MURRINGO based Iron Rock stud have come out on top of the White Dorper breed judging at the NSW State Sheep Show.
Exhibiting six of the 29 head that were entered in the section, Jan Myburgh of Iron Rock was awarded grand champion ram and grand champion ewe under judge Nick Pagett of Winrae Dorpers, Bundarra.
An 11-month-old junior champion ram Iron Jack tag 56 went all the way to grand champion, impressing Mr Pagett with his correctness, muscle, length and balance.
"Not much can go wrong with this ram, he will just get bigger," he said.
He was sired by Iron Rock 20 out of a Kaya sired Gossamer ewe. Owner Mr Myburgh said if he continues to develop properly he will become a breeding ram within the stud".
"That ram has nice strong legs, good length and the bigger the bone in the legs the more meat the sheep carries, and that is something I am aiming for," he said.
"I test my ram lambs from weaning... after weaning they are weighed every fortnight to see how they are gaining and progressing, and this ram has grown and performed very well."
Breeding White Dorpers in Australia for 15 years, Mr Myburgh was previously in Namibia, Africa where he had Dorpers for over 40 years.
Senior and grand champion ewe was Iron Jack tag 62, a three-year old paternal sibling to the grand champion ram. Judge Mr Pagett described her as having "perfect shape, and spring showing she was in lamb".
The Iron Rock stud may consider taking its winning exhibits to Bendigo in July.
First-time entrant Lindsey Burnes, Quebar stud, Nundle exhibited the junior champion ewe, Quebar tag 44 that won the lamb over six months less than nine months class.
Reserve junior ewe was Iron Jack tag 296.
David Piper of Belowrie White Dorpers at Dubbo exhibited the reserve junior champion ram in Belowrie tag 63, as well as the senior champion ram, Belowrie tag 16020, reserve senior ram, Belowrie tag 19103, and winning group of White Dorpers.
WHITE DORPER RESULTS
Judge: Nick Pagett, Winrae Dorper, Bundarra
No. of exhibits: 28
Junior champion ewe lamb: Quebar, Nundle, NSW
Reserve junior champion ewe lamb: Iron Rock, Young NSW
Champion senior ewe: Iron Rock, Young
Junior champion ram lamb: Iron Rock, Young NSW
Reserve champion ram lamb: Belowrie, Dubbo NSW
Senior champion ram: Belowrie, Dubbo NSW
Reserve champion senior Ram: Belowrie, Dubbo NSW
Grand champion Dorper ram: Iron Rock, Young NSW
Grand champion ewe: Iron Rock, Young NSW
Love agricultural news? Sign up for The Land's free daily newsletter.
