There might have only been one Wiltipoll stud exhibiting at the State Sheep Show, held as part of Dubbo Show, which runs from today through to Sunday, but the judge was nonetheless surprised with the amount of meat in the sheep when he got up close.
Ian Hopwood and his partner Loris Denyer, Reavesdale Wiltipoll, Murringo, brought a small team of stud sheep for their first time exhibitingthe breed at Dubbo.
Judge, Jeff Sutton, Wattle Farmer Border Leicesters, Temora, said it was also the first time he had judged the breed.
“It’s the first time I’ve judged them and put a hand on them and they were surprising,” he said.
“They’re good on their feet, structurally correct and have a very good loin.”
He said the ewe in particular had good spring of rib and while there may have been only one exhibitor, the quality was excellent.
Ms Denyer said the ewe, Reavesdale 358, was a spring 2016-drop entry by Reavesdale 205 and had also been champion Wiltipoll ewe and supreme of breed at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo last year.
Their champion ram, Reavesdale 369, another spring 2016-drop entry, was also by 205.
The two-tooth had been in the stud and already had some lambs on the ground. Mr Hopwood said 369 was the champion ram at Bendigo last year, beaten by the ewe for supreme.
The couple have been breeding Wiltipolls since 2006 and at Dubbo had only previously entered in the hoof and hook.
They run about 200 Wiltipolls, of which 55 are stud ewes.
