Australian Sheep and Wool Show: Hillcroft Farms UltraWhites find success in the national show ring

WA-bred UltraWhites displayed by the Bradford family of Hillcroft Farms in Popanyinning were judged brilliantly at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo taking out the reserve champion award for the Australian cleanskin breeders group competition. The UltraWhite breed scooped the clean skin interbreed competition on July 15 when the three judges awarded first time UltraWhite exhibiter Guy Treweek, of Induro stud in Wakool, NSW, with the supreme Australian cleanskin exhibit sash for his ewe. Last year, when the UltaWhite breed was first introduced to the Bendigo show ring, a Hillcroft Farms UltraWhite ram took the top supreme honours, but with the strong growth of the breed bringing six studs to this year’s contest, it was certainly more open to interpretation. Hillcroft Farms stud co-principal Dawson Bradford, who was the UltraWhite breed founder, said he welcomed the competition and was quite pleased to see the growth of the breed throughout the country. Mr Bradford said he congratulated Mr Treweek, who had only began breeding UltraWhites 18 months ago after his purchase of some Hillcroft Farms rams and ewes. “Guy’s supreme win was a wonderful example how stable the UltraWhite breed is and that there is an opportunity for a quick start-up in breeding success,” Mr Bradford said. Judge Craig Mitchell said the Induro ewe was very correct and feminine while having carcase and length. The Bradford family’s young ram was judged reserve to the Induro ewe at Bendigo, with Mr Mitchell commenting on the ram’s brilliant length and strength of barrel. In the earlier UltraWhite breed judging, the 1.5 year-old Induro ewe was judged champion ewe and the Hillcroft Farms 1.5 year-old ram was sashed champion ram with both receiving supreme titles in the later interbreed competition against other cleanskin breeds including Australian Whites, Dorper, White Dorper, Wiltshire Horn and Wiltipoll. When the Hillcroft champion ram was matched up with the stud’s reserve champion ewe, the pair claimed the reserve breeders group interbreed title and another very successful show for the Bradford family. The breeders group interbreed competition had all six cleanskin breeds represented and was won by Dell African Dumisa White Dorper stud in Thyra, NSW. Mr Bradford said the UltraWhite judging brought a packed gallery of spectators, many who were interested in how they could convert their wool sheep to a cleanskin and how Hillcroft was achieving high fertility with genetics.