First Place:  4

Entry number: 900

Exhibitor: lm1668

State: OH

Breed: Natural

Website: www.meyersshowlambs.com

Regardless of color, I am going to start with the most complete, fault free lamb.  The blue pelted wether is simply the best combination of muscle and finish in a well balanced, structurally correct package.  There is no doubt that he lacks the shag on his leg and is not as stout constructed as the trendy looking Hampshire wether.  However in regards to carcass merit and traits that will benefit him on the rail, he is the thickest racked, fullest loined lamb that is deeper twisted and plumper through his lower third of his leg when compare to 3.  As a bonus, he is more structurally correct, being more upright in his pasterns, and his neck ties in neater to the top of smoother shoulders and a more elevated chest floor.

Second Place:  3

Entry number: 871

Exhibitor: Heresheep

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Rylee

Breed: Hampshire X

Website: www.threesisterssheep.com

I’ll be the first to admit that 3 is bigger footed and appears flatter out of his dock in the profile picture, however he is narrower topped, flatter legged, weak in his pasterns and bowed in his hocks, so he is second.  Still in comparison to the ewe lamb in a close middle pair, I prefer his balance and eye appeal from the profile.  The wooly legged wether is stouter constructed, smoother at the point of his shoulder and fuller and fresher over his loin edge.

Third Place:  2

Entry number: 859

Some may prefer the hard handling look of the ewe lamb.  However she is coarse in her makeup, bold shouldered, stale down her topline and tapered and high in her dock.  Still her overall power, skeletal width and perceived firmness of handle allows her to logically place over 1 in the bottom duo.  2 is a wider based ewe that better maintains her width to the top of her skeleton.  In addition she is a tighter hided firmer finished lamb that I would predict to rail a trimmer, thicker higher yielding carcass.

Fourth Place:  1

Entry number: 800

1 is a tall fronted, smooth shouldered, big loined wether that is probably the largest framed, latest maturing.  Unfortunately he is narrow in all aspects of his skeleton, tapers from his loin to his hip  pins, is frail in his rib design and lacks the overall mass and power of the 3 that precede him in class.