First Place:  4

Entry number: 528

Exhibitor: allison04

State: IA

Sheep name/number: 1

Breed: Crossbred

I believe the ewe lamb 4 wins this class rather easily and if you see her any place but first it's going to cost you a lot of points.  she is the only lamb in the class that shows a lot of quality and she will hang a desirable carcass. She appears to be clean fronted, with a lot of width of chest floor and she brings this width all the way back. She has long and level top and bottom lines.  She has good neck placement and extension. When viewed from the rear she appears to be wide over the rack and loin. 

I would criticize her for tapering slightly over the loin.  She also could be smoother at the hip/loin juncture and she is a little too rounded in her muscle.

She does have the depth of twist and flare to the stifle muscle that I am looking for.

Second Place:  2

Entry number: 480

Exhibitor: joker

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Buddy2

Breed: mix breed

I see the closest placing between the middle pair, 2 and 3.  I do see faults with both lambs, but, the fewest lie with 2.

2 is clean through the front shoulder and brisket.  He is balanced for his frame.  I would like to see him wider and more level over the rack and loin.  He does slope off the dock, is shallow in the twist and does not have enough muscle through the lower third.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 505

3 is basically the same body type as 2.  He is too short sided and lacks the overall muscle and style to compete in the showring or hanging on the rail.  He appears to be narrow and sloping over the rack and loin, drops off the dock and does not have the depth of twist and lacks the stifle muscle that I'm looking for in today's quality market lambs.

Fourth Place:  1

Entry number: 431

4 is the complete opposite of what a modern day market wether should look like.  His weaknesses are many.  First, he does not have any style or balance.  He is very narrow through his chest floor and brings this narrowness all the way back. That's why he is lacking in depth of twist and inner and outer leg muscle. He is very short hipped and rolls from hooks to pins.  He is very frail of bone and completely lacking of substance.  This type lamb is a "hard doer" and will never have enough finish to hang a choice grade carcass. Again, he is completely opposite of what a modern day market lamb should look like and will not work for the show ring or as a commercial wether. Turthermore, do not buy this type lamb for a show lamb or to start a breeding flock with.

Again, I placed the class 4, 2, 3, 1 with cuts of 10, 1, 4.