Local breeders dominate
Local beef and dairy breeders are expected to dominate in cattle rings at Saturday’s show.
Judging of senior beef classes will be underway from 1pm at the conclusion of the junior classic. Dairy cattle classes will be judged from 8.30am.
Traditionally the cattle rings are a great display of West Gippsland’s strength in dairy and beef cattle industries.
While numbers have dropped in the dairy rings in recent years, organisers are hopeful that local Holstein and Jersey breeders will be out in force.
Judges in past years have praised the quality of cattle on show at Warragul. Although sometimes low in numbers, judges praise the quality and commitment of local breeders in putting their best in the cattle rings for show day.
The cattle rings at this year’s show will follow on from the success of new arrangements put in place in recent years when beef classes were divided into sections for British breeds and European breeds..
Dairy classes include both Holsteins and Jerseys. Major awards in the dairy rings will be for champion dairy heifer and champion dairy cow and there also will be strong competition for the most successful Holstein exhibitors.
The classes also will see championship sashes awarded for both Holstein and Jersey breeds in junior, intermediate and senior sections, as well as a champion dairy cow of the show.
With numbers in some breeds dropping in past years, the committee decided to restructure the beef program with the aim of making the classes more interesting for both judges and exhibitors alike.
Beef cattle entered in the three categories will still go through the rings for bull and heifer classes and also be judged for junior and senior champion and reserve champion titles. and Jersey
Beef entries from a variety of breeds will include Simmental, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Pinzgauer, Belgian Blue, Angus, Red Poll, Lowline, Hereford, Poll Hereford, Murray Grey and South Devon.
The beef rings are usually dominated by local breeders who often scoop the pool and take home major ribbons with the interbreed section always a major feature of judging on Saturday.
A supreme champion beef animal also will be named.
There also will be three classes for junior leaders, catering for competitors aged from under 12 years to 15 years and under 25 years.