The son of a top priced Border Leicester has taken out the breed’s Supreme Champion ribbon, at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
Wattle Farm, Temora, NSW, took out the top prize, with a young ram, sired by the $11,000 purchase.
Stud principal Jeff Sutton said he bought the Champion’s sire from Will Schilling, Glenlee Park, Nhill, at the Horsham Border Leicester sale in November 2016.
Mr Sutton said he had a bred a number of sons and daughters from the ram, which had carried through the characteristics of a wide back end, tremendous head and fleece.
The winning ASWS ram caught the judge’s eye because of his “sirey appeal” and fleece.
“The first thing that was obvious was how well balanced he is,” Mr Sutton said.
“He is very good in the front legs, lovely and wide in the back legs, with good quality bone, holding the ram together.
“He is a very big animal.”
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Mr Sutton said he put the ASWS win down to breeding and the hard work, which went into selecting the right sires and ewes.
The ram was first sashed junior champion, by judge Andrew Storey.
“We were very fortunate to win that, that kicked me through to the championship,” Mr Sutton said.
“The competition here is very high.
“You’ve got entries from South Australia, Victoria and NSW, they are serious people who come here.”
Mr Sutton said he had been approached by people offering to buy the ram.
“I’ll think about that but I’ll probably take him on to the Royal Melbourne Show, from here.”
Judge Andrew Storey praised the Supreme champion, which weighed 103.5kilograms and had figures of nine millimetres of fat and 39mm of muscle.
“I liked his overall structure, confirmation and outstanding outlook,” Mr Storey said.
“He had a lovely fleece and is a really good representative of his breed.”
Mr Storey said the Champion ewe, exhibited by D&C Jackson, Moyston, was also an outstanding animal.
Ross Jackson said the rising two year old ewe was from Jackson Ironman and Duenclin bloodlines.
