Fertility and functionality with good carcase and cover won the day in the Simmental ring, the best exhibit having all this at less than 20 months of age.
A 924 kilogram youngster called Hobbs Livestock Riddlers Keeper Q3 (P) wooed the judge Peter Falls, Finley, for the best Simmental exhibit award for having all bases covered, especially good weight and softness, at such a young age.
Having proceeded from the 19 and not over 20 months class, Riddlers Keeper, by LFE The Riddler 323B and from Hobbs Livestock Keepsake L5 and exhibited by the Hobbs Livestock, Molong, boasted a 130 square centimetre eye muscle area and carried his performance well.
Mr Falls said the bull had volume, weight, cover, smoothness, great head carriage and fertility-wise "was set up well with good sire appeal".
To take the top spot, the bull had to beat a quality cow from the same stable, Hobbs Livestock Keepsake's Riddler, also by The Riddler 323B and out of Hobbs Livestock Keepsake Lady.
Mr Falls said his choice for grand female was doing a great job on her calf, yet was still a young cow being under 36 months.
He was impressed with the cow's neatness, too, remarking that "she will keep the udders on your cows until 10 years old".
"When you see a cow like this you just can't go past her," Mr Falls said.
In reaching grand female, Keepsake's Riddler beat another Hobbs entry, Hobbs Livetsock Red Party Girl P5, for senior female, Party Girl taking reserve and reserve grand.
Party Girl, by Harvie Red Summit 54B and from Hobbs Livestock The Captains Girl L2, also hailed from the same age class as Keepsake Lady.
Reserve to Riddlers Keeper in the junior bull classes was Hobbs Livestock Renowned Merchant, by RF Merchant 481B and from LFE BS Violet 641A, also exhibited by Hobbs Livestock.
Senior champion bull was the 910kg Wondenia Pacasso, by BFG Waterberg and from Wondenia Kristen, and exhibited by Wondenia stud, Genetrade Pty Ltd, Gilgandra.
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He had a 120 sq cm EMA and caught the judge's eye for his correctness and mobility.
Junior female was again from the Hobbs team, this being Hobbs Livestock Violets Merchant (PP), by RF Merchant and from LFE Violet 641A.
Mr Falls described her as combining excellent thickness and femininity - "which is hard to breed" - while also be very smooth through the shoulder.
Reserve junior female was VC Lucy Q024, by MRL Missile 138C (PP) and from Circle Eight Miss Lucy K299 (PP), and exhibited by Blue Gene Cattle Company, Parkville.
Judge, Mr Falls, said he was impressed with the breed's entries overall with the softness and growth displayed, and he said the juniors, while defeated for the grand ribbons, were still impressive and "molds of the rest", remarking on the quality and type put forward by all exhibitors.
"I really enjoyed judging these cattle, not just the winners, but right through," he said.
Results
Judge: Peter Falls, Finley
No. of exhibits: 39
Junior champion bull: Hobbs Livestock Riddlers Keeper, Hobbs Livestock, Molong.
Reserve junior champion bull: Hobbs Livestock Renowned Merchant, Hobbs Livestock.
Junior champion female: Hobbs Livestock Violets Merchant, Hobbs Livestock, Molong.
Reserve junior champion female: VC Lucy Q024, Blue Gene Cattle Company, Gilgandra.
Senior champion bull: Wondenia Pacasso, Genetrade Pty Ltd, Gilgandra.
Senior champion female: Hobbs Livestock Keepsake's Riddler, Hobbs Livestock.
Reserve senior champion female: Hobbs Livestock Red Party Girl P5, Hobbs Livestock.
Grand champion bull: Hobbs Livestock Riddlers Keeper, Hobbs Livestock, Molong
Grand champion female:Hobbs Livestock Keepsake's Riddler, Hobbs Livestock
Supreme exhibit: Hobbs Livestock Riddlers Keeper, Hobbs Livestock, Molong
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Andrew Norris
Editor at The Land
Editor at The Land
