Sheep Discovery: Judging Presentations
Sheep Discovery: Judging Presentations
Breeding Ewe Classes
Written Reasons
Hampshire Ewe Lambs - Gracie Metzger
I like the Hampshire ewe lambs 1-2-4-3.
For an initial decision between 2 similar quality sheep, I write 1 over 2. She's the longer patterned better profiling ewe who ties higher and cleaner out of her shoulder and is leveler out through her hip. It's just an added bonus that she's also more correct in terms of her structure, being squarer from hock to ground. Now don't get me wrong, 2 is another functional female. However, I keep her 2nd as she’s the rounder, shorter hipped option who narrows at the ground.
With that being said, in my intermediate decision I still side with the higher performing ewe over 4. She's the longer patterned, larger framed female who is more feminine in terms of her design being more attractive from her shoulder forward. I'll be the first to admit, 4 is one that you have to appreciate from a power stand point of view, carrying natural width and dimension. However, the quick maturing female lacks the frame and sheer size above her.
Still in my final comparison I side with a better kind and write 4 over 3. She offers more in terms of brood ewe characteristics being the powerful, bold ribbed female who carries truer width through her pin set. It's just an added bonus that she stands on a greater substance of bone, which is only complimented by her extra leg wool. Now sure 3 may be a longer patterned, larger outlined sheep. However, the bare legged, bare faced ewe is poorer in terms of maternal quality being flatter and narrower made.
- Video: Class View Part 1
- Video: Class View Part 2
- Video: Class View Part 3
- Video: Discussion and Cuts
- Video: Reasons
Written Reasons
Hampshire Yearling Ewes - Adrian Austin
I liked the Hamp Ewes 4-3-1-2.
4’s quality and balance make her a stand out class winner. While this is the highest performing, most extended female- she goes beyond those basics by being the most collected in her structure. The thin necked, good chested female is attractive in her build. She’s the most comfortable ewe that’s the highest tying, correct in her spine and squarest from hock to ground. I admit, when 3 stops and collects herself she’s just as striking in terms of look and presence, unfortunately today she just comes as the smaller, lower performing option.
Even so, I opted to keep 3 over 1 in a closer middle pair of ewes. Aside from being sound and good looking, 3 comparatively offers more maternal mass and power. She’s the rounder ribbed, stouter hipped ewe that’s additional leg wool only highlights a stouter rear leg. I realize, 1 fits the mold of her contemporaries from a standpoint of structure and build. Nonetheless, this is the lightest dimensioned ewe of the class that’s the flattest ribbed and narrowest made.
Yet, 1’s female quality and balance make it an immediate decision to sort her over 2. The longer, thinner necked ewe ties higher to the top of her shoulder and is more correct in her angles. She’s easily more collected on the move. Now sure, 2 is a performance driven, growthy female that has some muscle- but what relevance does that hold when the down headed, straight shouldered, round hipped ewe is by far the poorest balanced.
Written Reasons
Southdown Ewes - Logan Mattingly
I like the Southdown ewes 2-1-3-4
Now for me, there is a ewe who leads the way in terms of what we should expect from future breeding females. That is the slick shorn, wool picked ewe to win. She is the boldest in her forerib and this blends back into a deeper, more productive flank. In addition, from the profile view the ewe with the best Southdown breed character is the best balanced option who stays the neatest about her head and neck carriage, giving her an attractive silhouette. And as an added bonus, when I step in behind her she has the most natural width.
I admit that the ewe who comes next is the long hipped, growthy appearing option.
But unfortunately, she simply can’t compete with the overall look of quality and balance that is found in our impressive class winner.
Still, it becomes quite apparent that she is still a maternally oriented ewe who spreads more mass over a bolder rib.
Sure, 3 stands taller at her shoulder making her larger outlined.
But the light muzzled female is the plain-featured ewe who stands narrow at the ground and rounds out of her hip on the move.
However, it is in my final discussion of ewes that I say that they must have growth and performance without sacrificing rib and dimension. That is the argument that sorts 3 over 4.
Don’t get me wrong, if you are looking for a weather maker look no further than 4. She is a powerfully constructed ewe who could produce future progeny that contain a highly sought-after show ring look.
But quite frankly sir, the shortest bodied sheep is lowest preforming with a questionable rear leg structure.
Written Reasons
Wether Dams - Chevy Vaske
I like the Wether Dams 3-2-1-4
I quickly find a combination ewe who is the stoutest featured while still being bold ribbed and flexible, so I’d expect her to produce competitive show wethers. Sure, in terms of femininity, the long bodied ewe most closely follows my winner. But, she wants to drive up in her spine and needs to better handle her hip and hind leg.
Even so, in my intermediate decision I’m quick to say I prefer the fresher option who carries more natural shape through her leg and width from behind. I’ll admit, 1 offers mass and may be more level in her top. However, she’s deeper chested and doesn’t offer enough look from the profile as she’s plainer featured.
In my final comparison, I am most comfortable using the wider pinned heavier muscled option found in 1. Certainly, 4 is more comfortable and correct in her movement but quite honestly, it’s unfortunate she reads the flattest in her body type and the narrowest made.
Market Lamb & Ram Classes
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.
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.
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.
