As above… you need a fairly keen eye if you don’t want too go bankrupt so you can pick your shoe sheep 6 months before Youv entered any shows… my picks this year didn’t really materialise too what I’d expected so I’m only doing 2 shows.. when Youv chosen your “show team” you want too fetch them inside or on a bare paddock and pump that corn into them.. you don’t want them filling up on grass when they could be eating that pellet
We haven’t done any shows this Millenium, so I don’t have recent personal experience. However, lambing date, ET and feeding regime are what your competitors are using to get lambs that forward.
Agree with all of the above posts
It's sad that modern showing has basically morphed into a feeding competition as it's a great way to meet like minded people who are keen to further the cause of their chosen breed.
We don't show anymore (well except at the show that hosts our breed society sale) but there's still a fair bit of craic in the sheep lines, so, if you fancy a go, good luck and get on and enjoy it - just remember that you'll only be challenging for the minor placings unless there's a feed wagon parked in your yard all the time
Let alone a judge which actively goes against over fat animals.We have never fed our Texel lambs separately for showing, they will be on creep and decent grass (and we have won at County level including interbreed ram lamb). Its a shame when it comes down to being judged on size (fat) over conformation. A good judge should be able to tell a good sheep regardless of its weight.
I've seen a few good judges.
I once entered Turriff with two shearlings in order to get cheap entry, preferential parking and a free coffee. I took my tups straight out the field no prep whatsoever and got 2nd and 4th. Talking to the judge as he walked the rows afterwards he said he was delighted to have a couple of natural sheep to judge amongst the bloated show sheep.
Of course I would call him a good judge!
I didn't begrudge him picking a big name winner as showing is about more than sheep really. My tups would not have been a great advert for uneducated onlookers with their muck stains on their hips and their hairy faces and legs. The shows that provide the facilities need good publicity and a stunning, clean show champ' does a great job of promotion on the front page of the local newspaper, my rough 4rsed boys maybe not so much.
It has to a certain extent but not as much as the show only classes.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.
I disagree. The sheep should be judged on their merit, regardless of whether they have a grass stain on their hips, and most certainly regardless of who is holding the halter. I was once lambasted at a County Show for placing an untrimmed ram lamb from a relative newcomer first. He was the best sheep on the day, regardless of whether he'd been presented nicely, a good sheep presents itself. I did back my judgement by buying him privately afterwards, and what a good buy he was.
As to well fed ones vs lean ones, the judge can only place what is put in front of them. All to often, someone with leaner sheep gets uppity about the fatties taking the rosettes, when they might just have poorer sheep, as well as being less well fed. Feeding should be enough for them to exhibit their genetic potential, and very often those 'straight out of the field' entries aren't even that ime.
Poor job if its concentrate feeding after all theyre ruminants they should be outstanding, ashowing off theri abilities to convert forage to meat .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.
Poor job if its concentrate feeding after all theyre ruminants they should be outstanding, ashowing off theri abilities to convert forage to meat .
Trying to compete with pigs and poultry or even rabbits ie monogastric in that respect is on a hiding to no where they will always lag in efficient conversion in that way.
Grass or forage (as long as it doesnt harm them in other ways like the cabbage feeding habbit ) coversion to meat is the only long term worthwhile aim for pedigree or any sheep surely.
And you get them home and they lose the weight and end up humpy backed and narrow shouldered. Then they die.Well yes, but if people keep bidding up for the biggest & fattest, they will continue to be produced.