In starting the class with 2, I realize I'm starting the class with the ewe that probably has the deepest front of the four, however, when viewed from the profile she is also very balanced.  I would call her medium in frame.  Her neck, although moderate in length, sits on top of the shoulder.  She stands on excellent bone with tremendous width of chest floor and she brings that width all the way back to the rear. She is level in both her top and bottom lines.  From the rear she is the widest over her rack and loin of any lamb in the class.  True, I would like to raise her dock about an inch, however, she is wide and square through the pins with excellent depth of twist and tremendous lower leg muscle.  Just an overall great prospect for a brood ewe.

I could have gone three ways for second in the class.  I chose to go with the smallest ewe lamb in the class, who is also probably the youngest, number 3 .  I would call her medium plus in frame.  I like the placement of the long neck as it sits on top of the shoulder.  She has tremendous balance as viewed from the profile.  Very correct at the points with a long level top and bottom line and very long and level in the hip.  She has excellent bone and the shag does not go unnoticed.  When viewed from the rear I notice she is wide over the rack and loin with excellent rib shape.  She is wide and square through the dock, is deep in the twist and has a lot of lower leg muscle.

For the bottom pair, 1 and 4, I have two ewe lambs that are completely opposite in body type.  I chose to place 1 third because of her tremendous eye appeal showing a lot of femininity, however, she does not have the thickness and ruggedness of ewe number 4.

1 is definetely a show lamb.  Her long neck sitting on top of a very clean shoulder and front end certainly got my attention.  She is long and level in her top and bottom lines and is the most shallow of chest of any lamb in the class.  Looking at her from behind she appears to be the narrowest over the rack of the four, however, she does get progressively wider as we travel down the rack and loin.  She is square through the dock with excellent depth of twist and she carries a lot of muscle in her lower third.

I believe 4 has a lot of desirable qualities. She is medium plus in frame, the largest in the class. She has a long neck that is squarely placed on top of the shoulder. She has the longest rack and loin of any of the four ewe lambs in the class. She appears both wide and flat over her rack and although she is wide over the loin she appears to taper over the loin.She is deep in the twist with a lot of muscle in her lower third.  In comparing her to the other ewe lambs in the class I find her a little deeper fronted and possible a little coarse in her appearance.  I could be completely wrong in placing her fourth and realize several of you may move her up in the class.

Again, I placed the class 2, 3, 1, 4 with cuts of 1, 1, 1 .

As usual, if you see the class placing different I will not disagree and welcome any and all comments.  these were certainly quality ewe lambs and it was a challenge to place the class.

OG