Royal Hobart Show: cattle champs compete in the city

CATTLE judging at the Royal Hobart Show last week showcased a range of quality dairy and beef cattle on Friday despite the unpredictable weather that featured rain, hail and shine. 

First up for judging were dairy cattle, with the Geard family from Broadmarsh bringing home numerous awards. 

Handler and breeder Isobel Geard presented her cow, Green Glory Sidekick Josie, who was crowned supreme champion dairy female as well winning senior heifer and best udder. 

Dairy section judge Peter Dickson complimented Sidekick Josie for her impressive balance, long body, and high-quality udder. 

Ms Geard’s other standout, Jersey cow named Jordan Valley Choc Chip Muffin, won the title of junior champion dairy heifer and went on to be sashed grand champion dairy female. Mr Dickson remarked that Choc Chip Muffin was “exceptional” and “hard to fault.” 

The Geard family also took home the senior champion dairy cow title with Quamby Brook Verbatum Cluster, who also won best udder in the section.

In the beef cattle category, Kanangra Cattle Co’s U Got to Be Dreaming was named supreme champion beef exhibit after taking home the grand champion interbreed female and junior heifer titles. 

Thomas Febey of Kanangra Cattle Co said U Got to be Dreaming weighed around 450kg and was bred using artificial insemination. 

At just 12 months of age, she impressed judges with her depth of body. Kanangra Cattle Co is a stud with 30 cows located in Nook in Sheffield. 

Mr Febey was recently a judge at the Burnie Show and he will soon exhibit steers at the upcoming Sheffield Show. 

The junior champion and grand champion interbreed bull sash went to Uppa Big Puppa, also from Kanangra Cattle Co. 

Meanwhile, the senior interbreed female title went to Three Mile Spring Topaz from Three Mile Spring Angus, a 25-cattle stud run by Kylie Rattray. 

This 24-month-old female weighing 550kg, bred by an Ayrvale Bull, will be showcased at the Scottsdale Show next. 

The cattle that Ms Rattray exhibited at the Royal Hobart Show were all handled by students from Scottsdale High School. She said she often supplied her cattle to keen student handlers from the school. 

The senior interbreed bull crown went to Tolivar Undercover U16, a 20-month-old bull handled by Hayden Harper of Tolivar Angus.

Tolivar Undercover U16 weighed in at 740kg and was bred through artificial insemination.

Mr Harper also took home a title, being named champion herdsman at the show. 

Tolivar Angus is a stud running 160 females as well as a commercial herd in the state’s North. 

Judges for the interbreed beef cattle section included Peter Collins from Merridale Angus in Victoria, Gary Clarke from Shangri-La Hereford in Ridgeley, and Cade Ebdon from AWN Livestock and Property. 

The judges recognised the overall high quality of the cattle presented at the show.

Overall, the day was positive and left both stud owners and cattle handlers looking forward to an exciting season of show action in the months ahead.