First Place:  2

Entry number: 861

Exhibitor: sheepinaround4fun

Sheep name/number: Pico Ram Lamb

Breed: Crossbred

In placing 2 first in the class I do so because he is easily the most balanced prospect in the class.  You would have to really evaluate a lot of ram prospects to find one more correct in the shoulder than this young prospect and this includes the long neck properly placed, the correct placement of the shoulder points that lay into the top of the shoulder at the correct angle, the tightness of the breast plate, the correct shallowness of chest depth, the size of the forearm, the correct soundness and dimension of bone, and, yes, I like shag and he has an abundance.  Why do I like shag?  Because it suggest a lot of Hamp in the pedigree.He is long and level in his rack, loin, and hip.  He shows fullness in the rear flank with proper rib shape. 

From the rear you could not construct one any more correct in the way the neck ties in to the top of the shoulder.  Notice the width over the rack in relation to the point of the shoulder.  I like his rack and loin shape and he is still carrying baby wool.  He appears to be wide at the pins, adequate in twist depth, and muscular through the lower third.  His testicular development fits his age.  What would I change if I could? His pelt color from “splotchy” gray to white.... He’s a great prospect.

Second Place:  3

Entry number: 911

Exhibitor: PeteM

State: OK

Sheep name/number: Ott 7232 Space Ranger

Breed: Crossbred

Website: www.mphclublambs.com

The middle pair, 3 and 1, are completely opposite in type.  Based on the pictures submitted I’m placing 3 second in the class.  My main objection to 3 is his overall lack of smoothness.  With that said, he does have a lot of positive traits, with his length of side being the leading trait.  From the profile I do notice his long neck properly placed and this neck length suggest length of rack and hind saddle.  I would like to clean him up through the front starting with over the top of the shoulder extending down to the shoulder points which are to round.  I would like to reduce the extension of the breast plate.  Traveling down his long top I notice it tends to break where the top ties in at the shoulder.  He is long and level in his hip, however, I would like to widen and flatten him out over the rack and loin.  He is full in the flank and does have proper rib shape.

From the rear, if you will view him over the top of the shoulder you will notice how too rounded he is at the points.  Again, I would like to add width and flatness over his rack and loin.  He stands correct on his feet and legs and his width at the rear suggest skeletal width.  I’ll give him the benefit of doubt on his testicular development.  My overall analysis... I would like to make him smoother in both his muscular and skeletal appearance.

Third Place:  1

Entry number: 644

Boy, when taking pictures don’t you just hate it when they do not cooperate as this little fellow is doing.  He is pulling back as his handler is both bracing and pulling forward and his rear legs are set about three inches too far forward, thus, it sure causes him to appear to not have balance of skeletal structure. Hoowever, if all were corrected I doubt if he have the overall thickness that I would want in a stud ram prospect and I believe he would still slope off the hip.  From the profile his average neck length suggests to me his overall length of side is average.  Also, I would like to see more dimension of bone as he appears to border on being fine boned.

From the rear I would like to see more evidence of muscle, especially in his lower third. Analysis... I would probably appreciate him more from the live view than a picture.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 959

In placing 4 at the bottom of the class I will grant he might be the largest ram in the class when they all reach maturity, however, he is just too rugged in his overall appearance to give me the impression he would produce lambs of the quality needed to compete in today’s premier shows.  From the side he is moderate in length of neck and he is moderate in length of side.  He also slopes severely off the hip.  From the rear he is both narrow over his rack and loin and he does not exhibit proper shape in these areas.  He does stand wide, however, he is too round in the shape of his hip..  Testicular development: he’s got “braggin’” rights in this class. Analysis... Would not work in my breeding program, however, not saying he will not work in the program of his breeder.

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

Let the discussion begin... OG