Ram Lambs 2-4 months
Judge: Gail Christian
Judging Contest Winners:
Under 15: tucker1696
15-18: lambboy
Over 18: hannaram
Official Placing: 1, 4, 3, 2
Cuts: 2, 3, 1
This is a difficult class to evaluate because of the vast differences in the individual types of ram lambs entered into this class. It's also difficult to evaluate an animals true quality when evaluating animals of this size and age, especially when you are evaluating from two views via picture. Some individuals look entirely different from their rear view compared to the profile view.
I see this as a two pair class (1 and 4, and 2 and 3) with the latter two making up the bottom pair. For me, the most difficult placing was between the top pair, 1 and 4. Neither of these lambs impressed me from their profile, or side view. Therefore, I put most of my emphasis on the rear view. Lamb 4 is presented in what we refer to as a 3/4 view. The purpose of a 3/4 view is to make the animal appear longer sided than it really is and it does not reflect the true rear view as compared to taking the photo from the rear.
With careful observation I'm placing the class 1, 4, 3, 2 with cuts of 2, 3, 1. I will now tell you what I observed in this class.
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First Place: 1
Entry number: 668 Exhibitor: sheepherder#007 State: OK Sheep name/number: CF3237 Breed: Hampshire Website: www.coleclublambs.com |
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Ram lamb 1 does not impress me from the profile as he appears to have a low neck set. He also appears a little too rounded as the shoulder points. He appears to break behind the shoulder over the rack. Although he appears to be long hipped he also appears to slope off the dock and he appears to "pinch" at the pins and appears to be lacking in the stifle muscle. Now, when viewed from the rear he appears to be wide and flat over the rack and loin. He also appears to be fairly square and wide at the pins. He also appears adequate through the stifle and deep through the twist. He appears to have adequate bone and yes, I would appreciate him more if he had additional shag. It's his rear view that brought him to the top of the class and over lamb 4.
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Second Place: 4
Entry number: 749 Exhibitor: numberoneshowgirl State: OR Sheep name/number: Amp Breed: Crossbred |
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When viewing lamb 4, the second place ram lamb, you first notice his rear view which in reality is a 3/4 angle view. If it was not for his prominent roundness at the shoulder points, he would be impressive from this view, however, the extreme roundness of this lamb's shoulder points is a big negative, especially if considering him for a ram prospect. Now, when evaluating this lamb from the profile, the shoulder point appears okay and appears to blend in, however, from the side he appears short sided, especially in the length of hip. Also, when viewed fom the side he appears to lack muscle through the stifle and lower third. I do appreciate his length of neck, leveleness of top and bottom lines, and from the rear, he looks at least average in pin width. With his shag he sure appears to have plenty of bone. This ram lamb may look entirely different when he approaches four months of age and starts to develop his muscle pattern.
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Third Place: 3
Entry number: 730 |
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I'm placing the dark pelted lamb third in the class, not because of his dark pelt, however, I will admit the darkness of color sure makes it harder to properly evaluate from pictures as it makes it harder to see body confirmation. In person, I might move this animal up in class. From the profile he too appears rounded at the shoulder points. The angle of the photo makes him appear long sided. His neck placement looks correct. Although he appears to have hip length, he does appear to slope from hooks to pins. When viewed from the rear he does appear long and his neck length will attest to that. However, he sure appears to taper over the rack and over the loin and if that is indeed the case, it would get him wethered at most breeders places. He is lacking in depth of twist and lower leg muscle. His testicular size would suggest that he is at least four months of age.
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Fourth Place: 2
Entry number: 693 |
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The Southdown ram lamb, number 2, places fourth in the class. I'm sure this ram has growth potential due to his frame and length. What drops him to the bottom of the class is his lack of leg muscle. From the side he appears clean through the front and at the shoulder points. He has correct neck placement. Although he does not appear to have much width over the rack behind the shoulder, he does appear much wider over the loin. Also, from the side the loin edge drops down and he slopes off the hip. He does appear to have substance of bone. From the rear he appears pinched at the pins and he is too flat in his stifle muscle and his outer leg muscle does not come down toward the hock. He appears to be soft muscled. Again, I placed the class 1, 4, 3, 2 with cuts of 2, 3, 1. I also as usual invite each of you to post your comments and evaluation of the class.
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