Toowoomba Show’s Alex McPhie Memorial Cup Prime Lamb Supreme Exhibit was won by the Hood family, Plainview, Pittsworth.
The pen of three export lambs were by Peter and Leslie Hood’s Plainview Texel stud rams out of commercial first-cross Border Leicester/Merino ewes.
The lambs weighted an even 57kg, 58kg and 60kg.
“The pen of three had very even weights across the prime lambs with good conformation and body condition,” Mr Hood said.
“They are heavier lambs then we would normally turn-off at home, but they are in a class of lambs that have been making very good money in more southern markets.”
The supreme prime lambs sold for $190/head during the sale auction to Tonis Continental Butcher, Toowoomba who have been purchasing lambs at the Toowoomba Royal Show’s prime lambs show and sale for 40 years.
The Champion Single Lamb was also won by Peter and Leslie Hood’s prime lamb, plus the Hood family also was awarded Reserve Champion Pen of Lambs with their pen of three shorn lambs weighing 56kg, 56.5kg and 55kg respectively.
The Reserve Champion Pen of Lambs sold for $158/head during the sale auction to Yambeen Pty Ltd, Mt Tyson.
“Market conditions for our prime lambs are getting a bit tougher recently due to an influx of lambs onto the market with dry conditions across parts of southern Queensland and New South Wales,” Mr Hood said.
This was demonstrated by a yarding of 2500 head of lambs at Warwick sheep sale last week.
“I believe there will be a shortage of prime lambs from July this year due to large numbers of store lambs now being sold as dry weather conditions prevail,” Mr Hood said.
Reserve Champion Single Lamb was awarded to Scott Mengel, Rhyre Holdings, Pittsworth export lamb. The Reserve Champion Single Lamb sold for $152/head to Tonis Continental Butcher during the Toowoomba Show prime lamb sale.
Prime lambs judge was Phil Kemp.
Prime lambs chief steward, Philip Tindall, said it was a tough year for exhibitors to present prime lambs due to the dry weather affecting many sheep meat producers.