VICTORIAN Australian Lowline breeder Matt Cooney has reignited his stranglehold on the Sydney Royal Easter Show by cleaning up at the breed's event on Saturday.
Having starred at the show since 2016, the combination of the Rotherwood Lowline, run by Mr Cooney's aunt Vicki Gillbert, and Cann Valley Lowline studs continued their winning ways by claiming seven of the nine categories.
Rotherwood took out the supreme exhibit with Rotherwood Radical, which was sired by Rotherwood Picasso and out of Elandra Park Wish, weighed 350kg, had fat depths of 12 and 6mm and an eye muscle area of 71 square centimetres.
The 11-month-old bull also took out the junior champion bull, while Cann Valley tasted success with 23-month-old, Cann Valley Quill taking out the senior female champion.
Mr Cooney put down Saturday's success to a change in direction in his and his aunt's operation.
"We're focusing on a lot of red genetics now and the ones who won are either red or red carriers," Mr Cooney said.
"It gives us a bit of size, volume and is a bit more capacity for age, which I think is what has changed the most in our young animals."
Mr Cooney said "sire appeal" was a major factor in Rotherwood Radical's success.
"He's got a beautiful neck and head on him, as well as being sized for age," he said.
"I think he is well above par for most Australian Lowlines of that age."
Having missed the 2020 Sydney show due to the COVID-19 pandemic and falling short of the supreme exhibit prize in 2019, Mr Cooney said he was keen to make a mark this time around.
"We had a really good run of young animals through those years," he said.
"To miss out on Sydney last year was disappointing because we had animals ready and those animals haven't been able to be showed.
"However, to come back and get grand champion, the female and the male was really special.
"We're heading up to Rockhampton in May and hopefully we can go well there, from there a couple of the bulls will be going overseas."
AUSTRALIAN LOWLINE CHAMPIONS
Judge: David Smith, Ben Lomand, NSW.
No. of exhibits: 15
Junior champion bull: Rotherwood Radical, exhibited by Rotherwood Lowline stud, Grand Ridge, Vic.
Reserve junior champion bull: Rotherwood Qointreau On Ice, exhibited by Rotherwood Lowline stud.
Junior champion female: Rotherwood Radiant Girl, exhibited by Matt Cooney, Cann Valley Lowline stud, Tallygaroopna, Victoria.
Read Also:
Reserve junior champion female: Quartz Hill Amethyst, exhibited by Quartz Hill Lowlines, Tuena, NSW.
Senior champion female: Cann Valley Quill, exhibited by Cann Valley Lowline stud.
Reserve senior champion female: Elle Kay Jasmine, exhibited by Quartz Hill Lowlines
Grand champion bull: Rotherwood Radical, exhibited by Rotherwood Lowline stud.
Grand champion female: Rotherwood Radiant Girl, exhibited by exhibited by Matt Cooney, Cann Valley Lowline stud, Tallygaroopna, Victoria.
Supreme exhibit: Rotherwood Radical, exhibited by Rotherwood Lowline stud.
Love agricultural news? Sign up for The Land's free daily newsletter.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
