Adelaide Show: Carmel takes supreme title in dairy interbreed

The five-year-old Holstein champion, Mooway Destry Carmel, was sashed in a tight decision by the five judges.

Judge Zane Kite, Ohaupo, New Zealand, said it was a “tremendous, upstanding” cow.

“I really think that cow has got a great future,” he said.

Judge Damen Phillips, Toowoomba, Qld, called it a fine example.

“(I like) the width of rump and sharpness and flatness of bone,” he said. “The rear udder gave it a distinct advantage.”

Breeder Colin Dohnt, Victor Harbor, said he was “ecstatic” after the announcement.

“I was really hoping for it,” he said. “It was a bit nerve-wracking.”

This was the first time Mr Dohnt, and wife Glenda, had won the supreme ribbon at the Royal Adelaide Show.

Last year Carmel won senior cow at the Holstein feature breed show.

“This proves (Carmel) is not just a one-trick pony,” Mr Dohnt said.

Intermediate champion also went to the Holstein entry of Amelia Park Alexander Golden, exhibited by Nathan Hart, Stanhope, Vic.

The judges praised the udder on the three-year-old cow, with Mr Phillips calling it “superior”.

“This cow has a power, strength, sweep and openness,” he said.

Judge Peter Gilbert, Canterbury, NZ, said the cow was stylish, long and clean.

In the trifecta, a Holstein also claimed juvenile champion.

The 18-month-old Arrowstar Doorman Summer, CJ&KA Royans, Myponga, “caught the eye” of the judges as it entered the ring.

“It has height, length and a tonne of style,” Mr Kite said.

Mr Phillips called it a “clear winner”.

“I loved the set-up, with a beautiful square rump and width between the pins,” he said.

But the Holsteins did not get it all their way.

In the group of three females, the Holstein entry from Mason Farms, Ashville, and Boldview Farm, Jervois, were tied for points on a countback.

Young handler judge David Peglar, Langhorne Creek, was called to break the tie, selecting the Ayshires as the winning group.

In a rare occurrence, all five competitors in the interbreed group of three competition – Boldview Farms for Ayrshire, Mason Farms for Holstein, Lyndon and Joyce Cleggett, Glencoe, for Guernsey, Ian and Julie Mueller, Murray Bridge, for Illawarra, and Andrew and Angela Koch, Moculta, for Jersey – were also the most successful exhibitors of their respective breeds.

Overall most successful exhibitor was the Koch family.

In another tight judging, the Ayrshires also topped the Holsteins in the group of five judging.

Judge Ben Govett, Dingee, Vic, said the Ayrshire group was "wonderfully uniform”.

“They had amazing dairy strength and fantastic udders,” he said.