Sydney Royal 2021: Dairy interbreed dominated by Jersey

Bred by Frank Walsh, Tongala, Vic, and co-owned and prepared for show by Brad and Jess Gavenlock, Cherrylock Cattle Co, Tallygaroopna, Vic, five-year-old Windy Ways Galaxies Dawn 7 has never come undone.

She won at Sydney Royal in 2019 claiming intermediate interbreed champion, and has topped the bill at three International Dairy Week competitions.

RELATED READING:

Earlier this month she won grand champion at the Warragul Jersey fair in Gippsland, Vic

Cherrylock Cattle Co is currently preparing her for cloning.

Breeder Mr Walsh said she was a standout from day one.

"I run about 500 head on 100 hectares and she was the only one of 60 yearlings that I joined to AI," said the 77 year old who farms with his son Timothy and grandson Thomas, the fifth generation to milk cows.

"We've got 12 A-grade embryos from her mother by the same sire and she is in calf for Dairy Week next year.

"In the dairy at home she is magnificent. She runs with the rest of the herd but we keep two eyes on her all the time."

Mr Walsh said the champion cow was currently producing 32 litres a day at 4pc protein and 5.6pc fat, and last year produced 400kg of butterfat for Saputo.

"I owe it to Brad and Jess who do a magnificent job," he said. "They have her for six weeks of the year and they do what I can't."

Mr Gavenlock said it was nerve-wracking when everyone in the shed said how well the cow looked.

"I'm not normally one to get nervous, but I guess it is a win for Frank as much as anything.

Galaxies Dawn 7 has one of the deeper cow families that can be traced back nearly 100 years beginning in New Zealand before arriving on Australian shores 60 years ago.

"The best part is she is so easy to get ready - she just does it herself, and they are the fun ones to work with."

In the group of three females it was Shirlinn Jersey stud, Tamworth - producers of their own bottled brand Peel Valley Milk - once again retaining the Dairy Farmers perpetual trophy for a remarkable tenth time.

Another unanimous decision continued the Jersey reign through the intermediate section, with the Bacon family of Brookbora Jerseys, Tennyson, Vic, taking home supreme intermediate champion dairy female for their exhibit Brookbora Valentino Sweet Elfa.

The three-year-old female was an easy winner according to judge Graeme Hopf of Murwillumbah, who believed she excelled in body capacity and overall dairyness.

"She has the highest, widest rear udder of the class, length through the front end, refinement through the head, neck and shoulder, and that cleanness of bone down through the lower thigh and canon bone of the leg I feel was quite outstanding - an easy winner," Mr Hopf said.

Holstein judge Matt Templeton of Tarwin, Vic also described the Brookbora intermediate champion as a beautiful dairy cow with loads of quality throughout.

"I give her the advantage of being more level through the floor of the udder, and more balanced through her front quarter today," Mr Templeton said.

"When she is out on the move, she handles her topline, and is stronger through the loin today for me."

Sired by All Lynns Louie Valentino, Daniel Bacon commented after the presentation that they were lucky enough to buy her dam, Nyowee Seet Elfa 133 a previous reserve intermediate champion at Warragul Jersey Fair, from Peter Ness when they bought a line of heifers.

On five points, the Jersey female placed above the Holstein female, Strongbark Ms Doorman Voltage exhibited by the Strong family of Strongbark, Tongarra.

Supreme junior interbreed champion was awarded to Lightning Ridge Genetics, Sale, Vic, with their heifer Lightning Ridge MB VIP Feliz (ET). An imported embryo from North America, Declan Patten from Lightning Ridge said her dam MB Lucky Lady Feliz Navidad, was one of the greatest Jersey cows he had ever seen.

"We had three heifers, and this one has been junior champion here, her full sister was junior champion at the Warragal Jersey Fair at Gippsland last week, so they are certainly matching the pedigree.

That full sister recently sold for $24,000.

"They will both calve out in the spring to sexed ASKN who is a great young bull here in Australia and we can't wait."

Sired by River Valley Venus VIP, the junior champion scored seven points to place one point above the Holstein heifer, Strongbark Royal Lustre exhibited by Strongbark Holsteins, Tongarra.

Speaking on his placings in the junior interbreed selection, Ayrshire judge Robert Dolman, Codrington, said the Jersey female was showy and upstanding, especially when she was on the move.

"I admire her length right throughout, depth of body, the angle of rib, that finish through the rump and when she is on the move she really shows herself off," he said.

Have you signed up to The Land's free daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to NSW agriculture.