White Suffolk winners
Supreme White Suffolk exhibit: Damien Hawker, Omad, Kaniva, Vic
Grand champion ram: Omad
Senior champion ram: Omad
Reserve: IJ&PR Kyle, Ashley Park, Bairnsdale
Junior champion ram: I&D Gilmore & Sons, Baringa, Oberon, NSW
Reserve: Baringa
Grand champion ewe: Scott & Emma Cameron, Supreme, Wellington, NSW
Senior champion ewe: JA&MB Jamieson, Wattle Park, Finley, NSW
Reserve: S&A Baker, Booloola, Baringhup, Vic
Junior champion ewe: Supreme
Res: Wattle Park
Stock scan performance class: D,I&S Mitchell, Rene, Culcairn, NSW
Breeders group: Guy Treweek, Induro, Wakool, NSW
Sires progeny group: Baringa
Pen of three rams: A&M Dissegna, Warburn, Warburn, NSW
Most successful exhibitor: Induro
DAMIEN Hawker, Omad stud, Kaniva, Vic, won the supreme White Suffolk exhibit with a June 2016-drop ram.
Despite weighing 137.5kg, the ram was of a moderate type, and thickly set.
“He’s got a lovely head, nice, thick ears and a beautiful cut off line,” Mr Hawker said.
“He stands really well on his feet and parades well.”
Spurred on by the supreme title, Mr Hawker decided to offer the ram for sale as a wild card entry. It was sold to Doug Comb, Manfred stud, Hay NSW, for $9500.
The ram had been in the top couple of animals in classes at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo, Sheepvention at Hamilton and the Royal Adelaide Show.
Scott and Emma Cameron, Supreme stud, Wellington, NSW, won the grand champion White Suffolk ewe. They had put the ewe in the sale catalogue before the event, and she sold for what is thought to be a record price of $5000 for a White Suffolk ewe to John Jamieson, Wattle Park stud, Finley, NSW.
Mr Cameron said her sire and grandsire were both South Australian rams and she is the first lamb out of a home-bred ewe lamb.
Despite only being born on August 12 2016 (so being 13 months-old), the ewe weighed 99.5kg and scanned 11mm fat and 41mm muscle at her debut show.
Mr Cameron said she had the do-ability for which he bred.
“(She has) the fat cover needed to survive when things get tough,” he said. This trait is already being tested since Wellington has only recorded 10mm of rain since March and the Camerons have been feeding their sheep since April.
Judge Andrew Donnan, Anden stud, Woomelang, Vic, highlighted the ewe’s balance, correct structure and femininity.
Guy Treweek, Induro White Suffolk stud, Wakool, southern NSW, won the most successful exhibitor for the first time in the six years the Bendigo Elite Suffolk Show has been held.
His team of 17 animals won ribbons including first place in April ram, April ewe and wooly ewe lamb.
Mr Treweek said he aimed to breed sheep that combined type and performance.
“I like really true White Suffolk type.”
He said this year’s show team had more muscle in them too, which he’d achieved through an AI program. The Wheetelande ram that sold at the Adelaide ram sale for $22,000 a couple of years ago was one of the sires that had helped Mr Treweek achieve that goal.
