A LAST-minute call-up to judge this year's Royal Adelaide Show dairy feature breed had no detrimental effect whatsoever on Jersey judge Brian Leslie and his ability to pick some clear winners in the breed's showing.
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The man originally picked to judge the event, Michael Colwell, Cornwall, England, fell ill during his trip to Australia and was left battling in intensive care while the Jersey judging took place.
Mr Colwell missed what was described as one of the best Jersey showings in recent memory.
The star of the day was the senior and supreme champion female Brimarvi Pop Fowler for South East breeders the Manuel family, Joanna.
The eight year old was a seventh-calver, which Mr Leslie said was very close to the true type model of the Jersey breed.
"There have been a lot of great cows judged senior champion in Adelaide, but this is one heck of a cow," he said.
He also selected Fowler as the cow with best udder.
The Manuels bought the cow as a 2.5-year-old in the herd dispersal of Ponde dairyfarmers Bryan and Margaret Vivian.
Fowler was the first senior champion for the Manuels in Adelaide after showing cattle for about 15 years, owner Belinda Schutz said.
Reserve was Rosedale Astound Vanilla shown by Michael and Katie Atkins, Valley View. Mr Leslie said she excelled in dairyness with her great udder.
For the second successive year Ashtaney Elton Adelaide shown by the Koch family, Ashtaney Jerseys, Moculta, was intermediate champion.
Mr Leslie said the July, 2012-drop cow had the advantage of being a second-calver over the reserve champion - another entry from the Kochs, Ashtaney Elton Jellow.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 19 issue, 2013.
