Heifer a showstopper
JENNY and Steve McCarthy won a number of ribbons with their jersey cattle at the Toowoomba Show on Friday.
The McCarthys run Ascot Park Jersey Stud in East Greenmount.
“I bought the family dairy farm 30 years ago,” Mr McCarthy said.
“My father started the farm in about 1945.”
Their jersey heifer, Ascot Park Vanahlem Beauty 4, won the 2½ years and under in milk class, won the Supreme Intermediate Champion Heifer, won Supreme Junior Udder and led the Supreme Pen of Three Heifers.
The characteristics the judges were looking for included a good top line, clean flat bone, good feet and legs, udder attachments and width.
Mr McCarthy shared what he enjoyed most about showing cattle.
“Being able to show your cattle off and compete and to keep improving,” he said.
“Competing helps you improve and it’s good advertising. People can see that you have good cows.”
The McCarthys are having an on-property sale at Ascot Park Jersey Stud on April 27. There will be 137 females, seven bulls and four embryo packages available.
“Our last on-farm sale was in 2004,” Mr McCarthy said. “We sold about 40 head. “I’m 66 this year so I want to take a bit easier.
“The cows are in good form at the moment and after a successful Toowoomba we hope the sale goes well.
“We’ll sell off all the younger ones next year, about another 90 head.”