First Place:  3

Entry number: 761

Exhibitor: ewemama1

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Spring Creek 318

Breed: Hampshire

Website: www.springcreekranchclublambs.com

I see 3 as the most complete lamb in the class.  This lamb is the most balanced lamb in the class that is both long and level in his top and bottom lines with the correct rib shape that would suggest a big top that opens up into a big loin.  He is full in the flank and appears correct in his finish and should hang a superior carcass.

From the rear he is wide and level over the rack and loin and appears deep at the loin edge.  He is square through the dock, has depth of twist and tremendous muscle through the lower leg and stifle.  He wins the class with ease.

Second Place:  2

Entry number: 740

Exhibitor: Arlambs

State: AR

Sheep name/number: 1011

Breed: Crossbred

Website: www.cgfarms.homestead.com

I believe the middle pair,  2 and 1 is the closest placing in the class although they are completely opposite in body type. I'm putting 2 second, however if you see the ewe lamb 1 placing second I can see why.

2 is a long, tall lamb that profiles well.  To me, he is on the verge of having too much frame.  He appears to be getting stale, as he shows evidence of becoming washed over the loin and I would like to see more fullness of rear flank.

From the rear I would like to see more width  and squareness over the rack and loin and I would like to raise and square him up through the dock and see more depth of twist and flare through the lower third.  I would appreciate him more if he had more dimension of bone as he appears to be fine boned.

Third Place:  1

Entry number: 732

The ewe lamb, 1, places third in the class.  She is closer to the frame size I prefer in market lambs than 2. However, from the profile she is not as well balanced as the two lambs that place above her, is short hipped, and she slopes off the dock, suggeting she is not structurally correct.  She too is to shallow in bone when compared to 3, the first place lamb in the class.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 780

I see the cross bred lamb, 4, placing last in the class.  This medium framed ewe lamb appears to be carrying too much finish when you notice how much wider she is over the top in relation to how narrow she is in the lower third of the leg.  She is lacking in muscle, is short hipped, rolls off the dock, and does not have the lower leg or stifle muscle that I would expect to see in a quality slaughter lamb.