IT WAS a neck-and-neck tussle for the most successful exhibitor award between Highveld and Baringa studs in the show section at the second annual Australian White National Show and Sale at Dubbo showground last Friday.
Highveld stud, Mendooran, operated by Alan Baron, Pierre Bouwer and Adrian Bell, dominated the ewe section taking out junior and grand champion, reserve junior champion and reserve senior champion awards while a ram took out reserve senior champion ribbon, plus class awards with 12 sheep to top the most successful point score for the second year.
Baringa stud of Ian and Donna Gilmore with sons, Brayden and Lochie, Oberon, featured in the ram section taking the grand championship with its intermediate champion. Baringa also gained many class placings with its 20 sheep to be runner-up for the second year.
Nine studs exhibited sheep this year under the “two-judge” adjudication system of former South African Gielie Oberholster now of Pacific Boer Goats stud, Eugowra, and Kim Weir, Pinewalla Poll Dorset, Dorset Horn and White Suffolk studs, Crookwell.
Mr Oberholster said Highveld’s four-month-old grand champion ewe (sired by Highveld 152153 exported to Inner Mongolia) was exceptional for her age.
“Structurally, she is 10 out of 10, well balanced, hard to fault,” he said.
Mr Weir said the ewe was full of quality. Highveld’s reserve junior ewe is by Inner Mongolia export, Highveld 152111.
Baringa’s grand ram, Baringa Weapon 303, the intermediate champion had already been used within the stud and produced 30 lambs on the ground.
Mr Oberholster said the grand champion was very good in the legs and carried a lot of meat throughout.
Premier stud operated by Brayden and Lochie Gilmore, gained junior champion ram, reserve intermediate ram and senior champion ewe. The senior ram is by Baringa Da Vinci and from Baringa Grunt’s full sister. Grunt was intermediate champion at last year’s event.
Kanoona Park stud of Craig Henry and family, Curban, repeated last year’s senior champion ram victory, this year with an 18-month-old in its first showing.
Lukina stud of Luke and Tina Curry, who has moved from Gulgong to Coolamon, showed reserve junior ram.