CONSIDERING the sheer volume of broadribbons the Pine Creek stud has to its name after 50 years of royal show success, the fact the breeders consider the cow that was named supreme exhibit in the Angus ring at Adelaide this year to be 'one in a million' is significant.
Black Diamond Ms Shiraz N407, paraded with March-born bull calf Black Diamond Magnum, has that X factor, says Christie Fuller, who operates the Cowra, NSW, stud with her parents Greg and Sharon.
"The fact she has calved as a 22-month-old heifer and presented so well in the show ring today with the season the way it is says it all," Ms Fuller said.
Pine Creek has heavily reduced its ewe and cow numbers due to drought and will this year join only 350 Angus females, compared to the normal 500.
Angus was the feature breed and a supreme exhibit was awarded this year - not typical at the Adelaide Royal - in recognition of 100 years since the first Angus cattle were registered in Australia.
Pine Creek is hoping the cow-and-calf package, along with their young grand champion bull at Adelaide PC Pinnacle P010, will help provide them a red hot chance at the coveted award for most successful exhibitor over three royals to be presented at Melbourne later this month to celebrate the Angus breed's centenary.
Ms Shiraz was junior champion at Sydney and Melbourne last year, reserve junior interbreed champion at Melbourne and her mother was the interbreed female at Adelaide in 2015.
The 800kg PC Pinnacle, one of the older sons by a bull bought out of Canada, was described by judge Daniel Shike, from the US, as balanced, powerful and stout but still able to move nicely.
Junior champion heifer went to Stuart and Natalie Hann's Nampara Princess P86, from Kingston. She was sired by Nampara Liberty L21, a bull which made $85,000 for the Hann's three years ago.
"His calves are all standouts - big, deep and long - and this heifer is very strong in all those traits," Mr Hann said.
The Hanns bought a team of five to Adelaide from their 300-cow herd.
The 20-hour drive from Miles in Queensland paid off for the Hill family's Bulliac Angus, with the 880 kilogram Bulliac Nintendo taking the senior champion bull title.
Nintendo, by United States sire Deer Valley Patriot 3222 and out of the Mildred cow line which has produced Bulliac's sale-topping cattle, was selected for showing due to his balance, functionality and volume of meat.
Drought has also forced the Hills to cut their breeder numbers back to 160 from the typical 200 and 80 were just this week sent off on agistment.
Angus
Judge: Daniel Shike
Exhibitors: 13
Entries: 75
Supreme, grand and senior cow: Black Diamond Ms Shiraz N407, Pine Creek Angus, Cowra, NSW
Res senior cow: Killain Blackcap May 3 N21, Killain Angus, Tamworth
Junior champion heifer: Nampara Princess P86, Nampara Pastoral Company, Kingston
Res: Killain Emblynette P26, Killain Angus
Grand and junior champion bull: PC Pinnacle P010,Pine Creek
Res junior bull: PC Power Up P059, Pine Creek
Senior champion bull: Bulliac Nintendo, Hill family, Miles, Queensland
Res: PC Not Negotiable N142, Pine Creek