LIMOUSINS
FIVE years after beginning her stud, 18-year-old Phoebe Eckermann, Korunye, has earned a clean sweep of the tricolour ribbons in the Limousin judging, with Aruma winning the junior, senior and grand champion female, as well as junior, senior and grand champion bull.
Ms Eckermann’s father Peter – who helps run the stud along with her younger brother Isaac – described their show success this year as a “dream come true”.
“We’ve had a few champions here and there but nothing like this,” she said.
Aruma Limousins only has 11 cows in the stud, with the Eckermanns buying selected genetics to build their numbers and bloodlines.
“We look for good depth of body throughout – good structure attracts us,” Ms Eckermann said.
Judge Jono Spence was impressed by the “modern” beef types exhibited, starting with the “tremendous” junior champion heifer, Oakwood Black Krystalz.
“It’s a real modern beef heifer,” he said. “I like the bone structure and the maturity pattern.”
“Smart unit” senior champion female, Warrawindi Lady Gem L75, also impressed with its “mix of carcase and maternal attributes”.
The junior champion bull Aruma Nitro Impact was the first ET calf from last year’s grand champion cow Warrawindi Krystal Gem K15, also shown by the Eckermanns.
Mr Spence said the 14-month-old bull, which weighed 728 kilograms, with a rump fat of 7 millimetres, rib fat of 9mm and eye muscle area of 114mm, had great depth and length.
Aruma Mr Magic returned to the ring, after winning reserve junior champion bull last year, to claim both the senior and grand champion ribbon.
“It’s a very complete bull with great fat to lean ratio, and a tremendous shape and structure,” Mr Spence said.
Mr Magic was easily the heaviest bull in the ring at 1025kg with rump fat of 23mm, rib fat of 13mm and a 135mm EMA.
Aruma also won reserve champion senior bull with Aruma Murphy and reserve champion senior female with Aruma Mila.
Ms Eckermann said the success this year helped cement their goal to keep their breeding objectives in place.
“This gives us confidence in out breeding program,” Ms Eckermann said.
After growing up in the city, Ms Eckermann was inspired to set up a stud by her ‘Papa’, who showed Berkshire pigs.
“I loved to come to the show, then I went to the SA heifer expo and found a passion for showing and Limousin cattle,” she said.
Reserve champion junior female was Maryvale Natilda, exhibited by Stephen Vivian, Cowirra. Reserve junior champion bull was Horizon Nixon N7, from Sasha Lanyon, Nairne.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
