First Place:  1

Entry number: 885

Exhibitor: DonD1

State:

Sheep name/number: Drewery 11391

Breed:

Website: http://myplace.frontier.com/~don.drewry/index.html

In starting 1 at the top of the class I’m going with the most complete balanced lamb of the class. Beginning with the extended neck properly placed on top of the shoulder, proper depth of front, correct at the points, long level top line, great rib shape, proper fill in the rear flank, and length of side, he stands out over the muscular 3.

From the rear he is not the thickest lamb in the class over the rack, loin, and leg, however, he does have correct shape over the rack, loin and hip and with his extra length of side he is a competitive show lamb that will hang an excellent carcass. I would like to see more depth of twist and more muscle in the lower third, however, he is more than adequate in these areas and overall is an attractive lamb that will get a judges attention.

Second Place:  3

Entry number: 1023

In placing the power lamb of the class, 3, second, I do grant this is the thickest lamb in the class, especially over the rack, loin, and leg with the deepest twist and more lower leg, however, she is off in her neck placement, is the deepest fronted lamb in the class, and she breaks at the hip/loin juncture and is one of the shortest hipped lambs in the class. She does have correct rib shape, fullness of rear flank and the overall thickness that I admire. If I could clean up the depth of shoulder, correct the loin problem and lengthen the hip without sacrificing muscle she could move up in the class. I do see her as an easy second place lamb in the class.

Third Place:  4

Entry number: 1042

The bottom pair, 4 and 2 are very different in type. Both have structural problems, however, the least problems are found in 4, therefore, 4 places third in the class. From the profile I appreciate the long neck squarely placed, although 4 has a tad too much shoulder depth, it still shows balance. 4 is correct in rib shape, has fullness of rear flank, however, the short hip also slopes to the dock and 4 also slopes over the loin. From the rear 4 shows moderate width over the rack and loin, depth of twist, and muscle in the lower third. 4 is just too coarse in overall appearance to be considered a competitive market lamb.

Fourth Place:  2

Entry number: 289

2 falls to the bottom of the class in an easy placing. 2 has the most structural problems of any lamb in the class. From the profile the long neck ties in too low on the shoulder. Although she is extremely clean fronted she is narrow in her chest floor and this narrowness travels to the rear. She is frail of bone, however, for a narrow made, medium plus framed lamb she does show correctness of rib shape, but she cuts up in the rear flank. The low set neck along with the rough hip/loin juncture take away from her long side. From the rear she is narrow over the rack and loin, has a sloping hip and is too shallow in the twist with very little thickness of leg muscle and is narrow at the pins. For you shag lovers, she does have ample shag. Just too many skeletal issues and lack of muscle to move up in the class.

Again, I placed the class 1-3-4-2 with cuts of 2-5-2. Let the discussion begin...OG