Innovative idea stays the course

Exhibitors plan to mark the occasion as part of the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society's 175-year milestone.

Royal Adelaide Show dairy committee chairman Ray Fiebiger said that before the milking dairy was established, cattle had to be milked twice a day, with the exhibitors having to bring in their own portable milking machines to the site.

"The public used to love watching the milking but with cords running everywhere it wasn't particularly safe," Mr Fiebiger said.

The exhibition dairy is the only licensed facility in the metropolitan area with the same regulations and penalties that apply on farm.

And producers are paid for their milk - unusual for many show dairies.

"At the end of the show we get a milk cheque and we split that amongst exhibitors by production," Mr Fiebiger said.

Royal Adelaide Show dairy manager Robert Butler said the idea had gathered momentum over time.

"What we really want to do is present to the public what a quality product milk is," he said.

"A couple of people had the germ of an idea and it languished for a bit, then a group in SA Dairyfarmers Association and Dairy Australia got hold of the idea and had a vision for how this could be presented to the public.

"It is a great opportunity for people in the industry to talk directly to the public."

The dairy works as a traditional herringbone set up, opened out with a viewing platform for the public.

Mr Fiebiger said the morning milking, which starts at 5.30am, does not get such an active following as the afternoon milking that usually draws a big crowd.

Farmers provide a running commentary for visitors, answer questions and interact with potential clients.

In its first year, Mr Fiebiger said there was some apprehension from those showing cattle.

"I remember one exhibitor said he didn't want to use it but by the end of the show he wouldn't milk without it," he said.

"It almost revolutionised the showing of dairy cattle."

* Full report in Stock Journal, September 4, 2014 issue.