Pedigree Sheep - Feeding / Show Prep

[Blitz]

I've recently started my own Pedigree Texel flock. I've attended a couple of shows and notice that my lambs are way behind those at shows. Any advise with regards feeding, supplements etc would be much appreciated.

 

[neilo]

Years ago youngest daughter picked out a cracking ram lamb she wanted to take to a one day, OH said not to take it but she insisted. Judge said the lamb had won the class as soon as it walked in the ring.....until he felt its mouth. Lesson learnt.

I judged Honiton years ago, where the interbreed is decided by each of the breed judges scoring all of the individual breed champions (how do you place a Hebridean against a Texel? ).
The Suffolk champion was an absolute corker of a shearling ram, but had stones literally the size of marbles. Half the judges put him top, the other half put him bottom. What does such triviality matter?

 

[dogandstick]

I judged Honiton years ago, where the interbreed is decided by each of the breed judges scoring all of the individual breed champions (how do you place a Hebridean against a Texel? ).
The Suffolk champion was an absolute corker of a shearling ram, but had stones literally the size of marbles. Half the judges put him top, the other half put him bottom. What does such triviality matter?

The Suffolk judge that placed it breed champion must have been sharp then

 

[tepapa]

I judged Honiton years ago, where the interbreed is decided by each of the breed judges scoring all of the individual breed champions (how do you place a Hebridean against a Texel? ).
The Suffolk champion was an absolute corker of a shearling ram, but had stones literally the size of marbles. Half the judges put him top, the other half put him bottom. What does such triviality matter?

Should have put him top, they were judging on looks not breeding potential.

 

[Ysgythan]

I judged Honiton years ago, where the interbreed is decided by each of the breed judges scoring all of the individual breed champions (how do you place a Hebridean against a Texel? ).
The Suffolk champion was an absolute corker of a shearling ram, but had stones literally the size of marbles. Half the judges put him top, the other half put him bottom. What does such triviality matter?

Machiavelli himself should have done a book on points based interbreed judging. “One person’s opinion” isn’t very satisfactory, but even that is better than a committee decision.

 

[BAF]

I judged Honiton years ago, where the interbreed is decided by each of the breed judges scoring all of the individual breed champions (how do you place a Hebridean against a Texel? ).
The Suffolk champion was an absolute corker of a shearling ram, but had stones literally the size of marbles. Half the judges put him top, the other half put him bottom. What does such triviality matter?

That's easy, if they've managed to catch the hebridean after it's been touring the locality for the past 6 months, then keep it in long enough to load it and travel it to a show and then fly it like a kite on a halter around the ring for a judge to compare it to the Texel then the Hebridean wins just for the sheer bloody mindedness of the owner

 

[pgk]

Has your breed society show & sale not morphed into a feeding competition as well?
I know ours certainly has, and the present direction seems to celebrate it even more.

Evident at recent female with figures show at Worcester where the most obese, pampered, trimmed and unfit lower index ewes made top guinea

 

[neilo]

Evident at recent female with figures show at Worcester where the most obese, pampered, trimmed and unfit lower index ewes made top guinea

I suspected that might be the case, but ultimately there were buyers for them to bid them up, so they will continue to be produced.