A "smart and strong" Poll Dorset ram has taken out the interbreed title at the annual Victorian Sheep Show, Ballarat.
Janmac Poll Dorsets' Grant Hausler, Goroke, a member of the judging panel for the interbreed competition, said the event drew good quality exhibits.
"The three sheep, put up for interbreed, were all worthy winners but after a fair bit of discussion, we settled on the Mallee Park Poll Dorset ram,' Mr Hausler said.
"We had a Witipoll, the Poll Dorset and a Corriedale, so there were three, quite distinctively different types of sheep.
"There was a shedding breed, against a Corriedale, and you can't get much more different than that."
The judges settled on the Poll Dorset, as he was "a hard sheep to fault.
"He will go on, as a July-drop ram, with plenty of potential to develop further in the coming months.
"He was a very smart, strong and clean Poll Dorset ram."
Mr Hausler said the success of Ballarat augured well for upcoming shows.
"I think people are keen to display their sheep and - more than ever now - to socialise," Mr Hausler said.
"The show was well supported by the general public too.
"It wasn't just exhibitors, there were good numbers of people moving around.
"It's interesting to see the number of people there."
Breed type
Mallee Park stud co-principal Tim Ferguson, Hopetoun, said about 60-70 sheep were entered in the Poll Dorset section.
"I think breed type and carcase quality got the ram over the line," Mr Ferguson said.
The win was advantageous for both commercial and stud production.
"To go on and get interbreeds is always exciting for the stud," he said.
Mr Ferguson said the sheep had been supplementary fed, for two or three months to bring them up to condition.
"We were probably at the top end of the Poll Dorsets, but to be competitive there and go onto Bendigo you have to have a competitive weight," Mr Ferguson said.
The ram had a terminal carcase production of 138.27, birthweight of .51 kilograms, post-weaning weight of 15.98kg, post-weaning eye muscle depth of 1.15 millimetres, post weaning fat of -1.04mm
He recorded a lean meat yield of 4.07 and intramuscular fat measurement of 0.56mm.
He was sired by Kurralea 160165 out of Mallee Park 150080.
Mr Ferguson said the stud would now go onto the Australian Sheep & Wool Shows.
Other interbreed judges were Jason O'Laughlin, O'Laughlin Wiltshire Horns, Deniliquin, NSW, Tania King, Shellal Poll Dorsets, Hawkesdale and Tess Runting, Moralla Corriedales, Mt Eliza.
First timer
Oakbank Merino and Poll Merino's first appearance at the Ballarat Sheep Show saw the Gre Gre stud take out the supreme champion sash.
Merino judge, Paul Hendy, Belbourie, Marnoo, said the winning ram had medium, well-nourished wool.
"He was pretty outstanding and pretty pure," Mr Hendy said.
"There were a lot of good sheep and they were very well presented, there wasn't much between them."
Oakbank stud co-principal Jack McRae said the stud was very happy with the Ballarat results, as it was the first time it had taken a team of sheep there.
The winning Polled ram was also sashed champion medium wool winner.
"He is a big, tall ram who stands very correctly and is good on his feet," Mr McRae said.
"He has very white, long staple wool."
The ram has 20.8 micron wool, a standard deviation of three per cent, co-efficient of variation of 14.4pc and a 99.3pc comfort factor.
He was sired by Barry 83, which Mr McRae said was producing solid results at Oakbank.
In March, Oakbank won grand champion ewe at the Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show, with a ewe, also sired by Barry 83.
The other merino judges were Errol Hay, Kamarooka Park, Kamarooka, and John and Nicole Crawford, Rock Bank Merinos, Victoria Valley.