First Place:  4

Entry number: 755

Exhibitor: StarShowLambs

State: TX

Sheep name/number: Over-Rule

Breed: Hampshire X

Website: www.starshowlambs.com

We chose to use the thickest ended buck that best combined balance and correctness of structure to win the class.  Ideally he could be leveler in his hip loin junction.

Nevertheless we liked how 4 had the advantage in muscling through his top, hip and through his leg.  He is wider based and has a better turn to his rib.  In addition he is stronger behind his shoulder and is the better pelted ram that is freer of wrinkles through his neck. 

Second Place:  3

Entry number: 750

Exhibitor: ewegobaa

State:

Sheep name/number: Ronald McDonald "Big D"

Breed: Shropshire

Website: www.hoofprintsinthesandfarms.wordpress.com

We certainly do see 3 as being taller fronted, longer bodied and is definitely heavier boned, but faulted him as he is the narrower gauged, peltier hided ram that breaks behind his shoulder.

Despite these criticisms we certainly used 3 over 1 in our middle pair.  3 is the heavier muscled, wider made ram that has the advantage in being more correct through his front end.  He is smoother through his chest floor and ties higher from his neck to his shoulder. 

Third Place:  1

Entry number: 652

We appreciate 1 for having some depth to his flank, but faulted him as he is narrower made when viewed from behind and is coarse about his breast and shoulder-neck junction.

However in our bottom pair of the two poor balanced, light muscled rams, 1 beats 2 on the side view. 1 is more upstanding through his front end, is stronger down his top line and leveler through his dock.

Fourth Place:  2

Entry number: 741

Granted, 2 is thicker through his hind leg, but we got critical of him as he is the poorest balanced ram that is coarse and low fronted, weak topped and round docked. 

Therefore we placed this class 4, 3, 1, 2 with cuts of 2, 6, 3.