International Dairy Week exhibitors were fighting the heat yesterday as they prepared their cows for competition.
Temperatures at Tatura Park reached 41°C as cows were washed and groomed in preparation for a hectic five days of competition.
The opening day of the event was all about the children, with the Holstein Australia Victoria Youth Challenge Trials and the VASA State Junior Judging Final the two main events on the day.
While there are plenty of fresh faces in the Dairy Week stalls this year, a number of exhibitors are returning for another year of competition.
Tallygaroopna couple Brad and Jessica Gavenlock from Cherrylock Cattle Co have been coming to International Dairy Week together for seven years and were looking forward to another year at the show.
With a number of past Supreme Champions from other events across the country among the 26 cows they have entered, they were hopeful of a good result.
‘‘We’ve got a number of animals that have competed well in the past… you never know though,’’ Mrs Gavenlock said.
‘‘International Dairy Week is the best of the best.’’
International Dairy Week will have more than 1100 entrants and 196 exhibitors come from across the country to compete across seven shows, as Ayrshire, Illawarra, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Holstein cows battle it out to be named International Dairy Week Grand Champion at 4.30pm on Thursday.
International Dairy Week runs until Thursday.
For more information, visit International Dairy Week.
Source: Country News