Interbreed Junior Champion, Gorbro Hano O Princess, sold at auction the same day she was sashed for $18,000. The Gorbro Holstein cow from Cohuna almost didn’t make it into the arena, as her owners, the Gordon family, were considering not bringing a string of cattle to this year’s dairy week.
Neville Wilkie and judge Brian Leslie with Grand Champion Guernsey Exhibit, Crookslea Ruby 2nd, in her fourth year as a milker, from N. and S. Wilkie at Pentland Hills, Victoria.
Erin Ferguson from Ferguson Farms in Toolamba is pleased with a first place in the Ayrshire class of Dam’s Progeny or Two Daughters from the Same Dam.
Bill Macadam from Merrigum leads Arila US Locket after winning first prize for an Ayrshire Senior Two in Milk. Mr Macadam said there was “no secret” to his three-generation stud’s success. “We just quietly go about our business,” he said. Arlia Ayrshires has celebrated numerous wins in past years, including Reserve Champion previously at IDW and a number of broad ribbons from Adelaide.
A fractured thumb from tying up cattle before Christmas was no obstacle for Merrigum’s Samuel Macadam keeping Sammac Lochies Bessie on task to win the Ayrshire Four Years in Milk first place and then go on to win Reserve Senior Champion.
Intermediate Champion Ayrshire was awarded to Jalks Blink Skye from family owned Jalks Dairying in Naracoorte, SA. Leader Kate Edmonds said she had been showing cattle “all my life”.
The team from Jalks Dairying in SA celebrate winning Grand Champion Ayrshire with Geelunga Burdette Grace. Judge Jenny Thomas (left) said the cow was “a tremendous individual” to win from a high-quality final three.
Kayley Boyd and Julia Paulger led the winning Jerseys for Tallygaroopna’s Ben Pedretti in the class Dam’s Progeny or Two Daughters from the same Dam.
Laura Jensen gave the event its international flavour as she led Cleggett's winning Guernsey entry for Pen of 3 – Breeders Group to success. The Wisconsin-born PhD student came to Victoria to study heat stress in cows using sensor data.
School students found plenty to do at IDW with the Cows Create Careers program designed to engage the next generation of dairy farmers. The Race 4 Dairy proved a crowd favourite with teams required to make a polystyrene cow, assemble a wheelbarrow, mix a precise measure of calf milk and construct an accurately measured calf pen before donning costumes and racing the length of the arena. Euroa High School took line honours from a field of eight.
Paige Mountford leads Lara Dairystar Mermaid for Ferguson Farms at Toolamba in the Summer Calf class, comprising offspring born in the first half of 2023.
The Senior Interbreed Champion entrants line up for judging.
Six Year in Milk class for the Holsteins.
Katelyn Wishart with five-year-old Byrne Lea Octane Buttersnap.
Judge Barclay Phoenix from Canada inspects the five-year-old Holstein class.
Five-year-old class winner, Straun Jedi Louisville, owned by Straun Holsteins of Congupna.
Eclipse Altitude J Princess Red-ET, owned by R. and R. Walmsley, Myponga, SA.
Best Udder and Supreme Champion Cow, six-year-old Instyle Solomon Dahlia, with Carlene Downie and judge Barclay Phoenix, and led by Cameron Yarnald.
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