First Place:  1

Entry number:  199

Exhibitor:  Shepherdmom

State:  TX

Sheep name/number:  Dollar 715

Breed:  Suffolk/Hampshire X

I started the class with 1, the longest sided lamb in the class.  This medium plus frame lamb would look more presentable on the profile if he was set up a little more correctly and not so stretched out.  Being too stretched out gives him the appearance of breaking over the loin at the hip/loin juncture.  I love the neck on this lamb and it sits correctly on top of the shoulder.  He appears wide through the chest floor and brings this width all the way back.  I would assume he is clean in the brisket and he is correct at the point of the shoulder.  I would not want him any deeper fronted, however, I believe he does exhibit balance.  He is extremely long from flank to flank.  He appears to be wide and square over the rack and wide over the loin.  I cannot tell if he slopes over the loin; he may just slightly, however, I believe it's just the way he's set up being too stretched out.  He is long and level in the hip.  I would call him moderate in his depth of twist and I would like to see him a little more square through the dock, however, he is more than adequate.  Being a long, smooth muscled lamb, he appears just adequate in  muscle expression through the stifle.  I would like to see more bulge through the lower third.

Second Place:  2

Entry number:  219

Exhibitor:  melkylene

State:  NM

Breed:  Suffolk

My second place lamb, number 2, which is a true power type lamb, looks more correct from the rear view than the profile.  I would like to see this lamb, which is on the low side of medium frame, taller and longer from flank to flank. His medium length neck does tie in well at the top of the shoulder and he does appear to be wide and square over the rack and loin.  He appears to slope a tad in the hip (rolls off the dock) and I would like to see him longer in this area.  He is square through the dock and is deep in the twist and shows excellent muscle expression through the stifle and lower third.  Again, he is a true power type lamb, but he just doesn't have the frame and length of side and is a little too fine bone for me to go higher in the class.

Third Place:  3

Entry number:  222

Lamb 3 is hard for me to properly evaluate due to his rear view showing the body twisted and his head and muzzle point straight up instead of his head being held straight and the muzzle level.  He does appear longer sided than my second place lamb, number 2, however, I do not see as much muscle expression in 3 as I do in 2.  This lamb is getting a little too deep fronted (from top of shoulder to chest floor). He does have a level top and bottom line and appears long hipped, but, does drop in the dock set a little (slopes from hooks to pins).  I would like to see him wider and more square through the pins.  He is deep enough in the twist and appears to have enough muscle in his lower third.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number:  234

I believe 4 slides to the bottom of the class rather easily.  I would call him medium frame and although he is level in his top line he does have too much depth of shoulder and appears rounded at the point .  I can not tell for sure but he gives me the impression that he is too full in the brisket and perhaps due to the amount of middle he is a little over finished.  For a big lamb he is just average in depth of twist and muscle in the lower third.  I would have to criticize him for not being structurally correct and he does stand on crooked rear legs which takes from his appearance.

Again, I placed the class 1, 2, 3, 4 with cuts of 2, 2, 6.  (Now, let's have a good discussion of this class.)