First Place:  2

Entry number: 708

Exhibitor: dustydivider

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Sam

Breed: Hampshire X

I'm starting the class with ewe 2 because she is the most complete ewe in the class combining style, balance, and power, especially power. When viewed from the side I notice the neck placement is correct.  I like the smoothness at the shoulder points and how the blade lies in at the correct angle.  She is extremely long sided and is balanced when comparing shoulder depth to the hip/loin juncture downward to the top of the rear flank. She has the correct rib shape and structure that is so important today, especially in breeding animals. When viewed from the rear she is wide and flat over the rack and loin. She shows evidence of pin width, is deep in the twist, and, shows evidence of tremendous inside and outside leg muscle, especially through the stifle that carries down toward the hock.  She stands correctly on her feet and legs with plenty of bone to support her massive size.  Just a tremendous brood ewe prospect that should have a very productive life.

Second Place:  1

Entry number: 664

Exhibitor: sheepherder#007

State: OK

Sheep name/number: CF 4006

Breed: Suffolk

Website: www.coleclublambs.com

Ewe 1 is the "eye catcher" of the class, especially when viewed from the profile.  This medium plus framed yearling has a long neck that is correctly placed on top of the shoulder.  She is extremely balanced with great style and feminity.  Yes, I would like to raise her dock about an inch and that would level out the topline. She is extremely clean fronted, correct at the points with correct blade angle to the top of the shoulder.  I would like to see a little more rib shape with more fullness at the rear flank.  For a ewe that is extremely feminine she has muscle that fits her body type, however, just not as wide and flat over the rack and loin as the first place ewe in the class. From the rear she is correct in pin placement, but I would like to see her wider in the pins. She does have depth of twist and she does have inside leg muscle, just not as much as the first place ewe.  I would like to see more expression and dimension through the stifle muscle.  This yearling ewe bred to a structurally correct power ram should produce competitive offspring.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 727

I'm placing ewe 3 third in the class.  I believe if this ewe was set up by a handler you would not notice the slope from hooks to pins as much.  She is medium plus in her frame.  She might have a neck set that is a little low. Hard to evaluate from the picture.  She is long sided.  She is correct at shoulder points. She is long in her top and bottom lines. Although she is long hipped, I would like to raise her a couple of inches at the dock. From the rear I would like to see her wider over the rack.  She sure appears wide over the loin. From the rear I would call her average in depth of twist.  She does have plenty of inside and outside leg muscle.  For her breed, Suffolk, she is adequate in bone dimension.  If bred correctly I see a very productive future.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 766

Ewe 4 certainly has the profile. She is medium plus in frame with a long, level top and bottom lines.  I would like to raise her an inch at the dock. She is clean through the shoulder, has good neck placement with adequate bone.  I believe her main weakness is lack of leg muscle.  A structurally correct power ram should take care of this.  I believe she has enough overall quality to make a very productive brood ewe.

Again, I placed the class 2, 1, 3, 4 with cuts of 2, 4, 1. Your comments are appreciated and encouraged.