The Sydney Royal Show is gearing up to be an absolute cracker for the Poll Hereford and Hereford breeds, with more than 300 entries set to vie for ribbons in this years feature breed show.
Seventy-three studs from NSW, Oueensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania will show 310 entries off in the show ring.
The last Hereford feature at the show was held in 2004, coinciding with the World Hereford Conference.
Marketing co-ordinator Tim Reid, JTR Cattle Company, Roslyn, said the number of entries for the feature breed show more than doubled the normal number of entries for the show.
Mr Reid said $15,000 in prizemoney as well as products would be up for grabs for the ribbon winners.
The massive Hereford and Poll Hereford line-up will be judged by the expert eye of PJ Budler, from Fort Worth, Texas. Born into the cattle industry, the fifth generation cattle rancher from South Africa moved to Fort Worth where he now operates the Breeder.net series and offers international livestock solutions in several ways.
Mr Budlers judging experience has spanned over 40 breeds of cattle in 21 countries. But the Hereford breed was Mr Budlers first love.
I started my own Hereford Stud, BonHaven Beef Cattle, at the age of 15 and I have since visited every member country of the World Hereford Council and judged Herefords on all six continents, he said.
Mr Budlers previous travels to Australia have been to attend Beef Australia and the 50th anniversary Wodonga Hereford National Show and Sale, both in 2015.
Wodonga National was a highlight for me. Seeing so many breeding age bulls all prepared to that level and possessing that quality, and all being in one place was amazing, he said.
But Sydney has always been the big show I wanted to attend. Being asked to officiate at Sydney is a massive honour.
Mr Budler is grateful to the Sydney Royal Agricultural Show Society and Herefords Australia for the opportunity to officiate the feature show.
I certainly don't take it for granted and I am humbled that I was asked to evaluate this Hereford feature show. I know what it means to the Australian breeders. It means just as much to me.