Cypress Park’s return to ewe showing a success

Stud principal of the Cardigan Village stud, Ashley Smith, said given Texels were the feature breed this year, they had decided to put a team together.

Mr Smith said he would have been happy if the ewe had just won her class, but to win champion ewe, and then to take out the supreme championship, totally exceeded his expectations.

“To win against some of the best Texels from this part of the country, particularly when it was the feature breed, is incredible,” Mr Smith said.

He said he had regarded the ewe very highly from a young age.

She was by a ram that had won champion Texel ram of the year, an initiative by the Australian Texel Stud Breeders Association, in 2016.

Judge Hugh Taylor, Doughboy Romney stud, Kaikoura, New Zealand, said the ewe was so outstanding that she could stand up against the tops of any breed.

The ewe came up on top against the champion Texel ram, an exhibit by Willaren Texel stud, Millicent, SA.

It was the third time the stud had won champion ram this show season, the others being at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo and then at Sheepvention in Hamilton.

All three winners have been different rams.

The 116-kilogram ram had an eye muscle depth of 53 millimetres.

Stud principal Bill Agnew said the ram possessed the qualities they were striving to breed.

“We want to get the length, and keep the depth,” Mr Agnew said.

He said the ram was nice, big and stretchy, with a good top line.

He plans to retain the ram in the flock to breed from.

Donald stud Tullamore Park took home the reserve champion ribbons in both the ewe and ram judgings.

The stud's Liz Russell said her reserve champion ram was a “good all-rounder”.

“He’s a well-balanced ram, good on his feet and has good, white ears,” Ms Russell said.

She said the recognition in the show ring was rewarding, following what’s been a tough season.

Mr Taylor said there had been a fantastic representation of the Texel breed among all of the exhibitors.