While drought and industry woes culled the usual number of dairy cattle at this year's Sydney Royal Dairy Cattle Show, the Jersey class stood out proudly as one with the most number of exhibitors, more than 70 in the junior, intermediate and senior classes.
Senior champion was awarded to Brunchilli Vanahlem Eileen 2, five years old, bred and prepared by Brunchilli Farming Trust, Numbaa via Nowra.
The five-year-old was sired by Pannoo Abe Vanahlem from the prominent Brunchilli Eileen cow line.
Shown since she was a calf, she has never placed below third, being named the intermediate champion Jersey female in 2017 and then third at the 2018 International Dairy Week.
In class, Jersey breed judge Wayne Kuhne, Bushlea Farms, Koonwarra, Victoria, described her as a lovely framed female with angularity and openness to rib, depth of fore rib and a long hard top. The praised cow was also awarded best senior udder in her class.
The Menzies and Boyd families are this year celebrating 20 years of their stud.
Reserve senior champion Jersey went to eight year old Salvation R Regal bred by the extensive O'Meara family, Cobargo. The reserve ribbon was bittersweet for the fifth generation dairy family who sold out ahead of the drought.
Honerable mention was awarded to five year old Shirlinn Tequila Dawn shown by the Wilson, Yarnold and Lowman families.
In the intermediate class The sashed champion was Windy Ways Galaxies Dawn 7, exhibited in partnership by Brad and Jess Gavenlock, Cherrylock Cattle Co, Berry, with breeder Frank Walsh of Windy Ways stud, Tongala, Victoria.
It was Windy Ways' first time exhibiting at Sydney, but that didn't stop the immediate champion and reserve champion of all breeds from International Dairy Week going on to win the interbreed intermediate champion place.
The three-year-old was sired by Galaxies Celebrity from Windy Ways Headline Dawn, and was also best intermediate udder of the Jersey class.
Reserve intermediate champion Jersey was awarded to the rising four year old Rivendell Colton Viscountess bred and exhibited by Hayley and Stewart Menzies, Numbaa via Nowra.
Honourable mention in the class also went to the Menzies' family with Rivendell Getaway Tammy, two years old, exhibiting for her first time.
In the junior class it was a case of deja vu. After wowing the judges at Sydney Royal last year, Shirlinn Joel Melys 2 was this year awarded junior champion female of the Jersey Breed, from judge Wayne Kuhn, Koonwarra, South Gippsland Victoria.
The two year old heifer, from Shirlinn Reagan Melys by Guimo Joel, bred and exhibited by the Wilson family, Tamworth, was last year at Sydney awarded supreme interbreed junior champion.
This year she outclassed another Wilson family heifer, the rising two year old Shirlinn Joel Rumour, also by Guimo Joel, along with honourable mention ribbon winner Parrabel BP Colton Ricochet, bred from embryo transfer by Craig and Jared Cochrane, Parrabel Genetics, with Brent Pepper, Nowra.
Champion dry cow was awarded to Foxton P P Doris by Foxton Power Play from Robert Brown and his grandson Mathew Smith, Wollingurry Jersey Stud, Fitzroy Falls via Nowra.
Young Mr Smith encouraged his grandfather to exhibit again this year, after a three year hiatus, with the family previously showing at Sydney Royal for a straight 101 years. This year brings that total to 102 years.
