rail more pounds of product. Sure the split eared ewe stands squarer from hock to ground and I read her more genuine the width she carries underneath. Still the bare legged sheep studies as the pounds light, flattest made option who hits my hand with the least rack shape.

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Southdown Rams - Written Reasons

Southdown Rams Adrian Austin

I liked the Southdown Rams 3421.

Automatically, I tie to the most masculine, rugged ram in 3. He covers the basic stud buck fundamentals, as the biggest testicled sheep is round ribbed and stout hipped. Where the heavy boned, big footed ram truly holds the advantage though is skeletal integrity. I’d be the most confident in his potential to generate quality, as it’s the high tying, good chested ram’s ability to stay level and collected while loose in the pen that sets him apart. I admit, 4 holds his own in regards to mass and substance- this is the boldest topped, biggest ribbed sheep of the class. Yet, the lighter pigmented ram’s power comes at a sacrifice of look. The plainer made sheep that’s pushing some extra condition is shorter necked and deeper chested, while being rounder out of his hip.

Even so, that added mass and dimension can’t be overlooked when selecting for your flock’s next stud ram. I would expect his stout made, powerful, performance driven offspring to still make an impact. I realize, 2 is the growthy ram that’s extended and long patterned, but honestly; I’m more concerned with quality than quantity, and not only is he the flatter made, lighter muscled sheep, he’s also too straight off both ends.

Yet, in a bottom pair of rams who both have structural issues that concern me from a longevity standpoint, I still side with his added growth and performance. Comparatively speaking, he strikes me as the more practical kind that’s better in his body type. Now sure, 1 has some muscle and shape. However, the ram that’s the barest about his eye channels is also the light dimensioned sheep that’s tight spined and poor balanced.

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