A RAM purported to have some of the bests scanned figures ever seen in the Poll Dorset showring at the Royal Melbourne Show was crowned the breed's title of supreme exhibit above 150-plus entries.
Exhibited by Alistair and Jessica Sutherland, Konongwootong Dorsets, Konongwootong, the May 2014-drop senior classed ram weighed 158kilograms and recorded a fat depth of 10millimetres, muscle depth of 60mm, muscle width of 110mm and muscle area of 50.8cm.
"He handled his carcase very well, on very good legs and feet, covered in a good amount of fat which meant he was an early maturing type," judge Rob Martin, Kentish Downs, Holbrook, NSW, said.
"The ram that won senior ram handled the best and had the best scanned figures."
He was sashed the top gong, the Roy Harris memorial award, over the junior champion, August 2014-drop ram, shown by Allendale stud principal Alastair Day, Bordertown, South Australia.
The 137kg Allendale ram recorded fat depth of 11mm, muscle depth of 51mm, muscle width of 98mm and muscle area of 38.5 - representing high growth for age, according to Mr Martin.
In the reserve position was the son of the Adelaide show junior champion Poll Dorset ram in 2012 - exhibited by Tim Ferguson, Mallee Park, Hopetoun.
He was slightly heavier at 142.5, and almost matched his winning competitor's scanned figures.
The breed's most successful, exhibitor Derby Downs, Marong, had a stellar performance taking home reserve senior champion ram, the major female titles, sires progeny group and the majority of the ram lamb classes.
The champion ewe and reserve senior champion ram were both woolly exhibits, praised by Mr Martin for their "tremendous fleece"
"While we are a meat breed, we can't deny the value of the fleece and skins," he said.
Derby Downs principal Don McKinnon said it was pleasing to see the meat breed's fleece values be respected at the show.
"I think the breed is overlooking the need to maintain that downs type wool on our Poll Dorsets because it is very important for the value of the skins," Mr McKinnon said.
The Derby Downs winning ewes were both April 2014-drop females, descendants of the stud's Anniversary sire who was the 2004 Royal Melbourne Show champion Poll Dorset ram.
"It was encouraging to do well in all the classes, particularly the lamb classes as this is what the breed is about - producing prime lambs to get consistent production results," he said.
Annabelle Beale
National Sheep & Wool Writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
National Sheep & Wool Writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
