Beef cattle junior judge shares love of cattle assessment

Chelsea Harrop, Sanderston, took out top spot in the competition.

The 23-year-old piggery manager says her first love is cattle and being able to talk about them.

"I do like to express my opinion about how I'd like to adjust cattle," she said.

"I have struck up conversations in the (cattle) shed about 'what do you think of this one?'."

She said this interest put her in good stead when it came to expressing these opinions in a microphone in a ring.

Another help was the work she does at home in preparing her 12 stud Murray Grey cattle.

She said they often had young people come out to help them in the yards, and she often had to speak with them about what to look for in the cattle, which gave her the practice.

Her biggest tip about developing judging skills is to speak with peers.

"Everyone is going to see something different and eventually you'll learn the way that you like to see cattle," she said.

In order to prepare to compete at the national finals next year, Ms Harrop said she will be practicing as much as possible.

"I'll be going home and assessing our cattle more and assessing cattle everywhere we go," she said.

Runner up in the competition was Olivia Baker, Millicent, with Shayla Lepse, Reynella, third.

Katie Bell, Aldinga Beach, received the Nutrien encouragement award.

In the under-15s section, Olivia Hassell, Millicent, was the winner with Bryce Rothe, Padthaway, second, and Sidney Van Dissell, Mount Barker, third.

Overjudge Roger Evans, Tamworth said the most important skill in judging was to be able to justify decisions.

"As a judge we all have our own opinions and different views on what we like to see in our cattle and what makes money," he said.

"As judges, we are invited to share our opinions.

"We're not all going to agree on how we place them, we all see different thing, but do need to justify."

Mr Evans said junior judges could learn some of the analytical skills at home.

He said this could be as simple as working in a paddock at home and looking at a group of 10 heifers and determining which was the widest and which was thickest.