A POLL Dorset ram is shaping up to be one of the breed’s rising stars, after winning the supreme gong at the Royal Melbourne Show today.
Owned by Alastair Day, of the Allendale stud, Bordertown, SA, the animal - dubbed Legend - claimed the title over and above 150-plus entries.
Mr Day said Legend had previously been awarded the interbreed title at the Adelaide Royal Show, earlier this month.
“He’s on a roll,” he said.
The ram tipped the scales at 150 kilograms, and displayed figures including 8mm fat depth, 54mm muscle depth, and muscle width of 41.58cm2.
Mr Day said Legend was given his name because his entire pedigree had come from studs that were run by renowned Poll Dorset breeders.
It’s the first time the stud has earned has attained a champion title at Melbourne since the 1970s, after having shown at the event since the 1950s.
Allendale prepared 12 head all up for the show.
But it proved to be stiff competition in the ram judging, with Alistair Sutherland’s entry, from the Konongwootong stud, near Coleraine, taking the reserve champion ribbon home.
His entry weighed 138kg and displayed 10mm fat depth and 51mm muscle depth.
“He won his class at Adelaide,” Mr Sutherland said.
He said it was the best his stud had performed overall at Melbourne, with the family taking 12 head to the event.
The judge Laurie Fairclough, of WA, was extremely impressed with the line-up of Poll Dorsets on the day – and admitted he had difficulty selecting the winner of supreme title.
He was particularly impressed with the champion ewe, which he gave to Tim Ferguson’s lamb entry, from the Mallee Park stud, Hopetoun.
“She stunned everyone,” Mr Fairclough said.
“Her size is amazing for an April-drop ewe.
“If I had two ribbons, I would put it over the ram and the ewe.”
- More Melbourne Show results in the Stock & Land September 25 edition
Louise Preece
Journalist for Stock & Land.
Journalist for Stock & Land.
