Fake tails and bovine hotels for show stars
They get scrubbed and shampooed, painted and preened, and a person armed with a bucket deals with their bowel movements 24 hours a day.
For the dairy cows being judged at the Canterbury A&P Show next week, life in the showground stalls is a bit like being in a hotel.
Not for the farmers. Fourthgeneration Holstein Friesian breeder Dean Geddes described the lead-up to the show as a hard slog.
A week ago, the Tai Tapu farmer singled out about 20 of his best stock from his herd, weeding them down to a final 14.
Come Sunday, the heifers and milking cows will be taken to the Canterbury Agricultural Park ahead of judging on Wednesday and Thursday.
An estimated 100,000 people are expected through the gates over the three days the show runs, from Wednesday to Friday.
There are about 6500 entries across livestock, equestrian and feature competition categories, with more than 500 trade exhibitors.
Geddes has pedigree at the show. His family has entered dairy cows since 1922. In the past 13 years he has taken out 11 champion awards.
It is all about genetics, presentation
''... the cows are watched 24 hours a day and their poo gets picked up so they don't get dirty."
Jo Geddes
and preparation. Pointing down the paddock, Geddes singles out a white-faced bovine with prestigious heritage.
The animal’s great-great grandmother broke and still held an Australasian milk production record, he said. ‘‘She doesn’t work as hard as her, but some people don’t work as hard as their parents.’’
To make sure the entrants impress the judges with their walk, they were put through their paces behind a horse jogger.
Geddes made notes of milking times. Each quarter of the udder will be milked at a different time, to make sure it as uniform and presentable as possible.
For the Tahora Farm owner, the show is a family affair. Next week, his wife, Jo, will be on night shifts, looking after the cows in their stalls.
His children, Tom, 11, and Sophie, 14, will help lead the cows before the judges and lend a hand with the poo bucket when required.
‘‘From the time they’re brought into the stalls, they’re watched 24 hours a day and their poo gets picked up so they don’t get dirty,’’ Jo Geddes said.
‘‘It’s like like they’re living in a very plush hotel. They get food and water brought to them all day basically.’’
Before they take up residence in the stalls, the cows must be clipped. ‘‘They’ll be totally skint, clean as a whistle,’’ Dean Geddes said.
All except a line of hair left along their spine; hair that gets blow dried and spiked up into a mohawk down their back.
Fake tails occasionally get added, while black paint makes the hooves and any horn stands out.
‘‘It’s a lot of work, but it’s something the family’s done, the grandparents and my parents have been very successful so I’m carrying on the tradition,’’ Dean Geddes said.
Winning champion awards at the show is good for business. The 51-yearold described it as being like a shop window for his stock.
As for the cows, no life of luxury awaits. If any of his current crop are crowned champions, they will go straight back into the herd.
‘‘Then we have a party,’’ Dean Geddes said.
The 115th Canterbury A&P Show is open to the public from Wednesday, November 15, to Friday at the Canterbury Agricultural Park.