Deppeler Suffolks win in Melbourne Royal Show's White Suffolk ring

Deppeler Suffolk stud principals Doug and Rebecca Deppeler, Derrinallum, had both their champion ram and ewe in the ring for the supreme championship, but it was the ewe that ended up coming out on top.

Mr Deppeler said the ewe had won second and third-place ribbons at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show and Elite Suffolk Show and Sale earlier in the year, but never done as well as this.

He said the 1.5-year-old ewe was "a nice ewe".

"She's very stylish and has come along at the right time," he said.

He said it was disappointing to see a lack of numbers for the breed at the event.

"We've won big ribbons at Melbourne over the years, it's still a prestigious event because it's a royal show, but we had relatively-low numbers in the competition this year in comparison to other shows," he said.

"It's no longer the pinnacle event because of the depth of competition at other shows, but it's still a very-impressive event."

He said he had a long-standing connection to the Melbourne Royal Show, with last year being his 50^th consecutive year showing sheep at the event.

Mr Deppeler said it was only the second time the champion ram had been shown.

"He's only a baby, he's just 13 months," he said.

"He wasn't successful last time in a very big class at the Elite Show and Sale, but he's a young ram we think a lot of and he's only just starting showing

"We're going to keep him and use him, we think a lot of him and we're happy with him."

White Suffolk judge Fairbank stud principal Chris Badcock, Hagley, Tas, said the winning ewe was a "very-good White Suffolk type".

"She's very feminine, has good shoulder and her overall balance was just slightly better than the ram," Mr Badcock said.

"I found the ram was the most complete and balanced ram in the line up [of rams].

"He was a good type, structurally correct, had the White Suffolk attributes and ticked most of the boxes."

He said both champions were very-good exhibits.

"Despite the lack of entries, the quality of White Suffolks was good, certainly of a royal show standard," he said.