Perth Royal Show: Alcostro’s Ile de France ewe scoops Supreme Champion in ASSBA Interbreed Competition

It was the Ile de France breed’s time to shine in the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association Interbreed Competition at this year’s Perth Royal Show, with an ewe from Alcostro stud in Wagin named the best meat or heritage sheep in the Jim Horwood Pavilion. It came down to Alcostro stud principal’s Colin Batt’s Ile de France ewe and Goldenover stud principal Ray Batt’s Ile de France ram for the top title, in a tight contest many believed showed just how good the breed — native to a French region near Paris — could be. Only breeds registered as members of ASSBA were able to compete in the Interbreed Competition, meaning a total five of the nine meat and heritage breeds displayed on September 27 and 28 went head-to-head for the prestigious supreme champion title. It was fitting timing for the Ile de France breed to win top spot, after the breed’s representatives only joined ASSBA in April this year. The award-winning ewe started its journey to success in the under-1.5 years class of the Ile de France competition on September 27, where it battled it out against two other entries — another from Alcostro and one from Monteray — to win the class. It then went head-to-head against a ram from Goldenover Ile de France stud, in Narrogin, for the grand champion title. It was that same ram the ewe faced off against in the ASSBA Interbreed Competition, with Ray Batt’s ram ending up with the reserve supreme champion title after plenty of deliberation from the judges. Alcostro stud owner Colin Batt said the ewe, presented by handler Stacey Evans, was from a home bred sire and had stood out. There was some friendly sibling rivalry throughout the Ile de France competition, with brothers Ray and Colin going head-to-head after scooping last year’s Ile de France competition with a long-bodied ram. A trio of judges considered the grand champion rams and ewes put forward from different breeds entered in the ASSBA Interbreed Competition, which this year included Wiltipoll, Shropshire, Lincoln, South Suffolk and Ile de France. Judging the contest were Anna Darke, of Boyup Brook-based Lincoln Downs Suffolk Stud, Jason O’Loghlin of Loghlin Wiltshire Horns in Deniliquin, and Guy Treweek, of Induro White Suffolk and Ultra White Stud in Wakool, New South Wales. Ms Darke noted each of the animals displayed was a “good and true” representation of their respective breed, while Mr Treweek said the ewe’s structure and form had made her an attractive winner. Mr O’Loghlin said the ewe was a classic example of the way producers should “build their house” first — meaning they should focus on structure rather than the size of their animals. “The ewe is incredibly dense, with a heap of muscle through the carcass,” he said. “When she stands, she is very correct with muscle through the loin and hindquarters while still being feminine.” RASWA honorary councillor and ASSBA WA patron Malcolm Seymour OAM, now retired after more than 60 years of farming sheep, sashed the winners while congratulating all exhibitors. “It is good to see a lot of sheep on display,” he said. “The Perth Royal Show is a great opportunity to show the general public the care and consideration taken when handling sheep.” ASSBA WA nominee Donald Cochrane said it was a good showing in the competition, with entries up on prior years. He congratulated the Alcostro on the win and said it was “fantastic” the Ile de France breed had won the contest. There were three studs displaying their sheep in the Ile de France competition at this year’s Perth Royal Show — Goldenover of Narrogin, Monteray of Tambellup and Alcostro of Wagin. Together they form three of five Ile de France studs in Australia. ASSBA INTERBREED COMPETITION Supreme Champion: Alcostro Ile de France stud ewe 134 Reserve Supreme Champion: Goldeover Ile de France ram 119 Supreme Champion Ram: Goldenover Ile de France ewe 119 Reserve Supreme Champion Ram: Iveston South Suffolk ram 357 Supreme Champion Ewe: Alcostro Ile de France ewe 134 Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe: Iveston South Suffolk ewe 31 Supreme Champion Breeders Group: Hazelean Ferguson