Hi AllyB
Have to say I think you are probably right about the underlying reasons for the change in lambing date, and it will then only lead to the same few bringing their lambing date even further forward. One argument is that the 1st January can't be 'policed', but actually it is probably only a few flocks involved and easier enough to spot the likely ones at the shows and carry out checks in following years.
The breed are a large and early maturing breed, February and March rams being more than capable of working in their lamb year, so their should not really be a need to bring forward the date further.
I would like to think that a judge could make a decision on a lambs differing in age by a few months but it is not what happens, there may be an odd exception, and then there will be complaints. One top show breeder told me a younger lamb has to be judged more on its potential compared to an older lamb and judging is not about potential but what you see on the day, I think it would have to be a brave judge to place a significantly younger lamb above older lambs in a class, unless the standard of older lambs was exceptionally low.
I think this move forces you decide whether you are primarily breeding for showing, and if so the need to significantly alter your management as well as increase costs, and potentially affect the welfare of the animals, rather than being able to to enjoy producing sheep within their natural breeding cycle and enjoy showing some of the lambs too as well as selling some of the better ones reasonably well at pedigree sales. Of course I realise that I will still be able to show at some of the very local shows in mixed breed classes, but not the Zwartbles classes, of which we are fortunate to have quite a few of at shows in my area, if I want my animals to have a decent chance.
Lol zwartbles I hope Titus is successful in winning you a championship in the 'Any old ram you have got' class!! I think you mentioned that there were other Zwartbles in your class when you showed previously so a few more and you may be able to persuade some show organisers to have Zwartbles classes.