The battle for Best Boer Goat in Show was more a gentle headbutt as two of Australia’s finest animals went head to head.
The tussle was between Grand Champion Standard Boer Doe and Senior Champion, Mugambi Overline, owned by Paul and Janette Ormsby, Forbes, and Pacifica Shangaan, the Grand Champion Standard Boer Buck and Senior Champion.
This strapping young lad is just under three years old, and is owned by Pacifica’s Tracey Wood and Richard Zidarew, at nearby Eugowra.
They were “excited and exhilarated” when they won Grand Champion, and were overwhelmed when he took out the main title.
Ms Wood said Shangaan’s sire had been Grand Champion Buck in 2014 and his twin sister was Champion Kid in 2015 and Intermediate in 2016.
Kangaan was Supreme exhibit at the NSW 2016 State Show in Queanbeyan.
“He’s a freak of nature; you’d never breed another one,” she said.
“His first kids just hit the round and a few bucks were in the under-12 months class and placed, so he is breeding on with show quality.”
The doe, Overline, is now just over three years old and was Supreme Champion last year at the show so she was favourite but was pipped at the post.
“They were neck and neck for volume, capacity, width, meat quality, type and balance,” said judge Hein Booysen, a Boer goat farmer and judge from South Africa.
“The buck was large and had a better shape than the ewe.
“They are both really good goats.”
After judging Mr Booysen said he was impressed by the show.
“The quality of the animals was very good, especially the animals that won,” he said.
“They could seriously compete in South Africa as well.”
He had been an assistant judge at the NSW State Championships in Queanbeyan in 2013 and had seen most of the older goats.
“Their quality has got better, especially the bucks,” he said.
Best Red Boer Goat ribbon went to Kiabe, a doe 12 months and older, now owned by Darrell Bishop, Osory stud, Mudgee.
“She was bred by a lady, Dr Margaret Giles, who died recently and I brought the doe back to show,” he said.
“She is special.”
