poll dorset sheep in australia - Australian Poll Dorset Association Inc

Guidance to Breeders and Inspectors
importance. On the contrary, all people concerned with the Breed are aware that
the maintenance of carcase conformation, fleshing ability and early maturity are
of prime importance to the continued success of the Poll Dorset.
Therefore, it is important that the Inspector, the Breeder and the Judge should
guard against allowing himself to become a’faddist” on any particular defect. All
defects are relative in themselves.
For instance a foot could be so slightly turned that the defect is insignificant. Or
it could be so badly deformed that the animal must be culled regardless of other
qualities.
Defects are also of relative importance one to another. For instance, a sheep of
weak conformation and relatively sound in all other aspects is much more serious
than a sheep with good conformation with pigmentation on several parts of its
body.
The Inspector should, therefore, have some idea, not only of the relative
importance of defects, the aggregate importance of minor defects, but also when
the extent of one particular defect reaches culling point.
B-THE FLOCK RAM SALE INSPECTOR
1 . Main Principle
The main principle underlying Flock Ram Sale inspections is to ensure that only
healthy, physically sound, fertile rams of good carcase conformation are put
before the ram buyer.
The object is to instill into lamb producers a complete and abiding confidence in
the rams they purchase at REGISTERED Sales. Inspectors at these sales who
worry about pigmentation, inferior heads or indifferent wool quality are not being
realistic. Of course, rams that are so “off-type” that their purity is suspect should
be cullmarked and a recommendation forwarded to the appropriate Regional
Committee that the Owner’s flock and breeding methods be investigated.
It should be noted that Regulations 21 (a) and 22 are designed, as stated therein,
to cover the sale of STUD rams and ewes, not flock rams.
2. Fly Struck Rams, Foot Abscess and Lameness
Rams submitted to a flock ram sale with any of these conditions should be
rejected by the Inspectors. Such a ram should be regarded as a sick ram. His
fertility is probably affected and he should not be offered in this condition. This
type of rejection increases buyer confidence in inspected sales.
3. Mouths, Feet, Testes
In emphasising the importance of physical soundness of flock rams, Inspectors
and Breeders are urged to read carefully the paragraphs on mouths, feet and
testes.
4. Summary
Inspectors at a flock ram sale should make it as easy as possible for Breeders
to sell vigorous, physically sound rams, and as difficult as possible for Breeders
to sell anything physically unsafe, no matter how beautiful his head nor how white
his feet.
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