HIGHLAND
The Highland breed’s traditional history steeped in producing functional cattle shone through grand champion bull exhibit Caleb of Amrabull Park according to judge Jake Phillips, Narracoorte.
Exhibited by Scott Carter, Nuriootpa, the 18-month-old grand and senior champion weighed 590 kilograms and had a 90-square centimetre eye muscle area, a four-millimetre rib fat and 6mm rump.
Sired by Lauriston Angelo and out of Charlotte of Amrabul Park, that was sashed grand champ female, it was labelled “something special” by Mr Phillips.
“I would consider him more of a stud sire because of its bone structure and muscle, its a very balanced type of bull,” Mr Phillips said.
“Its very good underneath in the sheath and testicles which is a very good indication that he has the potential to be an important bloodline for the stud,” he said.
Amrabull Highlands principal Scott Carter said the supreme exhibit was the best bull bred by the stud to date.
“He’s a beautifully well fleshed bull with good length and depth,” Mr Carter said.
“We have used a combination of Australian and Canadian genetics to breed Caleb of Amrabull Park, including traditional foundation sires.
The bull will be sold because he is related to everything in the stud, he has his first calf due in October.
“We are hoping for a heifer because the past eight calves have been bulls.”
The Barossa Valley stud also took out grand and senior champion female with Charlotte of Amrabull park, that had a five-month-old calf at foot.
The six year old female was sired by Tearlach of Amrabull Park 6920 and out of Chelsea of Macladanae 6327.
Mr Phillips said grand champ female was a functional and moderate cow.
“That calf is fantastic and she’s a very practical beef cow,” he said.
Mr Carter said Charlotte of Amrabull Park won grand champion at Royal Adelaide Show three years ago.
On its third calf, the female was an example of what the stud had bred towards for a decade.
“All our cattle need to have brilliant milking ability, it is a big focus,”Mr Carter said.
“Females need to really pump milk into their calves and we select breeding traits based on that,” he said.
Reserve senior female was won by Scarlett of Grianach La, exhibited by Graham and Robyn Day, Grianach La, Springton.
It came second in class cow, 20 months and under 30 months and was sired by Rummel of Bairnsley and out of Isobail Odhar of Bairnsley.
Junior champion bull was also won by the Springton stud, with 12-month-old Duncan of Grianach La.
Sired by Rummle of Bairnsley and from Lexie of Lockhart, it weighed 250kgs and had a 90sqcm EMA, 4mm rib and 6mm rump.
The junior champion female was sashed to Annabelle of Grianach La, also exhibited by the Day family.
The 16-month-old was also sired by Rummle of Bairnsley.
