Supreme Champion Cheviot: Grayoaks, Metung, Vic
Champion Cheviot ram: Greyoaks
Champion Cheviot ewe: Greyoaks
A LARGE Cheviot ewe from a Gippsland stud has taken out the Supreme Champion ribbon, in the breed’s class at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show (ASWS).
Grayoaks, Metung, also caught the eye of Tasmanian judge Chris Badcock, who awarded the stud ribbons for the best Cheviot ram and ewe.
Greyoak’s Neil Hopkins said the stud aimed to turned off fat lambs.
“We pick the ones that tend to grow out, ahead of the crowd, and we keep those,” Mr Hopkins said.
Stud principal John Armstrong said the winning ewe was one and a half years old “and very good in the wool.”
He said Greyoaks ran 120 ewes, on hilly country, at Metung.
”Other breeders buy our young ewes, the wethers go for meat, and we breed rams,” he said.
Mr Badcock said he was looking for good structural correctness and balance, in the animals he judged.
“The sheep are dual purpose, so I was looking for carcase attributes, as well as wool attributes, so I thought the overall winner had those two qualities,” Mr Badcock said.
“The advantage of these breeds is they are very traditional and very set, so the quality of the lambs is very good, because they are very consistent.
“We have got a group of dedicated breeders, ensuring the longevity of the breed, so I certainly think they have a place.”
He said he thought breeders were on the right track, although they needed to be diligent, given the small genetic pool.
“Just keep doing what you are doing, keep focussing on the structure, the muscling and the fleece,” he said.
