Quality family lines were on display at the Toowoomba Royal Show dairy judging today (March 20, 2015).The Illawarra breed had the largest number of entries, making it a tough decision making process for international judge Wendy Harker, Te Awamutu, Waikato, New Zealand.
Ms Harker awarded the supreme Illawarra exhibit to Allen Vale Blossom 16, owned by Allen and Denise Whatman, Allen Vale, Oakey, Qld.
Mr Whatman said Allen Vale Blossom 16 had taken out titles previously at the Brisbane Royal Show.
“This cow’s mother has been ET [embryo transferred] on two occasions and we have 13 sisters,” he said.
“We’ve had some wonderful success with the line.”
The champion Holstein Friesian cow was awarded to Leader Fever Superb-ET owned by Travis and Melissa Deans, Leader Holsteins, Oakey.
Mr Deans said Leader Fever Superb-ET was on her second calf and had been milking nicely.
“She’s from our main cow family on the farm,” he said.
“They’ve been a very successful family for us at Toowoomba Royal over the years – right from when the original cow won in 1997 – they’ve continually won championships.
“She has a beautiful udder and long dairy frame and I think that really suits the modern cow we are looking for in the breed today.”
In the Jersey ring it was Ascot Park Elton Wanda that took home the top title, owned by Steve and Jenny McCarthy, Ascot Park, East Greenmount, Qld.
“The first show she went to she ended up champion intermediate in milk in Brisbane and last year she was reserve champion cow,” Mr McCarthy said.
“She’s nearly ready to dry off and she will calve at the end of May/early June ready for Brisbane again this year.”
The Toowoomba Royal Show supreme interbreed dairy competition will be judged at 8.30am on Saturday.
By Melody Labinsky
Source: The Australian Dairyfarmer