PRODUCTIVITY was the trait driver of this year’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show supreme interbreed exhibits, which saw Tattykeel Poll Dorset Stud, Oberon, NSW crowned Supreme Australian Prime Lamb Exhibit.
NSW dominated the interbreed with females exhibited by Wattle Farm Border Leicester Stud, Temora, and Dell Dorpers, Moama, winning Supreme Long Wool Sheep and Supreme Cleanskin Sheep respectively at the national show.
The grand title, Tattykeel da Vinci, exhibited by the Gilmore family was an 18 month-old son of notable Australasian champion sire Tattykeel Immortal who was praised as a structurally outstanding ram with impressive muscling.
The 160 kilogram ram recorded 50mm eye muscle depth and 12mm of fat.
To top off the show, Tattykeel also won the prime lamb interbreed group sash with their team of Poll Dorsets.
The team included the stud’s Sydney Royal Show supreme interbreed ewe and another ewe by Immortal.
Wattle Farm stud principal Jeff Sutton had a similarly impressive performance, scooping the top long wool titles with the group and supreme exhibit.
Interbreed and Border Leicester judge Murray Brown, Forbes, NSW, praised the ewe as a “top quality animal”.
“She had a wonderful fleece and was a tremendous ewe that grabbed your eye as soon as she walked into the ring,” Mr Brown said.
The young Border Leicester was daughter of champion sire Coolawang Impact.
Dorper breeder Andrea van Niekerk exhibited two year-old daughter of Dell JoJo Junior, Dell Stretchy 140076, who trumped her supreme Dorper win last year at the show with the ultimate prize of supreme interbreed cleanskin exhibit.
It was an impressive performance for the ewe who competed against 490 sheep Dorper entries - the largest ever at the show - in earlier judging.
Her productivity was outstanding, with the young ewe producing 14 lambs from one flush and is scanned in lamb with triplets.
“We put a lot of work and effort into our sheep so it is a very good feeling to win such a prestigious event,” Ms van Niekerk said.