Mr Armstrong died in October last year and his son Gary was more than a little proud to see his father’s name on the sash draped across the enormous ram.

“He is the biggest ram we have ever bred - 180 kilograms at two and a half years of age, just huge,” Gary said.

While both Armdale and Armdale Park still exist in name, Mr Armstrong said the same genetics ran across the two studs.

This ram was sired by one of Gary’s top sires - Armdale Park 96.

The ram will be heading to the Royal Melbourne this week and will then head back to the stud to be further used through the breeding program.

He already has lambs on the ground and his progeny look promising.

Some straws from him have already been sold and more sales are expected.

New Zealand judge Selwyn Boon said the ram was just enormous and given Australia was breeding heavyweight lambs, he was the ideal animal to serve the industry.

“He’s a ram you could put over any sized ewe and get a decent sized lamb and he has the growth rate as well.”

Mr Boon said the standard of genetics at the show was the best he had seen in Australia and probably better than what is currently available in New Zealand.

The judge made no excuses for taking the entire day to judge the rams.

“People have travelled a long way to come here and show their sheep so I made sure I took my time on each one and passed my hand across every animal.”

Mr Boon chose a ram from the Rene stud, Culcairn, NSW as the junior champion ram.

The Tattykeel stud, Oberon, NSW, won the reserve ribbon for both the junior and senior rams.