THE Speckle Park breed at Beef Australia 2021 has exceeded the expectations of astute judge Grame Hopf, Murwillumbah, NSW, gaining praise for being some of the best of the breed he had seen.
Mr Hopf's top cattle typified functional animals that could be thrown out to graze naturally, with minimal management and minimal care under Australian farming conditions and thrive, he said.
"As breeders we need to source the best genetics from throughout the world, but I believe you are at the stage in your breed where the best genetics that suit Australian conditions are what you have in Australia at the moment."
New South Wales based exhibitors particularly excelled in the ring, taking home 10 of the 14 major awards.
The Humphries family of Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW were highly successful in taking home nine of the sashes including the grand champion female and grand champion bull ribbons with their senior exhibits.
Grand bull went to Wattle Grove Dust N Smoke P07, that was applauded by Mr Hopf and his associate Jack Nelson of Jackgunah Speckle Park, Pine Lodge, Vic for being "athletic and active".
A rising three-year-old sire, he was by Wattle Grove Smoke and Mirrors 275 and out of Wattle Grove Star Dust E2.
Wattle Grove K7 Louise P644 was the senior and grand champion female, that took the honours with her rising eight-month-old bull calf at foot.
A two-year-old first calf heifer, she was by Kamarah Eagle K7 and out of the Kamarah Louise female. Her calf was by Wattle Grove Paperboy P503.
Junior champion bull was Wattle Grove Jagerbomb Q120, while junior champion female went to AAA Starbank Q6 exhibited by Denis and Theresa Roberts, AAA Speckle Park, Lockyer Waters.
Calf champion bull went to Six Star Southern Aurora Justice R10 exhibited by Six Star and Southern Aurora Speckle Park, Bundanoon, NSW.
Calf champion female was Sowden Eva TH Diva exhibited by Sowden Speckle Park, Kingaroy who also had the reserve calf champion bull in Sowden Beasty Boy.
Group classes had Wattle Grove Speckle Park win the breeder's group, Sowden Speckle Park win the sire progeny stakes with a team of Spots 'N Sprouts Stand Alone calves, and Deeargee Speckle Park, Jiggi, NSW win dam progeny stakes with a team Waratah J7 cattle.
RESULTS PANEL
Judge: Grame Hopf, Murwillumbah, NSW and (associate) Jack Nelson, Jackungah Speckle Park, Pine Lodge, Vic
No. of exhibits: 49 head
Calf champion male: Six Star Southern Aurora Justice R10 exhibited by Six Star and Southern Aurora Speckle Park, Bundanoon, NSW
Reserve calf champion male: Sowden Beasty Boy exhibited by Sowden Speckle Park, Kingaroy
Calf champion female: Sowden Eva TH Diva exhibited by Sowden Speckle Park, Kingaroy
Reserve calf champion female: DPS R17 exhibited by the Missingham family, Lockyer Waters
Junior champion bull: Wattle Grove Jagerbomb Q120 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Reserve junior champion bull: Wattle Grove N58 Tractor Q116 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Junior champion female: AAA Starbank Q6 exhibited by Denis and Theresa Roberts, AAA Speckle Park, Lockyer Waters
Reserve junior champion female: Wattle Grove M34 Eileen R106 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Senior champion bull: Wattle Grove Dust N Smoke P07 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Parks, Oberon, NSW
Reserve senior champion bull: Wattle Grove Player P201 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Senior champion female: Wattle Grove K7 Louise P644 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Reserve senior champion female: Wattle Grove Miss Wow N10 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Grand champion bull: Wattle Grove Dust N Smoke P07 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW
Grand champion female: Wattle Grove K7 Louise P644 exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW