First Place:  2

Entry number: 931

Exhibitor: Tiler

State: IA

Sheep name/number: Delilah X041

Breed: crossbred

Website: www.moserclublambs.com

2 is an excellent ewe prospect to start the class.  From the side I see that she is really balanced with a long level top line, correct rib shape and full in the rear flank.  Her neck placement is correct and she stands on more than adequate feet and leg dimension.

From the rear she exhibits tremendous thickness over the rack and loin, and she is square and wide through the pins with tremendous depth of twist and a lot of muscle throughout the lower third.  From this view you can see the tremendous width of the chest floor and she brings this width and thickness to the rear.  She is just a tremendous prospect that should have a very productive life ahead of her.

Second Place:  3

Entry number: 944

Exhibitor: PeteM

State: MN

Sheep name/number: MB Maples 09-09G Pineapple

Breed: Shropshire

Website: www.mphclublambs.com

In placing 3 second in the class, I’m following the top placing ewe with one very similar in body type, but also one that is a little too deep through the shoulder.  From the profile I appreciate the long neck properly placed and I’m real pleased with her long level top line.  She is correct in rib shape and full in her rear flank.  She is strong in substance of bone standing correct on her feet and legs. 

From the rear she appears to be a little open and too flat at the top of the shoulder, however, she is wide and flat over the racs and loin and she is wide and square  through the pins. That is so important in breeding females.  Although she has a massive leg I do not see as much definition of stifle muscle as in the first place ewe.  She should make a very productive brood ewe and she easily places over the third place ewe, number 1.

Third Place:  1

Entry number: 888

From the profile I appreciate the long neck properly placed, however, 1 is a little rough in her muscle appearance and she does slope off the hip.  I would like to see more rib shape as she appears to be too flat sided and she is a little too round at the points.  From the rear I do not see the width and shape over the rack and loin as I do in the two ewes that placed above her.  Although she is adequate in twist depth I do not see the bulge through the stifle and inner leg muscle as the two ewe lambs placing above her.  I do believe she can work in a breeding program if bred to a ram strong in the areas of her weakness.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 945

Exhibitor: Brunin

State: MN

Sheep name/number: 108

Breed: Hampshire

I believe the obvious bottom in the class is 4.  From the profile I would like to raise her neck placement so it would sit on top of the shoulder.  She is long sided, however, she slopes at the hip and is too heavy fronted to be called balanced in appearance.  She does have some rib shape and is full in her rear flank.

From the rear she appears to slope over her rack and loin and pinches at the pins.  She lacks depth of twist, lacks muscle in her lower third and does not have the muscle shape through the stifle to be called a power ewe. 

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