THE Squiers family, Quairading, made it a "three-peat" in the sheep interbreed competition at this year's IGA Perth Royal Show when an upstanding Poll Dorset ewe exhibited by the family took home the supreme interbreed award and was crowned the queen of the shed.
While it was rams from its Dongadilling and Shirlee Downs studs which took top honours in 2014 and 2015, this year it was a classy ewe from the Dongdalling program that shone through and snatched the top award, to further show the depth the family has in its Poll Dorset breeding programs.
The ewe was a unaminous winner for the supreme exhibit title receiving top votes from all seven judges.
Judge Daryl Dixon, Ashbank Poll Dorset and White Suffolk studs, Dubbo, New South Wales, said the ewe was a magnificent ewe with tremendous size and balance.
"She has great growth for age, excellent feminine features and really good muscling which she carries right through," he said.
"She is just a really well-balanced ewe and the complete package."
The May 2015-drop ewe was sired by Shirlee Downs 20-09 and was no stranger to interbreed ribbons as it was also sashed the reserve champion interbreed ewe at this year's Make Smoking History Williams Gateway Expo.
Along with taking home the coveted supreme champion of the shed title, the upstanding ewe was also sashed the British, Australasian and other breeds supreme champion ewe of the show when it finished on 14 points, three points clear of the next closest ewe in the competition.
The family was a shoe-in for the top award after a Poll Dorset ram from its Shirlee Downs stud was sashed the British, Australasian and other breeds supreme champion ram and stood against the ewe for the shed's top award.
Judge Chris Marr, Gererdan Poll Dorset stud, Gooloogong, NSW, said the Shirlee Downs ram was a good example of the Poll Dorset breed.
"He has a great carcase and a really good hindquarter," Mr Marr said.
"He also has a tremendous outlook and is beautifully smooth."
The 142kg, May 2015-drop ram, is by Shirlee Downs 301-12 and has a CarcasePlus index of 189.3.
The upstanding ram finished on 10 points in the judging to be three points clear of its nearest rival.
The reserve British, Australasian and other breeds supreme champion ram was exhibited by the Hyde family's Kohat White Suffolk stud, Ongerup.
The AI-bred, June 2015-drop ram is by Wheetelande 127064 and has a CarcasePlus index of 196.
Mr Marr said the ram had plenty of meat and great attributes for the industry.
The Pamellen Suffolk stud, Clackline, for the second year in a row exhibited the reserve British, Australasian and other breeds supreme champion ewe.
Mr Dixon said the ewe was a tremendous ewe with a great hindquarter and soft Suffolk head.
The June 2015-drop ewe is AI-bred by Westcombe 86-09.
In the prestigious British, Australasian and other breeds supreme champion group class for three rams under 1.5 years it was a group of three upstanding Prime SAMMs rams from the Sandown stud, Badgingarra, that narrowly held off the competition to win the ribbon and with it $4000 cash from the RAS.
The win for the stud marked the first time it had won a major interbreed award at any show and was a totally unexpected win for stud co-principal Graham Sutherland.
Judge Josh Addis, Perth, said the Sandown team contained three tall upstanding rams which were all very even.
"They all have plenty of muscle and carry a good soft wool," Mr Addis said.
"They are a good example of the Prime SAMM breed."
The three rams weighed between 120 to 125kg with microns between 21 and 21.5.
The group were all sired by homebred Sandown sires.
The Sandown team finished on 14 points just three points clear of the second-placed Suffolk team exhibited by the Pamellen stud, while a team of Poll Dorsets from the Brimfield stud, Kendenup, finished third on 21 points.
The Pamellen stud took home the final interbreed award when it won the British, Australasian and other breeds supreme champion breeders group title with a group of Suffolks.
The Pamellen group of one ram and two ewes finished on 10 points to win the award by just two points from the second placed team of Poll Dorsets exhibited by Shirlee Downs.
Judge Denam Carter, Ridgetop Poll Dorset, White Suffolk and White Dorper studs, Mt Barker, said the Pamellen team was a very good group.
"The two ewes are very even and the ram complements them both, they all show good Suffolk traits and have excellent muscling," he said.
Jodie Rintoul
Farm Weekly's livestock manager.
Farm Weekly's livestock manager.
