First Place:  4

Entry number:  179

Exhibitor:  Suffolklover

State:  WA

Sheep name/number:  39

Breed:  Suffolk/Hampshire

I'm starting this class with ewe 4.  I believe 4 is the most balanced,  structurally correct sheep in this class.  When viewing the length of the cannon and the length of neck, I would call this sheep medium plus in its frame. She has extremely long, level top and bottom lines and is really long and level in the hip.  She appears to be extremely clean in the brisket area, very correct at point of shoulder and appears to be moderately wide through the chest floor and brings the width all the way back.  If the handler had placed the hind feet about two inches farther back, and had held the muzzle level, while putting a moderate brace on this lamb, it would appear thicker in the lower leg; a very attractive profiling lamb would have been even more so.  Although I can't tell from the angle of the picture I'm guessing this lamb is wide, square, and level over the rack because she appears that way over the loin. 

Second Place:  3

Entry number:  161

Exhibitor:  Shadowran

State:  CA

Sheep name/number:  136

Breed:  Suffolk cross

Website:  www.shadowoaksranch.com

I believe 4 wins the class, though ewe 3 does appear to be just as long sided and maybe a little thicker.  However, she does slope off the hip and dock and that is why I put her in the middle pair and second in the class. 

Let's talk about the handler holding 3.  Notice how she has the neck pulled up out of the shoulder, is holding the muzzle level, and does have all four legs set square under the corners with a moderate brace.  The person setting up the first place ewe, number 4, needs to study this picture and take note. 

In a market class I would probably place 3 first in the class.  However, this is a breeding class and because of the slight structural flaw (sloping hip) second is as high as I can go.  She is balanced, medium plus frame, clean in the brisket area and wide through the chest floor and brings the width all the way back.  She appears to be wide and square over the rack and loin, deep through the twist and shows muscle through the stifle.  She just needs to be more square through the pins and more level over the hip.

Third Place:  1

Entry number:  147

I placed ewe 1 third in the class.  She is on the low side of medium frame but appears to have some thickness.  I believe she is a little too deep fronted (from top of shoulder to chest floor), and is of average length from flank to flank.  The handler is doing a great job of presenting this ewe lamb and although she has the neck pulled up out of shoulder and holding the muzzle level, she is just too short necked for me. This sheep appears to be pinched at the hip/loin juncture and appears to slope over the loin which is a big negative to me.  She also has a short, slightly sloping hip...In the bottom pair 1 easily places over  2 for third in the class.

Fourth Place:  2

Entry number:  155

The last place sheep in the class, 2, does not have the qualities that I am looking for in a prospective brood ewe.  She has several structural flaws, including unlevel top and bottom lines, a deep front, extreme slope over the rack and loin, and a short, sloping hip.   She does appear to have adequate depth of twist and some muscle through the stifle. 

Again, I placed the class 4, 3, 1, 2 with cuts of 2, 2, and 6.  Comments are welcomed and solicited.