An impressive Charolais trio bred from a Canadian AI sire have given Vic Mornington Peninsula-based stud Windjammer a landslide win in the interbreed sire’s progeny class.
The progeny of Cedardale Zeal 125Z, exhibited by Edwina Wiltshire, Flinders, Vic, scored seven points.
This put them 11 points clear of their nearest rivals the Simmentals, in the field of nine breeds.
It was the first royal show interbreed win for Ms Wiltshire in 21 years breeding Charolais.
The win was even more special with Ms Wiltshire’s sister and brother-in-law Rebecca and Scott Brookes, Bukartilla Beef, Kuitpo, the sponsors.
Her champion group comprised two heifers, Windjammer Nixie Rose and Windjammer Macie, and young bull Windjammer Nashville.
The three animals were among the minor placings in Charolais judging but really shone as an interbreed group.
“When I am judging a sire’s progeny I am really looking for that sire battery and putting that breeding through their progeny in a really consistent way,” judge Tom Green, Tintinara, said.
“I found with this team that length of body, carriage and style put them on top for me today.”
Zeal is being marketed in Australia by Semex and is a son of Cedardale Tyrant, a bull in which more than 75,000 doses of semen have been sold worldwide.
“I bought semen in Zeal for its muscle shape and great structure, and they (the calves) have really got a docile nature which is fantastic when I am often handling the cattle on my own,” Ms Wiltshire said.
“The bull really fits its father’s profile and they are all a similar body shape and even head shape.”
Nashville has been used over a small number of stud and crossbred heifers and Ms Wiltshire said it was likely to be offered at the Yea Charolais sale in Vic next year if not sold privately before.
The runner-up Simmental team were progeny of Woonallee Tornado, exhibited by Regan and Karen Burow, Yerwal Estate, Lucindale.