Supreme Champion Dorper: Kaya and Dell
Grand Champion Dorper Ram: Kaya 140387.
Senior Champion Dorper Ram: Kaya 140387
Senior Reserve Champion Dorper Ram: Bulmar 140070
Junior Champion Dorper Ram: Kaya 151314
Junior Reserve Champion Dorper Ram: Dell 151314
Grand Champion Dorper ewe: Dell Stretchy 140076
Senior Champion Dorper Ewe: Dell Stretchy 140076
Senior Reserve Champion Dorper Ewe: Edson Black 120157
Junior Champion Dorper Ewe: Bulmar 150158
Junior Reserve Champion Dorper Ewe: Dell 150627
The international judge, at this year’s National Dorper Show, has awarded the top ribbon to two studs, after declaring it was impossible to separate the sheep on display.
Kaya, Narrogin, Western Australia and Dell Dorpers, Moama, were awarded the Supreme Ribbon, for their respective Dorper ram and ewe.
South African judge Rikus van der Merwe said both were “exceptional” animals.
“The ewe was magnificent, she’s long in the body, she’s feminine, she has enough meat covering, for a ewe, without being too masculine, and then along came this ram, he was masculine, good and sound on his legs,” Mr van der Merwe said.
“They were such just examples of what the breed should look like, it was incredible.”
Mr van der Merwe told spectators it wasn’t fair to divide them.
“That’s a great ram, and that’s a great ewe and its not fair to choose, between them, I would like to give this to both of them,” Mr van der Merwe said.
“The Dorper industry can be proud of these two animals. If there is anyone brave enough to come and appoint a champion, they are welcome, because I’m not.”
Kaya principal Adrian Grieve said he had nearly sold the winning ram.
The June 2014 drop ram, weighed 105kg, had 5.5mm of fat and 48mm of eye muscle.
“The ram that won, is a really good ram, we probably nearly sold him, a year or two ago, but he has really developed,” Mr Grieve said.
“He has a really good head and really good muscling and movement, in general, we are just trying to get the movement in the animal and retain their muscle.
Mr Grieve said he understood why Mr van der Merwe was reluctant to chose between the ram and the ewe.
“He couldn’t split the ewe and the ram, it’s not really judging oranges and oranges, its an apple and an orange, they are different purposes and they are both good.”
Dell won the Supreme and Grand Champion events with a ewe that won the same honor last year.
Dell Stretchy 140076 took out Senior, Grand Champion and Supreme Dorper exhibit at last year’s show.
Dell principal Moozie van Niekerk said competion was very strong, this year.
“I think the quality is a lot better with more and more Dorpers and more and more breeders, everyone is following the right track,” Ms van Niekerk said.
“We were looking for length of body and femininity, she is having triplets, so she has put on a lot of condition, so we decided to bring her while she was looking good.
“We thought we would give it a crack again.”
Dell Stretchy, an April 2014 drop ewe, returned figures of 102kg, with 6mm of fat and 48mm of eye muscle.
Dell Dorpers has won the Supreme Dorper Exhibit five out of nine years it has been showing at the event, each time with ewe.
The run started in 2011 with Dell Baby Doll III 100127, in 2012 - Dell Baby Doll III 100127, 2013 - Dell Gloria 110119 and 2015 and 2016 - Dell Stretchy 140076.