GERALDINE stud principal Ian Baker, Clydebank, fought off some stiff competition from champion breeders Retallack to take out the supreme exhibit in the Border Leicester feature breed showing at the Melbourne Royal yesterday.
His July 2013-drop junior champion ram, from the machine shorn under 1.5-year-old class, was just too strong over the junior champion Retallack ewe in reserve.
Judge Wilson Beer, Echuca, said the ram had an outstanding outlook, with a real sires head.
"He is hard to fault," he said. "He handles better than he appears.
"He has a clean head, is nice and thick but soft in the ear, with good bone and top line. A good example of the breed."
"Billy" as he was affectionately known, was part of a team of four from Geraldine, weighing 122.5kg - a "good weight for his age" said Mr Baker. "He got an enormous figure, all meat."
He recorded 16 fat and muscle depth of 48.
Mr Baker said he placed fourth in his shorn class against a line-up of 23 at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, but would now
Mr Beer said the junior champion ewe from Retallack also head a good head, with a lot of femininity.
He also admired her neck extension, bone and good fleece.
"She impressed me as soon as I set eyes on her in the ring," he said. "A worthy winner.
"She has a great carcase and head, also a great example of the Border Leicester breed."
- Full Melbourne Show results in the Stock & Land September 25 edition
Alisha Fogden
Cropping editor of Stock Journal.
Cropping editor of Stock Journal.
