First Place:  4

Entry number: 1348

Exhibitor: Syoung5

State: OH

Sheep name/number: Humphrey

Breed: Cross

Website:

In a competitive top duo of wethers who both paint a dynamic silhouette from the side, I opted to capitalize on the added skeletal width and potential muscularity found in 4. When studied from behind, the 4 wether shows to be the squarest hipped and stoutest pinned. He carries this advantage downward where he simply views with the most shape and dimension through his center leg and stifle. When evaluating him in the picture of his topline, he shows to be squarer and more chiseled about his rack and upper rib, while still maintaining that classic club lamb look from the profile. This wether doesn’t come without faults however, I would still like to see him transition smoother out his hip loin junction to bring him closer to ideal.

Second Place:  2

Entry number: 1306

Exhibitor: EmsoffLambs

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Emsoff #405

Breed: Hampshire X

Website: www.emsofflivestockcompany.com

This is where the 2 wether counters my class winner, and I wouldn’t argue with those that like him to win. The birth marked wether’s neck sits higher at the top of his shoulder, is bolder through his center rib, and smoother about the way his loin edges tie into his hip. In addition, 2 is also deeper through his twist. However, he is rounder and plainer over his rack and loin edge while being narrower out his dock and pins. So for me, he is second today.

It is 2’s advantages in design and skeletal organization that keep him over 3. Of the two wethers standing second and third, the 2 wether is the type that is simply the hardest to make. He is more extended about his front end, smoother through his shoulder, and longer from flank to flank. The bigger footed 2 comes more level out of his dock, while offering a more attractive set to his rear leg.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 1317

I would agree with those that remark that the 3 wether is more powerful than 2 when you view him up high and from behind. However of my top trio, 3 stays third, as he appears to be the most disorganized in his skeleton. Of my top three wethers, 3 is the coarsest and most jammed up through his front end, the shortest bodied, and also is the roundest out of his dock. He is a smaller footed wether that slightly hocks in when studied from behind.

However it is his advantage in the basics of lean muscle mass and center body width that places him over 1. When compared to the wether at the top of the screen, the 3 wether is simply more massive wherever he is studied. He is wider and more expressive over his rack and loin, and wraps a bigger inner leg and outer stifle.

Fourth Place:  1

Entry number: 1212

The 1 wether is a productive, growth oriented wether that is smoother through his shoulder. Unfortunately he is the narrowest constructed and lightest muscled of the lineup. From the side, he is the poorest balanced wether that is the deepest in his chest, highest in his flank, and roundest out of his hip, so he stays in fourth for me today.