Market Lambs 111-120 lbs.
Judge: Sam Funk
Judging Contest Winners:
Under 15: ewegobaa, LambQuen, Showgirl95
15-18: 2TLivestock, Alamb, Storm33, suffolkclover,
Over 18: Apes, DLCarter25, DownSouthSouthdowns, ewegogirl, ewemama1, JbarG, McMaggiechan, mm, Nebsheep, red, RyThurston, sheepscape, shepherdmom, VSUFFX
Official Placing: 1, 3, 2, 4
Cuts: 3, 2, 5
Some discussion on the MyLamb board occurred prior to the placing of this class stating it was an easy two-pair class. Maybe it was easy for someone, but this judge struggled to find a lamb that was adequate enough in each area to place first. There are holes in muscle or structural aspects for each lamb that are glaring. I would expect a number of those reading these reasons are going to want to start with 3. Analyze this lamb closely after you read the reasons.
At first you see a pair of lighter colored lambs (1 and 3) that are heavier muscled and a pair of darker lambs (2 and 4) that are lighter muscled. The 4 lamb is definitely not being shown to its full advantage and a lot of changes could have been made in the ring to make it more competitive (such as separating the back legs and finding a little saw dust pile to get those front legs up on while holding that neck more up than forward in the photo). 4 appears to be the lightest muscled when looking from behind at the narrow design legs that are set so close together. The flat leg with little bulge when viewed from the profile and the lack of balance being so heavy fronted compared to the depth of rear flank is a real negative for this lamb in the class. This is the square hipped lamb in the class, and maybe some showmanship could bring it up, but with the pictures today 4 falls to the bottom.
Now, does the other lighter legged lamb fall easily into third? Not in my mind. This is the also the smoothest topped lamb and the only remaining lamb that doesn’t show a break in the hip-loin juncture. That leg and narrow rump structure really disappoint when looking at 2 from the rear shot. I’ll place 2 third now, but the cut will be smaller with the other two because they “don’t have it all over 2.”
There are two heavier muscled lambs left in the top pair now. A big-ribbed, big-topped ewe and a tighter made wether with an explosive leg but a top that gives me some questions. We have a power, more commercial type sheep and a show lamb that is incomplete. Where do we lead off? Let’s go to the reasons.
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First Place: 1
Entry number: 164 Exhibitor: 2TLivestock State: NE Sheep name/number: Spooky Breed: Suffolk |
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Starting this class with the most muscular lamb that should hang the carcass with the most total pounds of retail cuts, I prefer the alignment 1, 3, 2, 4 in this class of market lambs.
While our class winner is one of the pair of thicker ended lambs, she is especially wider over the rack with more shape and square, full appearance over the rack and loin than 3.
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Second Place: 3
Entry number: 193 Exhibitor: tony State: TX Sheep name/number: Okie Breed: Hampshire X |
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The trimmer appearing 3 wether appears to possess more show ring appeal aside from his sloping rump than 1, but his lack of definite expression of muscle over the rack and top result in his placing second.
Still in a middle pair of contrasting types, I prefer the thickness and expression we see through the leg in 3 over the flatter muscle pattern of 2. 3 is the more explosive lamb through the leg, deeper through the twist, and appears to be more highly fitted for show in the picture.
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Third Place: 2
Entry number: 165 |
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2 may actually have a more appropriate amount of finish as 3 may be too lean and this could be contributing to the look of less muscle definition in the top. Nonetheless, 2 falls into a bottom pair of narrower structured, lighter muscled lambs.
Still in a bottom pair of lighter muscled ewe lambs, 2 is the heavier muscled lamb with more expression through the leg when viewed from the side and from behind. Although apparently not as highly fit for show as 4, 2 is being shown to more of an advantage with her neck coming straight up out of her shoulder and with a wider set to her rear legs.
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Fourth Place: 4
Entry number: 196 |
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I appreciate 4 having the squarest, most level rump in the class. However, she appears to be the narrowest based, lightest muscled, least balanced lamb in the class in terms of her depth of chest and depth of rear rib and places last.
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