Suffolk sheep
The supreme exhibit went to Helen Schultz's Pine Ridge stud, which continued its dominance of the Suffolk ewe section, winning champion and reserve champion - and every class except one.
Her champion 2011 July-drop weighed 100 kilograms with 8.5 millimetres of fat and 45mm eye muscle depth. She is a daughter of Goldstream 192-05. The reserve weighed 107kg with 9.5mm fat and 43mm EMD.
The champion ewe also won reserve supreme ewe in the interbreed judging.
Judge Andrew Frick, Padthaway, said Ms Schultz' sheep were "very, very good types of ewes".
"I have to compliment the breeder on the type of ewe she's displaying," he said.
"They have everything I'm looking for today, with plenty of length, a bit of elevation, tremendous muscling and they're not overdone.
"The champion is great through the shoulders, and if you take a line from her ear to her hindquarters you'll find it's (very) smooth."
Mr Frick said it was a close competition, but the reserve's hindquarters got her over the line on the day.
Ian and Julie Pfeiffer - principals of Burwood stud, the oldest Suffolk stud in Australia - were surprised and elated to win champion ram in a tight competition.
The 2011 July-drop entry weighed 123.5 kilograms and had 10mm fat score and 45mm EMD.
Mr Frick said there was a certain type of ram he wanted.
"When I'm looking at the line-up of rams there are things I'm trying to see and these include good size, muscling, conformation and being a good Suffolk-type," he said.
"There was just a tremendous line-up of rams and in years of judging, I can honestly say I don't think I've ever had a tighter decision to make.
"Really, there were quite a few rams that were under consideration for champion and reserve and they're a credit to the exhibitors."
Mr Frick said he simply could not go past the Pfeiffer family's ram.
"The champion just caught my eye and had that little bit of an X-factor that got him over the reserve ram," he said.
"But both rams are displaying excellent muscling and length."
The Burwood stud will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year.
Source: farmonline.com.au