First Place:  4

Entry number: 1219

Exhibitor: HansenLivstock

State: TX

Sheep name/number:

Breed: medium wool

Website: www.minihanhansen.com

4 was the problem ewe of the class for me to evaluate. Perhaps if the handler had set 4 up like the handlers of 2 and 3, I could have seen this exceptional specimen quicker, however, this is a placing class, not showmanship, so, in my mind, I took this ewe lamb from the handler, as I sometimes do when judging live animals, and set her up myself for proper evaluation. When I did that, things clicked.

Profile. 4 is the longest necked, longest sided sheep in the class. The skeletal structure of this ewe lamb is exceptional, except for one minor flaw which I will address later. In starting the class with 4 I do so because to me she has the least negatives of any ewe lamb in the class. The balance and profile would stand out even more if the handler had both hands around the neck/head and extended that long neck to full extension and held the head and neck straight with muzzle level. Seldom do you see a wether dam with this much power and have as clean a front as this sheep. The long neck sits on top of the shoulder. Breeders of yolk necked sheep have had a hard time selling them this year in production and on line sales. Rightfully so. That is a negative trait that’s hard to correct. I want each of you evaluating this class to recognize the top of the shoulder should be taller than the top of the hip. If this is the case, usually this gives you a lamb that is straight lined, balanced, and flat topped, like 4. 4 is the longest sided ewe in the class. Now, the one trait I would change about 4 is I would raise her at the dock to level out her hip. That’s about it. However, when you find this much power attached to a front this smooth and tucked up chest floor, you take it to the bank. She is clean at the points, has excellent rib shape, full in the flank, feet and legs set square under her corners and correct in the shape of her pasterns.

Not knowing her age I would call her frame moderate plus based on the length of her canon bone. The muscular forearm sure suggest a strong top and loin and when viewed from the rear this is a true statement.

When viewed from the rear 4 has the angular shape coming out of the top of the shoulder. The rack is both wide and level and as you transverse the spine the angular shape gets progressively wider and still maintains flatness. Although the hip is exceptionally long there is a slight slope off the hip. Hey, the ram I have in mind for this lady will take care of that minor flaw. The width through the pins, depth of twist and width through the center of the leg, stifle area are really strong traits. Summation. Correct the slight slope of the hip and this ewe lamb becomes a very productive member of the highly competitive wether dam industry. As a breeder, you could really build an exceptional flock with this ewe lamb as the center piece.

Second Place:  2

2

Entry number: 1176

Exhibitor: Jakerichardson

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Bullhead ewe lamb

Breed: Hampshire

The middle pair actually gave me the most problems in placing the class, however for second in this strong class I’m going with 2. Actually, I believe 2 is the strongest on the profile of any of the four lambs in the class. She appears to be the youngest of the four. When I think profile, 2 has the profile envision. Her long neck is correctly placed coming out of the top of the shoulder(remember, neck placement is very important if your intention is to produce winning wethers/breeding sheep). Also, notice the top of her shoulder is taller than the top of her hip, therefore,creating a very balanced profile. She is very clean and smooth shouldered, especially when you consider the overall power she possesses. She is clean at the points, clean in the brisket and has a neat tuck to her chest floor. This ewe lamb is correct in her rib shape, as all ewe lambs in the class are, and she is full in her rear flank and she probably has the longest level hip of the class. From the rear she is really expressive over the wide level rack and she has probably has the strongest turn over the top of the class. She is wide and flat over the rack, the loin, and the hip. She probably is the strongest in the loin edge of the four. She is wide through the center of the leg/stifle area, and this creates an illusion she is narrow through the pins,however, I believe she has the necessary width in this area. At first glance, she appears to be a little soft in her pasterns, however,she is correct in this area. If sheep are too straight in their pasterns it creates a “post legged” gait that creates additional problems, especially with maturity. As good as 2 is what would it take for her to overcome 4 and place at the top of the class? Again, I do not know her age, but, comparing the length of her canon bone to 4 I would call her frame size on the negative side of moderate and it is that added length of 4 over 2 that drops 2 to second.

Summation. If I owned 4 I would try to buy 2. She should produce competitive lambs, if bred to a mate that can stretch them out.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 1217
Exhibitor: lm1668
State: OH
Sheep name/number: 745
Breed: Crossbred
Website: www.meyersshowlambs.com

For third in the class I’m going with 3, and, I will admit, at first glance, I had 3 at the top of the class. What changed my mind. Depth of front and moderate length of neck.

Profile. I might call the neck length moderate, however, it is very correctly placed coming out of the top of the shoulder.(Did I mention I do not like Yolk necked sheep). When you look at her overall conformation she is as level in her top lines as any of the four, and she is a correct in rib shape/design, fullness of flank as any sheep in the class, and she is almost as level in the hip as 2. But, to me she id the deepest in the shoulder of any of the four. Not too deep, but, not tucked up either in her chest floor. I believe she is clean at the points and she stands correct on her feet and legs.

From the rear she has the wedge shape over the top, loin, and width over the rack, loin, hip that we appreciate in wether style breeding sheep. She has width through the pins, depth of twist, and muscle shape and design that I appreciate.

Summation. To move to the top of the class she would have to have more extension to her neck and less depth of shoulder. Again, if I owned 4 I would try to buy 3 because I’m trying to assemble a competitive productive wether type flock.

Fourth Place:  1

Entry number: 1123

This brings us to the fourth place ewe lamb of the class, number 1. What’s wrong with 1? Not a lot, but the negatives do drop her to fourth in the class.

Profile. Neck. I would like to extend the neck and I would like to raise the placement to the top of the shoulder. It’s not off by much, but, I do not want it off any. The top of the shoulder should be taller than the top of the hip. 1 does, but, less than any of the ewe lambs in the class. Straight level top line. Maybe, Maybe if the handler wasn’t applying as much brace, the raised hump over the rack where it joins the loin would not be as noticeable. True, the second place ewe lamb 2, has a slight elevation at the same location, however, the lighter weight 2 is longer hipped. Like all ewe lambs in the class 1 is very clean at the points, however, like the third place ewe, 3, she has a little too much depth of shoulder.( see first place 4 and second place 2) . She is very correct in her rib shape, flank fullness and appears correct in her feet, legs, and their placement. From the rear she is extremely wide and flat over the rack and loin. Her excellent rib shape is very evident as well as her fullness of flank. She is level in her hip, however, I question the length. She is wide and square through the pins,deep in her twist, and although she has a muscular leg I would call it moderate because I would like to see the stifle carry down toward the hock further.

Summation. What would it take for 1 to move up in the class? First, I would have to change both neck placement and extension. Second, I would have to see less depth of shoulder. Third, The hump in the center of the back does not concern me, however, at least 60% of the total length should be hindsaddle, from the last rib to the pins. I would guess 60% of her total length is from the last rib forward, the rack area. Will she be a productive wether dam? Yes, if I owned 4 I would try to add 1 to the flock...(To the owner of 4. If I can get all three of them bought I’m spending a chunk of your money)

If I owned all four of these ewe lamb prospects what single ram do I believe would work on each of the four, to correct their weakness and sire winning lambs for the wether type industry? How about the Supreme Champion Ram, lot 6178-Rule Sheep Company/ Skidgel club lambs Champion Hampshire-1st place April ram lamb, 2013 Mid West Stud Ram Sale, Sedalia, Missouri. No, I did not see him in person, just his picture. To my knowledge I haven’t seen any of the four ewe lambs in this class, just their pictures. However, after studying the Supreme Champion Ram I believe his strength would correct any weakness that I pointed out pertaining to each ewe lamb in this class. Contrary to some breeders opinions, I believe the most correct sheep in any breeding program should lie in the structural design of both the skeletal structure and muscle design of the ram.

Again, it was my pleasure to have the opportunity to place a class of this quality. To the owners/exhibitors/breeders of these four females I congratulate you and thank you for taking the time to enter these animals in the OSS. We need tough classes that challenge all of us,the person applying the official placing and the contestants...to increase our knowledge of selection will make each of us more proficient in the industry. To sum this class up I will quote my young friend from Ca., Jakerichardson..” This class could come down to personal preference.” Truer words were never spoken!

Again, I placed class 281 ewe lambs 5-11 months 4-2-3-1 cuts of 1-2-2.

Let’s have a healthy discussion of the class. OG