IN what has been described as the best showing of Angus cattle in Australia, and possibly the world, one female defied the odds and took a place in the top line of cows despite being close to 17 years of age.
Making her show debut this year at age 16 was Bulliac Wilcoola X9, an Angus cow travelled 11 hours from Queensland to the Sydney Royal Show to take part in the Angus feature show.
A special moment for exhibitors the Hill family from Bulliac Angus of Wandaloo, Miles, Qld, this was the first time their female had been shown since she was selected for entry and broken in from December last year.
Ben Hill of Bulliac Angus said they thought highly of the female and how productive and sound she was at her age, so they had to bring her along.
Wilcoola X9 was by Bon View Spectrum 1176 from Bulliac Wilcoola V8 and showed with a three-month-old heifer calf, Bulliac Wilcoola P155, at side sired by Millah Murrah Jupiter J194.
Up against 16 cows in the over 48 months of age class during the Angus female feature show judging over the weekend, the stud matron had 10 years on the closest aged female while others were 12 years her youth.
Despite her age, and raising 15 calves along the way, the female was pulled into the top line and received a highly commended in what was described as one of the best classes of cattle Scottish judge William McLaren, Perth, had ever seen.
"Today has been the best Angus show of females I have seen anywhere," Mr McLaren said. "The classes just kept getting stronger."
Commenting on Wilcoola X9 in the final female class of the day, Mr McLaren said she was what the Angus breed was about.
"I had to pull this female into my top line up because she is just what the breed is about," he said.
"She has an Angus head, and the longevity and soundness the breed is so well known for.
"This is just an exceptional cow to still look like that at her age, and I had to pull her up here and congratulate the exhibitors."
Mr Hill said while coming away with a number of ribbons through the show, this one meant the most.
Bulliac Angus also exhibited Diamond Ridge Flower H10, a seven-year-old female that had also only just been broken in for the Angus feature show at Sydney. She went onto the auction sold with a seven-month-old heifer calf at foot sired by LD Capitalise 316 for $4000.
- Read more in our 64 page liftout in next week's copy of The Land.