BRING on the competition from other terminal sires.
That's the message from Poll Dorset Association president and South Australian breeder Bill Close.
"Competition is great, it improves and drives a breed," Mr Close said.
This year, traditional terminal sires such as Poll Dorset and White Suffolk have lost ground in the show ring to non-traditional breeds such as Dorpers.
Dorper numbers almost doubled at this year's Australian Sheep and Wool Show, held in Bendigo recently, compared to last year. There were 232 entries across all Dorper classes - 100 more than last year.
But Mr Close believes the consistent genetic history will continue to serve the Poll Dorset breed well.
"As a breed we have superior breeding values across growth, fat and muscle," he said.
Poll Dorset entry numbers were down on last year, when it was the feature breed, but there were still more than 230 entries from 33 exhibitors, compared to 30 last year.
"I believe breeding values are very important in terms of breeding, but I also believe in the show ring and the stud managers' role in selecting the right sheep through traditional methods," Mr Close said.
Martin Gilmore, whose young Tattykeel ram was sashed supreme Australian prime lamb breed exhibit, is a firm follower of traditional selection methods.
"Showing is very important to us as breeders, but using figures and estimated values are not for us," Mr Gilmore said. "You can't take stud breeding out of stud breeding."
Kevin Moore from Campania in Tasmania awarded champion ewe to the Armstrong family's Armdale stud at Marrar in NSW.
But it seemed Mr Gilmore was doing something right. Tattykeel also won supreme exhibit and the most-successful exhibitor.
"This ram's father was senior champion here last year and his brother was junior champion at the Cowra show last week," Mr Gilmore said.
