It was a family affair in the Australian Lowline judging ring at the Canberra show with a leading Victorian breeder and her nephew going head to head for the supreme award.
In the end Vicki Gilbert, Cann River, won the day when her 552 kilogram bull, Rotherwood Masterpiece, got the nod over her nephew, Matt Cooney’s grand champion female, Cann Valley Lunar Eclipse.
The pair share a house and a passion for Lowline cattle.
Masterpiece is a 23-month-old son of Yarra Ranges Jackaroo from Monie Allegro Celeste.
Matt Cooney’s grand champion female, who had won the over 30 months class on her way to the senior female broad ribbon, was by Rotherwood Boxer from Wanamara Royal Opal.
The judge, Stuart Glover, Moss Vale, and his associate, Cooper Carter, Cooper’s Shorthorns, Tumut, were delighted with the quality of both champions and the overall standard of the Lowline line-up at Canberra.
Mr Carter said he and Mr Glover couldn’t fault the top female from Mr Cooney’s Cann Valley stud.
Mr Glover, who teaches at Sydney’s University’s veterinary campus at Camden, described Masterpiece as a “fantastic” representative of the breed.
Ms Gilbert’s Rotherwood stud took home a swag of ribbons including junior champion bull with Rotherwood Master Malestrom, reserve senior champion with the red Platinum Park the Red Baron, the pair of Lowline bulls, the pair of Lowline heifers and the breeders group.
She runs a herd of about 45 Lowlines and is planning to step back from the show circuit to concentrate on selling her animals.
Jacquelynn Feagan, Tarrawarra Lowline stud, Yarra Valley, Vic, won champion junior female with Tarrawarra Fantasia.
The Lorains family, Zeerust, Vic, picked up the reserve champion senior female ribbon with Whitby Farm Lovely.
Vernon Graham
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
