Mini Horses
Herd Master
Looks like a nice class!
Show Sheep Beginnings
- Thread starter Margali
- Start date
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Dorpers are shown shorn. Katahdins are just shown in their hair without shearing. If you wish you might be able to tidy up the hair coat although I would look up the show standard before doing any shaving.
Many Dorpers will shed clean, but it is not a requirement for the breed like it is for Katahdins before registration. Dorpers do not have to be inspected before registration. Most registered Dorpers will retain a "mohawk" strip of wool down their spine. This protects them from sunburn. The wool pattern in Dorpers cannot extend below the lower flank. The lower belly, must be clean in a straight line from elbow to stifle. Head, face, and under areas must be clean of wool. However the Dorper cannot be a complete hair sheep either. There must be evidence of wool in the specified areas. The Dorper standard is more about meat than shedding.
row of photos are:
Left - Yearling ewe shorn for show. This is a Grade 5 ewe (top quality) also the ewe I lost this summer because she had a twisted lamb that I could not pull. Right - Yearling ram shorn for show (this is the type pf meaty butt I try to get on all my lambs)
Midde row of pix: Left - Group of ewes showing various degrees of shed. All these shedding patterns are acceptable in registered Dorper breeding animals. Right - unshorn ram with acceptable shedding pattern wearing tupping harness.
Bottom row: Left - 2 year old ewe showing good shedding pattern. Right - Group of 2, 3, and 4 year old ewes showing various degrees of shed.
1/3 of our flock sheds completely clean, while the other 2/3 of the flock carries wool in varying degrees like pix above. Only 2 out of the 40 have limited shedding and their wool pattern is acceptable. I have been breeding for a complete shed, but was told last summer by the South African judge/inspector that some wool on top of the body is desired in South Africa because of sunburn. She also said that due to the type of rough and thorny country the sheep have to travel in to graze that they prefer some wool covering to protect the skin from thorns. Since the South African and Australian commercial Dorper breeders have a good market for the sheepskins, naturally they want to protect the hides. When having your flock evaluated and inspected by the licensed inspector you cannot shear in any way. The inspectors need to see the sheep in their "natural" state.
Many Dorpers will shed clean, but it is not a requirement for the breed like it is for Katahdins before registration. Dorpers do not have to be inspected before registration. Most registered Dorpers will retain a "mohawk" strip of wool down their spine. This protects them from sunburn. The wool pattern in Dorpers cannot extend below the lower flank. The lower belly, must be clean in a straight line from elbow to stifle. Head, face, and under areas must be clean of wool. However the Dorper cannot be a complete hair sheep either. There must be evidence of wool in the specified areas. The Dorper standard is more about meat than shedding.
row of photos are:
Left - Yearling ewe shorn for show. This is a Grade 5 ewe (top quality) also the ewe I lost this summer because she had a twisted lamb that I could not pull. Right - Yearling ram shorn for show (this is the type pf meaty butt I try to get on all my lambs)
Midde row of pix: Left - Group of ewes showing various degrees of shed. All these shedding patterns are acceptable in registered Dorper breeding animals. Right - unshorn ram with acceptable shedding pattern wearing tupping harness.
Bottom row: Left - 2 year old ewe showing good shedding pattern. Right - Group of 2, 3, and 4 year old ewes showing various degrees of shed.
1/3 of our flock sheds completely clean, while the other 2/3 of the flock carries wool in varying degrees like pix above. Only 2 out of the 40 have limited shedding and their wool pattern is acceptable. I have been breeding for a complete shed, but was told last summer by the South African judge/inspector that some wool on top of the body is desired in South Africa because of sunburn. She also said that due to the type of rough and thorny country the sheep have to travel in to graze that they prefer some wool covering to protect the skin from thorns. Since the South African and Australian commercial Dorper breeders have a good market for the sheepskins, naturally they want to protect the hides. When having your flock evaluated and inspected by the licensed inspector you cannot shear in any way. The inspectors need to see the sheep in their "natural" state.
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Ridgetop
Herd Master
BTW, show sheep come into a show slightly overweight. They are grained or given supplements to increase their condition and appearance for the show ring. If you buy a sheep at a show auction, expect your new purchase to shed a few lbs. As long as they keep a condition score of 3 for breeding, they are healthy.
Most Katahdins I have seen are not as heavy appearing as that NAILE class. Heavy is good for the show ring, but not as good in the breeding pen. The magic score is 3 for breeding. Overly heavy ewes and rams don't breed as well. Overly fat rams can't get up the effort. Overly fat ewes store fat in deposits in their interior organs which can lessen their eggs during ovulation. Too thin bad. Too fat bad.
Most Katahdins I have seen are not as heavy appearing as that NAILE class. Heavy is good for the show ring, but not as good in the breeding pen. The magic score is 3 for breeding. Overly heavy ewes and rams don't breed as well. Overly fat rams can't get up the effort. Overly fat ewes store fat in deposits in their interior organs which can lessen their eggs during ovulation. Too thin bad. Too fat bad.
purplequeenvt
Herd Master
Apparently I can pick a winner. I picked out one of the ewes from one of the Katahdin classes. She ended up winning her class, she was picked as senior champion ewe (picked between yearling ewes and fall ewe lambs), and champion ewe (picked between the senior champion and junior champion). On the last day of the show, they did the Supreme drives (all the champions of each breed are judged against each other) and she was chosen as the Supreme Champion ewe.
BrahmerQueen
Loving the herd life
Wow they picked a katahdin as the supreme ewe?! Definitely something you don't see every day
Baymule
Herd Master
Yup, you know your sheep! I bet she was beautiful!
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Congratulations!
You can learn so much from livestock shows. By watching the shows and trying to place the class in winning order, listening as the judge tells everyone what they need to be looking for, and seeing how you placed the animals correctly or otherwise is a lot of fun. Several years of attending shows, seminars, etc. teaches you a surprising amount about structure and condition. One reason why I love livestock shows!
You can learn so much from livestock shows. By watching the shows and trying to place the class in winning order, listening as the judge tells everyone what they need to be looking for, and seeing how you placed the animals correctly or otherwise is a lot of fun. Several years of attending shows, seminars, etc. teaches you a surprising amount about structure and condition. One reason why I love livestock shows!
- Thread starter
- #88
Margali
Herd Master
I forgot to update this thread with Cassandra's second show! She had fun and did great on keeping track of where judge was. Mocha did get loose momentarily while little brother was yelling excitedly.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #89
Margali
Herd Master
The next shows we are considering are in May and June. I'm also planning for the December and January Dorper organization shows.
- Thread starter
- #90
Margali
Herd Master
There is a show on April 23rd which is only an hour away! Mocha has a date with the slicker brush. I might figure out how to give her a bath too.
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