First Place:  2

Entry number: 1150

Exhibitor: Chuckles450

State: UT

Sheep name/number: Blue 7

Breed: Crossbred

In starting the class with 2 I do recognize she is too round at the points and I would like to add length to her neck, however, she is the most blown apart ewe in the class in her skeletal design and her power exceeds any sheep in the class. I would like to extend her length of side, however, she is balanced and her length fits her moderate frame. She has the most correct rib design of the class and is the fullest in the rear flank. Her length and levelness of hip exceeds any in the class and it’s that big square leg, wide rack and loin that will pair up with a structurally correct clean fronted ram that leads me to believe her production will exceed that of the other three.

Second Place:  4

Entry number: 1243

Exhibitor: Westtxsheep

State: TX

Sheep name/number: 320

Breed: Medium wool

In following 2 with a ewe lamb of similar type I’m placing 4 over 1 granting 1 is more correct in profile and balance. 4 is hard to evaluate and I believe it’s due to being posed on the trimming stand that causes her to appear to squat. From the profile she appears short sided, however, her length fits her frame which from the profile appears to be on the low side of moderate. She does have an extended neck squarely placed and she sure appears smooth at the points. She is the second most blown apart structurally of the class. Correct in her rib shape and full in the flank. I would like to add length to her hip and raise the dock and to me that’s her biggest structural defect.

From the rear I do not notice the short profile appearance as her length is good and from the rear her frame appears to move to moderate. She is the second widest in the pins of the class and she probably is the strongest ewe in the class in her bone dimension. One thing that bothers me from the rear is she appears to be narrow over the rack. If she indeed is it would drop her to third in the class, however, with the pin width I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt. I’m mating her to the same type ram I’m breeding 1 to.

Third Place:  1

Entry number: 1148

The sheep that gave me the most problems was 1. I either had to place her first or third. If she had the hip design of 2 she would have won the class, but, she did not and that’s why she falls to third. The profile view does not do her justice because it shortens the appearance of her side. Sure, I realize the photographer wanted to feature that extremely clean front. Her neck length is okay as is the placement. What I would like to see is her structurally more blown apart.

From the rear her length stands out. She does appear to have width of rack and loin, however, I would appreciate more rib shape and I would like to level the hip. From the rear is where her structural flaws show as she is pinched in the pins instead of being blown apart. Her muscle type looks to be too flat and she is shallow in the twist. She does stand correct on her feet and legs. To produce marketable lambs she is going to have to be bred to a structurally correct power ram that is exceptionally square, wide, and deep in the twist.

Fourth Place:  3

Entry number: 1194

Exhibitor: Little Ray

State: TX

Sheep name/number: Tag #Y-483

Breed: Medium wool

3 falls into the fourth slot in an easy placing. To me 3 has the most structural problems of the class. They include the tube type appearance in the rib design and shape and she has a short sloping hip. She does have an extended neck correctly placed, is clean at the points, but, those positive traits are over shadowed by the flat rib shape and cut up rear flank.

From the rear 3 looks to lack proper width over the rack and loin and, like 1, is lacking in depth of twist and muscle in the lower third. I would breed her to the same power type ram I’m breeding 1 to.

Again, I placed the class 2-4-1-3 with cuts of 3-1-2. I would like to point out that in all my years of breeding and selling club lambs I found I had more of a market for muscle and power than I did for a clean fronted sheep lacking leg. If I was still an active breeder I suspect I would find the same type of market demand. Hey, discuss the class if you wish. OG