A magnificent five-year-old Charolais cow and her six-month-old heifer calf from Boulview stud, Loxton enjoyed supreme success at the Mount Pleasant Spring Royal Beef Exhibition held on Sunday.
Boulview McKenzie M80E, exhibited by Alizah, Thomas and Eleni Fogden, just edged out an exceptional young Angus bull from Nampara stud, Biscuit Flat, in the all-breeds judging spectacle featuring nearly 100 cattle from 11 breeds.
The two champions vying for supreme exhibit may have been black and white coat coloured but it was far from a black and white decision for judge Richard Miller, Naracoorte.
Mr Miller, who works in Nutrien Ag Solutions stud stock team as well as running a beef cattle and prime lamb property, heaped praise on both of them and said both would have a wonderful impact on the beef industry, but in the end to "two being better than one".
McKenzie M80E and her calf, Swoozie, sired by Winchester Maximus, had come through the very strong senior cow class.
"This big European breed cow is exactly what I am looking for in a female, she is structurally perfect with femininity but still plenty of carcase, she has a wonderful udder and the calf is a carbon copy of her,"
Alizah Fogden said she was "over the moon" to win supreme with McKenzie having been a "favourite" cow of hers since she competed in the 2018 SA Junior Heifer Expo with her.
"When Adelaide show was cancelled I was really disappointed because I had my hopes up all year to get there," she said.
"I knew McKenzie and Swoozie were special ones and I really wanted to get them out so I begged Kevin (Lintern) to put the show on and I am so grateful that he did."
The Hann family, Nampara stud won the bull championship double but in the end it was junior champion, Nampara Peterbuilt R253 which trumped senior champion Nampara Freightliner R11 for the grand broad ribbon.
Mr Miller said he made his decision on the "extra length of spine" of the junior champion.
"He has a real sirey outlook, strong head, beautiful laid in shoulder, I love the spine and back end on him, I just think he is a real class calf that is going to do a lot in this industry," he said.
"In the senior bull you nearly have a carbon copy but what you probably don't have is an extra rib, for me length and weight is very important."
Nampara was also the most successful exhibitor.
Carla Wiese-Smith and Kevin Lintern who were the event's convenors were thrilled with the success of the event and thanked all the exhibitors and sponsors for getting behind it.. More than $1000 in prize money was put up by sponsors.
The convenors, who also convene the Mount Pleasant Show's beef section, said they wanted to give everyone an opportunity to show their stud cattle after the Royal Adelaide Show was cancelled in August.
"We, like everyone, were really disappointed when the Adelaide show was cancelled. Having been exhibitors ourselves we know how much time and effort goes into getting ready for the Royal, it is not weeks, it is all year," Ms Wiese-Smith said.
"We were flooded with support and sponsors wanting to be involved which was great and holding the state Young Judges and paraders championships here just capped the day off."
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