AS the Simmental breed celebrated its 50th year in Australia at the Royal Adelaide Show on Friday, it was a name synonymous with the breed that dominated judging.
The Baker family, Woonallee Simmentals, Furner, claimed the supreme champion Simmental exhibit with Woonallee Charo Q428, which had already secured the Bakers the George Copping Memorial Trophy for grand champion female and won senior champion cow.
Their young bull Woonallee S.K.W was also crowned junior and grand champion bull, while they received ribbons for reserve champion senior cow and reserve champion junior cow.
Woonallee's Lizzy Baker said it was a proud moment for the stud to be so successful on the 50th anniversary of the breed's emergence in Australia, which the Baker family were instrumental in.
Her husband Tom's father Dale Baker and his brother Dean bred the first calf at Callendale, near Lucindale, back in 1972.
"Even though there wasn't a huge number of Simmentals, it was a good showing and we were lucky enough to be judged at the top end," Mrs Baker said.
The supreme exhibit, sired by Canadian bull MRL Missile and out of Woonallee Charo H253, was making its show debut, with Mrs Baker saying its "length and power" made it a "pretty unique female".
Judge Aimee Bolton, Toowoomba, Qld, described the supreme as "an absolute powerhouse that couldn't be faulted, with a great calf behind her".
"She's got that strength of spine, that presence, thickness, depth, and all the right fertility traits with an udder that's going to last her her years and feed calves like that one behind her," she said.
Woonallee's grand champion bull S.K.W, sired by Wombramurra L45 and out of Mader Walk This Way, weighed in at 714 kilograms, with an eye muscle area of 116 square centimetres, rib fat of 11 millimetres and rump fat of 12mm.
RELATED READING: Vics lead way in Speckle Park competition
Woonallee have had a black infusion for about 10 years, with embryos brought over from Canada, and are now black dominant with 250 spring calving cows and 300 autumn calving cows.
"We love the traditionals and that's where we started from, but the demand for blacks is outweighing the traditionals so it's market driven," Mrs Baker said.
While Woonallee drew on 50 years of experience, an exhibitor at the other end of the spectrum received junior champion female.
The Llewellyn family, Keith, also Red Angus breeders, claimed the ribbon in their first time showing Simmentals with Woonallee Irene S394.
Judge Bolton said while it was only a moderate field of Simmentals, it was great to see the show back.
"It has been disheartening in the past few years with people preparing but events getting called off," she said.
"What's important is that we're back here now and celebrating 50 years in Simmentals.
"It's a really exciting time in the industry and awesome to see people bring out such fantastic animals.
"The showing has been a prime example of what the breed has evolved into.
"We've seen the very traditional Simmentals come through that very much still have a place, but there is cattle coming out that will fit a number of industries whether it's for trade, older cattle to finish on grass or breeding females that will continue to breed the house down for whatever market.
