FIRST time to have judged Australian Lowline cattle, Steve Carter said he was more than impressed with the exhibition of 10 females and four bulls at Canberra Royal Show.
Junior female classes were presented first with four heifers in three classes which eventually led Mr Carter, studmaster of Blackjack Shorthorns, Tumut, selecting Whitby Farm Elleroo from the 16 to 20 months class for his junior champion, then grand and eventual supreme exhibit.
"She's structurally sound with lots of capacity and beautiful outlook," Mr Carter said.
Exhibited by Gill and Ken Lorains, Whitby stud, Zeerust, Victoria, Elleroo is sired by Yarra Ranges Jackaroo and from Whitby Farm Adelle. Mrs Lorains said they have some 62 breeders and seven bulls and established their herd in 2003.
"We were dairy farmers and got into Lowlines by using Lowline bulls and for close to the past 14 years have concentrated on the stud beef cattle," she said.
Reserve junior champion female, Rotherwood Radiant Girl, by Platinum Park The Red Baron, was shown by Matt Cooney, Tallygaroopna, Vic, who also exhibited both senior and reserve senior champion females.
The champion, Cann Valley Quill, by Rotherwood Master Maelstrom, had won the 20 to 24 months class, while reserve was the 30 months and over classwinner Tarrawarra Fantasia, by Eugella Trentham.
When it came to the grand championship, Mr Carter said he went for the junior heifer.
"I really do like this heifer. She's a quality beef animal and that's what puts her into the grand champion state," he said.
In the bull section Mr Carter chose as his junior champion the 12 to 15 months classwinner, Rotherwood Qointreau On Ice, also by Platinum Park The Red Baron but from Vitulus Groovi and Red, shown by Vicki Gilbert, Grand Range, Vic.
"I love this bull's length," Mr Carter said, "He's a sirey type and shows performance. I think this bull will have quite a big future in the Lowline ring."
From the eight to 12 months bull class came the reserve junior champion described by the judge as having a fair bit of presence in the ring. This was the March 2020 born Cann Valley Remedy, by Whitby Farm P.T. sown by Matt Cooney.
"He's long, thick and deep and has a really nice extension up through the front end," Mr Carter said.
Commenting on the senior champion bull Mr Carter said he was the only exhibit but had style.
"He has an awesome head and neck, and a beautiful front end and butt shape and only a couple of days out of junior classes," he said.
This was Tarrawarra Illustrious, by Tarrawarra Calypso and from Tarrawarra Faith shown by Jacquelynn and Richard Feagan of Tarrawarra stud, Yara Glen, Vic.
Mrs Feagan said they were running 60 breeders and because from a Covid point Yarra Glenwas classified as Melbourne Mertro, they could only take one animal to the show.