Results from the 2014 Agri-Gene Real Australian Photo Competition with comments from Judge, Laurie Chittick, Lemon Grove Illawarras, Tongala, Victoria, Australia, follow, with the majority of photos available for viewing in the Photo Gallery. Congratulations to all owners and the most successful photographer, Bradley Cullen. A bit thank you to AgriGene for sponsoring framed photos of all the champions, CrazyCow magazine for their support and the photo competition committee under Neville Mueller for their organisation.
AGED COW IN MILK:
Placings: F-B-D-A-C-E
Champion: F – Winganna Empire Handsome (Coburn Family, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen -below left
Reserve Champion: B – Glenbrook Venus 19 (I & J Mueller, SA) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm - below middle
Hon Mention: D – Myrtleholme Sweetie 4 (JP Bourke & Co, Qld) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below right
4th – A – Den Dia Empress 83 (Den Dia Partnership, Qld) – Photographer – Kelvin Cochrane
5th – C – Glencliffe Princess 404 (R & S Parker, Vic) – Photographer – Simon Tognola
6th – E – Tara Fussy 3 (M & G Henry, Qld) – Photographer – Simon Tognola
Judge’s comments:
The aged cow is a great class of mature animals from top to bottom. The first cow has wonderful conformation, covering a lot of ground and great depth, plenty of correctness throughout, carrying a good, capacious udder. The cleanness of brisket and front end for a big mature cow takes her to the top. The second cow (B), to me easily goes into next place for her sharpness and balance and once again a very good udder, but I feel the photo shows a little incorrectness of her tail set leaving her a little short in the setting. The third cow (D) easily matches the two above with her overall correctness but I thought lacks a little depth of rib to balance her right out. A big powerful machine goes into fourth (A) for her size and scale and balance, carrying a nice stretchy flank to cover her udder. The fifth cow (C) just lacks the size and scale of the cows above, but a beautiful udder both back and front. The sixth (E) cow lacks the balance and bloom and udder of the above cows.
6 YEARS IN MILK:
Placings: B-A-C-D-F-E
Champion: B – Kangawarra Samantha 3197 (T & N Cochrane, NSW) – Photographer – Bradly Cullen - below left
Reserve Champion: A – Blackwood Park Laurel 90 (Altmann Family, SA) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below middle
Hon Mention: C – Llandovery Ja-Bob Verbena (J & B Evans, Vic) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm - below right
4th – D – Riversleigh Bustling Buttercup (Tuhan Family, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
5th – F – Tara Panda 6 (M & G Henry, Qld) – Photographer
6th – E – Springvale Daisy 48 (W & C Doecke, SA) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm
Judge’s comments:
This big powerful roan cow goes to the top for her size and scale and overall balance, including that she carries a good udder. The second cow just lacks the size of the first cow but is very correct throughout. The third cow matches the second for her cleanness of bone correctness of parts and balance, but I thought her back udder just wasn’t quite as good as the second cow. The fourth cow: once again a clean boned, good uddered cow, but just lacks the fore rib of the above cows. The fifth cow: once again a tall, upstanding cow but I thought not as clean as the above cows – also her udder just lacks the bloom of the above entrants. The sixth cow: a good cow just lacks the cleanness and balance of the above cows but I acknowledge her good udder.
5 YEARS IN MILK
Placings: D-E-B-C-A
Champion: D – Wallumlands Sunstorm 8 (Gordon, Bacon & Govett, Vic) – Photographer – Simon Tognola - below left
Reserve Champion: E – Winganna Viscount Flighty (Coburn Family, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below middle
Hon Mention: B – Kangawarra Socks 3675 (T & K Cochrane, NSW) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below right
4th – C – Myrtleholme Glenda 54 (J P Bourke & Co, Qld) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
5th – A – Glencliffe Princess 570 (R & S Parker, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
Judge’s comments:
The first cow in this class goes to the top quite easily. She is an outstanding individual. She is so sharp and clean with strength, very strong top and carrying a great udder. The second cow matches the first for her overall correctness and cleanness of bone, but I would like to stretch her out a little. The third cow matches the two above but I would like to clean and stretch her neck to give her more balance. The fourth cow is tall, upstanding, sharp and clean, but she just lacks the width of chest and front end. The fifth cow is just a little lighter, especially through her front end and head and neck region.
4 YEARS IN MILK:
Placings: A-D-E-C-B-F
Champion: A – Eagle Park Llandover Clarie 3566 (T & N Cochrane, NSW) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below left
Reserve Champion: D – Treeton Marion 3151 (G & R Williams, SA) –Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below middle
Hon Mention: E – Treeton Sabrina 3038 (G & R Williams, SA) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below right
4th – C – Kangawarra Stella 3713 (T & K Cochrane, NSW) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
5th – B – Eagle Park Morton Flower 3582 (T & N Cochrane, NSW) – Photographer –
6th – F – View Mount Landmine Little Patch 14 (Ringland Family, NSW) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
Judge’s comments:
This four year old class is a very difficult one as different types of cows have been presented. First is a cow I believe leads the class with her overall balance and cleanness of bone. She is a strong, upstanding, hard topped cow who carries a very good udder. Second is not quite as mature, but she is very correct and I admire her for her balance, correct feet and legs and wonderful udder. The third cow is deeper bodied, but I would like to see her stretchier in the neck and udder attachment. The fourth cow is just not as clean as the cow above, but she has a good udder and plenty of quality. The fifth cow to me just a little plainer throughout. My sixth cow I find a little too fine and would like to see her a little stronger through the head to catch the cows above her.
2-3 YEARS IN MILK:
Placings: C-D-A-F-E-B
Champion: C – Fairview Treasure 76 (Ledger Family, Qld) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm - below left
Reserve Champion: D – Lara Twister Glady (Erin Ferguson, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen - below middle
Hon Mention: A – Blackwood Park Buttercup 232 (Altmann Family, SA) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm - below right
4th – F – Three Creeks Blossom 18 (J & B Evans, Vic) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm
5th – E – Springvale Thelma 54 (W & C Doecke, SA) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm
6th – B – Blackwood Park Lisa 16 (Altmann Family, SA) – Photographer – Dean Malcolm
Judge’s comments:
This was a great class of youngsters. The first heifer is a lovely silky, tall, upstanding animal carrying an outstanding udder. However, it was a close decision placing her over the second place-getter who is also once again a tall, upstanding good-uddered youngster. I would like to see her a shade cleaner. The third gave me plenty to think about – she’s a clean boned young cow with a deep rib and plenty of length. I would have liked to have seen her back udder attachment slightly higher. The fourth heifer is a clean and sharp, tall-fronted heifer; however, her udder (on the photo) could be a little higher. The fifth is a young cow that just needs a little more depth of middle to compete with the animals above her. I would like to see the sixth heifer cleaner in the front end, especially in the should with more length in her neck.
DRY HEIFER:
Placings: F-E-F-A-D-C
Champion: F – White Park Polly 468 (J E Savage, Qld) – Photographer – Simon Tognola - below left
Reserve Champion: E – Tara Red Rose (M & G Henry, Qld) – Photographer – Simon Tognola- below middle
Hon Mention: B – Eagle Park Dynamic Myrtle (T & N Cochrane, NSW) - photo not yet received.
4th – A – Eagle Park Bygold Pet 3862 (T & N Cochrane, NSW)
5th – D – Glencliffe Princess 697 (R & S Parker, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
6th – C – Glencliffe Kaiya 699 (R & S Parker, Vic) – Photographer – Bradley Cullen
Judge’s comments:
This was a great class of heifers. I placed first over second for her overall balance, cleanness of bone throughout and deep body. Second was another clean-boned, stretchy heifer that matches my first heifer quite well. Third is not quite as clean as the first two but she has plenty of length through her neck region and she is an upstanding tall heifer who stands on good feet and legs. The fourth heifer matches the third fairly easily, but she’s obviously a bit younger so she is not as tall as those above her. The fifth and sixth heifers look younger but just lack the stretch of the others above.