When awarding the supreme breed exhibit to Greg Good, Bowen Suffolks, Millthorpe, NSW for his champion ram, judge Andrew Frick, Gypsum Hill Suffolk stud, Padthaway, SA, noted the outstanding productive qualities of the animal.
"He had all of the commercial attributes necessary for the industry, he had good conformation, shape and structure, as well as sire ability,” Mr Frick said.
“He had a 'look at me' quality, that you see in any sort of champion, like a champion race horse or champion football player."
The June 2016 drop ram, whom Mr Good has named ‘Trumper’, was further noted by Mr Frick for his capacity to make efficient use of available feed and convert to meat.
“He is not too tall, but has great length and depth, a real lamb getter,” he said.
“This is close to the strongest lineup I have judged over a long period.”
“Trumper” was champion ram at Sydney Royal 2017, while his dam at been champion at Sydney Royal 2014, and he will be shown in Adelaide before being retained for stud use.
The reserve champion ram paraded by Georgina Close, Closeup stud, Finley, NSW had good width through to his backend, according to judge Mr Frick.
“There was no glaring weakness or wastage in this ram, he just came up against a ram with a bit more finish,” he said.
Champion Suffolk ewe was awarded to David Leischke, Otto Suffolks, Walla Walla, NSW for his AI July 2016 daughter of a New Zealand sire bred in the Collie Hills stud, South Canterbury.
“She is a deep and well muscled ewe,” Mr Frick said. “She has tremendous capacity with room to reproduce and has a great conformation being well-balanced.”
The reserve champion ewe paraded by Georgina Close had graduated from the ewe under one and half year old closely and evenly shorn class.
“She is a very ‘commercial’ ewe with enough scale but not too big,” Mr Frick said.
Most successful exhibitor was Jody Zoch, Sayla Park Suffolks, Kilmore, Victoria.