First Place:  2

Entry number: 840

Exhibitor: EmsoffLambs

State: CA

Sheep name/number: 0253 "Commotion"

Breed: Hampshire

Website: www.emsofflivestockcompany.com

I believe 2 stands out in this class as the most complete ram prospect.  He is medium plus in frame, long from flank to flank (with fullness in the rear flank) and very balanced in his profile. The long, extended neck is well placed on top of the shoulder.  The top line is both long and level.  The long hip does drop slightly at the dock and I would criticize him for this. He exhibits a lot of bone, with a tremendous forearm and his shag will sure help sell his babies.

From the rear I notice how the neck blends in smoothly with the top of the shoulder and he is wide over the rack and loin and, with maturity, will square up in this area. I believe he squares up quite nicely through the pins, and although he only is moderate in depth of twist he does exhibit muscle in the lower third, especially through the stifle.

Second Place:  1

Entry number: 646

Exhibitor: Sheepherder007

State: OK

Sheep name/number: 2334

Breed: Hampshire

Website: www.coleclublambs.com

Initially, for the middle pair I had 3 placing over 1, however, when I started writing reasons for the class I found too many negatives with 3 to go second in the class. 1 does not jump out at me.  He does not have the “Wow” factor at this time, however, give him a chance to grow, clean up his appearance with a nice shear job and things will be different. Hey, he’s full.  Too full to look attractive.  I will grant that he does have rib shape.  He’s only medium in frame.  He does have substantial bone, forearm, and shag.  He is balanced on the profile.

1 does look more complete from the rear.  I’m guessing he’s wide and flat over the rack and loin because he has the hip shape to suggest that.  He might pinch a tad at the pins.  Hard to tell in the wool, but he’s deep in the twist with plenty of leg power.  He looks like he will have plenty of testicular development and that sure needs to be considered when selecting a ram.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 846

In placing 3 third in the class I will grant he is long sided, fairly balanced, with a long top line and long hipped.  Although he is long hipped, he sure slopes from hooks to pins and that is an area of great concern. Another area of concern is his rear pasterns as he sure appears to be weak in them and, if he is, that alone would be reason to pass on him as a sire because weak pasterns is a genetic liabality that passes on to the offspring.  It’s not good in the showring and it’s certainly not good in the breeding flock.

From the rear he does appear to be wide over the rack and loin and he has depth of twist and a lot of lower leg muscle.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 847

I believe 4 drops to the bottom of the class rather easily.  Although he is approaching balanced, he does slope off the hip, is too fine boned, and too narrow over the rack and loin with little evidence of leg muscle to be considered for a stud ram.

Again, I placed the class 2, 1, 3, 4 with cuts of 3, 2, 1. This was an interesting class to place that made you think.  Comments are welcomed.