We had a very interesting time at Bendigo, got to meet heaps of new Dorper people, had a steep learning curve about fitting sheep for show and won a couple of ribbons.
Martin and Eileen keen to have a go.
There were lots of beautifully prepared sheep at the show and the Dorper entries,(the feature breed) made an impressive display. The quality of the sheep and their presentation has improved enormously since the early years when we purchased our first ewes. It is a credit to the enthusiasm and dedication of the breeders.
We learnt a lot about show preparation and its challenges. Getting the feeding right being one of the biggest, and needs to be started almost three months before showing, the animal needs to carry more fat than normal paddock condition and then be maintained there. In the cold I think our sheep will also need to be rugged to get the maximun benefit from feeding, too much being lost keeping warm. Feeding for show also has a negative effect on the animals fertility, so we need to consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
Grooming is also an art form, taking a lot of time and patience, (Eileen has little of the first and Martin none of the latter).
We learnt a lot about show preparation and its challenges. Getting the feeding right being one of the biggest, and needs to be started almost three months before showing, the animal needs to carry more fat than normal paddock condition and then be maintained there. In the cold I think our sheep will also need to be rugged to get the maximun benefit from feeding, too much being lost keeping warm. Feeding for show also has a negative effect on the animals fertility, so we need to consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
Grooming is also an art form, taking a lot of time and patience, (Eileen has little of the first and Martin none of the latter).
Rodney Rayner Judging the older rams
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