An overriding factor came charging to the top on the first day of the breed shows at International Dairy Week (IDW) in Australia.
The toll tough milk prices and high water costs had taken on many was evident in the strain across the faces of competitors no matter the breed or the colour of the ribbons they won.
Once again, Australia’s biggest dairy show was a bright light on many registered breeders’ calendars. And the big guns came out when the results started to unfold in the Illawarra and Ayrshire breeds first up.
Llandovery Ja-Bob Stella, won the aged cow class, Best Udder, Senior and Grand Champion.
The Illawarra show had one subject line – Llandovery Illawarras. Owned by Tony and Elle Hayes, the family effort is put together by sisters Zoe and Taya Hayes. Today they won Junior Champion, Intermediate Champion, Grand Champion, Best Udder, Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor and they bred the Premier Sire, Llandovery Jinnys Empire.
The Champion contenders (l-r) were 1st four-year-old Llandovery JR Joan 982 (C Rapley and RK and JR Gordon), 2nd four-year-old Riversleigh Scarlet Dorris 2 (Tuhan family trust), 1st five-year-old Braelee BP Dairymaid 2-Twin (Glenbrook Illawarras) and 1st aged cow Llandovery Ja-Bob Stella.
“We didn’t expect to get all three Champions. We’re just overwhelmed,” Tony said. “It’s fantastic. I hought we had a good chance for Champion, but to win all three is a first for the breed, so pretty special, I guess.”
Intermediate Illawarra (right) was Llandovery Blushes Queenette (owned by the Hayes family) and Reserve was Riversleigh Zeus Stella 20 (owned by the Tuhan family).
The family is milking 530 cows on 800 acres three times a day. Tony confirmed the pressure of recent expansions and the challenging milk and water prices had contributed to a forgettable season.
Llandovery LB Betty (right) started the day off for the Hayes family when she won Junior Champion. Reserve was Glenbrook Poppy 6 (Glenbrook Illawarras).
The show was competitive throughout and from the four-year-old, judge Ryan Weigel, from the United States, had plenty of worthy options.
For me the dark red cow. I just love her from head to toe. She spells milk. I just love her Love the mammary system. The Reserve Champion is just a little bit different kind of cow. She’s maybe not as big as the other cows, but they don’t have to be big, they have to be good. And in my opinion…she’s pretty darn good.
The Hayes family left no stone unturned creating breed history when they won Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Grand Champion, Premier Sire and Premier Breeder and Exhibitor.
There’s a lot of things to love about her – her uphill run, her style and balance and there is just a little more quality in her mammary over our Honourable Mention. Not taking anything away from this Honourable Mention cow – she’s quite the cow in her own right.”
The Ayrshire show was all about Cheryl Liebich (Cher-Bar) and Boldview Ayrshires, who are run at the same farm by a family effort that travelled eight hours from Jervois in South Australia to compete. With a tough season and some personal challenges within the family, deciding to come was in the air until the last minute. But when they decide to do something, there is no going back.
Cher-Bar Rippa Lasselle on the way to the Champion she owned today. She is owned by Cheryl Liebich, Jervois in South Australia.
Their lead exhibit was Adelaide’s multiple and reigning Grand Champion for her breed, Cher-Bar Rippa Lasselle. Boldview and Cher-Bar have won Grand Champion Ayrshire at Adelaide for eight successive years with just two cows – Lasselle (2012-2015) and Cher-Bar MP Incarnate (2008-2011).
And now, their six-year-old EX92 entry, Lasselle, is the IDW Grand Champion after calving in June.
The aged cow class of Ayrshires made an impressive display
“We didn’t know if we were asking too much of her,” Cheryl said. “But she pulled it out in the end and it was just a huge relief and a much needed boost for us all.”
The aged cow class had the attention of the audience.
Boldview Ayrshires picked up Premier Breeder and Exhibitor. Hayley Braendler picked up the award.
Junior Champion (right) Regal Park Reality Solax (owned by Stew and Beck Cole of Wagga, NSW), centre is the Reserve Junior, Boldview Dream-A-Rilla (owned by Boldview Farms of Jervois, SA) and Honourable Mention (left) is Paschendaele Vicki Titan (owned by the Eagles Partnership of Gooloogong, NSW).
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