Holsteins and Jerseys share dairy accolades
This year’s Leading Edge Genetics On-Farm Competition saw Holsteins and Jerseys share the accolades.
The competition, now in its seventh year is one of the largest of its kind in Australia. This year 360 head were entered from across 54 different farmers.
Taking out the highest honour of overall champion and winning the 4-year-old and over class was entry 837 sired by Hydaways Goldmine from Evan and Sheriden Williams of Yannathan.
This well balanced angular dairy cow was a standout for judge Brian Carscadden from Ontario, Canada.
Long time supporters of the competition, the Williams’ also received a second in the three-year-old class with 914 (Planet) and fifth with 903 (Lavanguard).
The two-year-old class was this year won by the Jersey entry of Poowong’s Luke and Melanie Wallace with Wallacedale Region Melys sired by Region. “She was the most correct and balanced cow in a very strong class,” Brian said.
The three year old class was won by entry 5022 sired by B Crest Shadow from Bill, Faye, Brett and Jodie Loughridge at Poowong North. “Her dairy frame and outstanding udder made her the obvious cow to lead the class,” he said.
One of the most coveted prizes is the group class (three animals sired by the one sire). This year the winning pen was owned by Luke and Melanie Wallace with daughters of the Tbone son in Almerbond from AltaGenetics.
Other awards presented on the day including the most successful exhibitor to Luke and Melanie Wallace. Highest placed non-registered Holstein was awarded to Peter, Helen and Michael Thomson at Fish Creek.
For the judge it was a very busy three and half days across Gippsland. He visited 54 farms and judged 360 from all breeds.
“It was certainly a competition of great depth. Each farm had animals of tremendous quality. There could only be one winner in each class unfortunately. But for me I was looking for the most correct well balanced cow,” Brian said.
“Each year I marvel at the quality of cows presented in the competition. It truly has become one of the leading on-farm competitions here in Australia. Based on the large attendance today there is no doubting there is great fellowship in our dairy cattle industry but also great pride everyone has in their animals,” Leading Edge Genetics owner/manager Brad Aitken said.
A presentation day was held at the Warragul Country Club which was attended by the judge, 120 interested farmers and 15 agribusiness representatives. Results: 2yo – 86 entries: Winner- Wallacedale Region Melys, Region/Tbone, L and M Wallace, Poowong North. Sired by the Semex sire in Region, Wallacedale Region Melys placed over another entry of the Wallace family in Wallacedale Rich Belle. Placing 3third was a third Jersey in 5139 sired by Tequila and owned by Roger and Helen Perrett from Kongwak. 3yo – 81 entries: Winner - 5022 Shadow/Pennview, W. F. B. and J. Loughridge, Poowong North. In second place was the Planet daughter 914 of Evan and Sheriden Williams of Yannathan. In third place with their Uno daughter 4945 was well known South Gippsland breeders Roger and Helen Perrett. 4yo – 88 entries: Winner - 837 Goldmine/AltaIce, E. and S. Williams, Yannathan. This extremely well balanced and correct animal placed over the super uddered Almerbond daughter in Ranunculus from Luke and Melanie Wallace at Poowong North. In third place was the Farm Dealer daughter 602 of Peter, Helen and Michael Thomson from Fish Creek. Group class – 39 entries: Winner - L. and M. Wallace. Luke and Melanie Wallace won with their group of mature daughters of Almerbond. It was their greater maturity that placed them over the David daughters of Rob and Kerry Anderson, Drouin West. In third place was a group of super dairy cows sired by Farm Dealer and owned by Peter, Helen and Michael Thomson from Fish Creek.
Overall champion – E. and S. Williams, Yannathan, 837 sired by Goldmine/AltaIce
Premier exhibitor – L. and M. Wallace, Poowong North.
Market report for 7th and 8th December Wednesday Fat Sale 628 head. Thursday Cow Sale 44 Bulls, 262 Cows.
An extra 220 vealers this week saw the yarding numbers increase to 628 head for the fat sale. Stronger demand for bullocks resulted in a jump in the average for this category. Less heifers sold to mixed demand with a slip in the secondary section. Steer numbers were up as were the average weights which cut out most of the restockers. The extra vealer numbers gave buyers a large range to pick from and with stock on hand, competition was easier, pulling prices back. Some store pens were busy with restockers pushing prices to 419.6 cents, with processor veal topping out at 377.6. This week the yard average slipped 5 cents to 313.7.
24 bullocks topped at 294.6, back 12 and averaged 275.2, up 45.
32 heifers topped at 319.6, back 36 and averaged 286.1, back 7.
45 steers topped at 331.2, up 7 and averaged 288.9, back 15.
525 veal topped at 377.6, back 23 and averaged 324.1, back 21.
A larger number of bulls on Thursday sold to stronger demand making to 300.6 cents. This was up 35 on last week and the average of 260.5 was 18 cents better. 262 cows also sold well, making to 270.6, and although this was back 15 on last sale the average improved 3 cents to 218.7 with a more consistent price range over the pens. The yard average for Thursday was 7 cents up at 228.2.
4 Ang 1 Bld 2 LimX 5 Sim 2 LimX 2 LimX
3 Hfd 8 Ang
1 M/G 3 Ang
13 Ang 1 Pinz
1 Ang 1 Hfd 1 Ang 1 Ang 1 Ang 1 AngX
1 Frn 1 Frn 1 Frn 1 Frn 7 Frn 1 Frn
1 Lim 1 Lim 1 Ang 1 Ang 1 R/A 1 Frn
F Scalia, Moondara J Lovison, Newbrough Koyuga Downs, W/Grove Able Agri, Shady Creek J Vicary, Drouin I&M Hill, Buln East
High Chaparral, Shady Ck E&Y Moscato, Trafalgar
H Aldred, Neerim Jnct High Chaparral, Shady Ck
Benvale Beef, Neerim Jnct 420 319.6 D&L Wells, Neerim Sth 415 260.0
G&E Reid, Longwarry 525 270.6 1418 I Manson, Newry 600 265.2 1591 Blyth Bros, Ellinbank 585 265.0 1550 J Cochrane, Nar Nar Goon 490 262.6 1286 S Clunning, Westbury 650 254.6 1654 B&C Hall, Shady Creek 440 250.0 1100
K&L Webb, Gainsborough P&D Custance G&T Gardiner, Catani T Hasthorpe, Tanjil Sth K&J Rhind, Neerim East V&D Guastella, Hallora
N Jennings & Son, T/dale T Hasthorpe, Tanjil Sth Latrobe Park Angus, M/W B&L Heywood, Yarragon M&F Charles G&B Geary, L/warry Nth
235 419.6 250 380.0 380 377.6 304 375.6 375 375.0 415 368.6
565 294.6 681 277.6
525 310.0 545 287.6
670 240.6 1612 485 234.2 1135 805 234.6 1888 745 233.6 1740 676 232.6 1573 700 232.2 1625
985 300.6 2960 720 285.6 2056 960 283.6 2722 965 281.2 2713 800 276.2 2209 1110 264.6 2937 1. SEJ, 2.
Gibbon, 3. Elders, 4. Scotts, 5. Landmark.
986 950 1434 1141 1406 1529
1664 1891
1627 1567
1342 1079