A magnificent three-year-old bull from Barossa fold, Amrabull Park, has taken out top honours at the Australian Highland Cattle Society's National Show on the weekend.
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But the big moment almost didn't happen with Larimar of Amrabull Park injuring his shoulder in transit from Nuriootpa to the Geelong Showgrounds.
Owner Scott Carter was worried he may have to scratch his prized entry until a visit from the vet and some pulse therapy on the eve of judging saw Larimar come right.
Larimar caught the eye of United States judge Jacob Larson who gave him the nod for senior and grand champion bull and finally supreme exhibit.
Mr Larson was impressed by the 800-kilogram bull for its muscle coverage and presence has encouraged Amrabull Park to collect semen in the bull to market overseas.
"He is broad, he is thick, he is properly made and he is deep bodied and a bull that has some breed character," he said.
"He carries his muscle down deep and he has squareness over the top of the hip.
"I see him making some really outstanding offspring."
It continued a good run for the AI bred bull which has already turned plenty of heads as the supreme exhibit at the Royal Adelaide Show for the past two years.
One of Larimar's eldest daughters was shown at the National placing in one of the biggest classes and he has sired more progeny at their Barossa property, including some out of Belted Galloway cows.
"He is quite a powerful, muscular bull but he is also leaving beautiful fine females," Mr Carter said.
Amrabull Park Heritage Breeds - which is run by Scott and his husband Luke Godly and Scott's parents Bill and Leanne - also won the supreme exhibit in 2018 with another bull, Caleb of Amrabull Park.
Mr Carter said this win from 60 entries from 22 exhibitors from SA, Vic, NSW and Qld was just as special as the first one.
"It is hard to put into words but it validates all the hard work we put into breeding stock," he said.
"We knew we had so much potential for the past two years or more so it is is really nice to see it come to fruition."
Amrabull Park also won the breeders group and breeders pair classes.
Mr Carter who has been breeding Highland cattle since 2007 says they are ideal cattle for small boutique breeders.
"They are quite easy to work with being an even tempered breed and they are unique in their carcase qualities and visual appeal but I also love the heritage of the breed," he said.
"An added bonus is the culture that comes through the exhibitions that are our national shows and it is not really a breed but a community of people interested in breeding Highlands."
Fellow SA stud breeder, Melissa Kramer, Mil Lel, exhibited the junior champion bull Titan Arrow of MacAnLeister
