Dairy breeders question value of royal shows with rising costs, red tape

Australia's royal shows were hit hard by the pandemic, and amid rising costs at every point of the showing process, stud participation has been impacted.

Studs have been slowly returning to the show ring, but the major dairy breeds have seemingly returned with more momentum than beef.

According to data from the Sydney Royal, Holsteins and Jerseys experienced little impact from the 2020 pause.

Holstein Australia chief executive officer Rohan Butler said while there had certainly been a decline in showing "over the years", the feeling was showing had returned to a strong and stable position since the pandemic.

Breeders said the ebb and flow of enthusiasm for showing is a step behind the trends in the cattle market - and a hard and tight market will have an aftershock in the showring.

The changing nature of dairy farming

Numbers at this year's International Dairy Week were bolstered on the back of a strong milk price, a healthy market and good seasonal conditions.

Nonetheless, it's clear there a model of infinite growth is not realistic.

"We're in a shrinking market. I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that farms are getting bigger and consolidating," IDW director Declan Patten said.

"Farm sizes are getting bigger... with that, that means there's less time for people to actually spend and focus on showing cattle."

The world of showing is very different to what it was decades ago, and causing some concern especially in dairy.

Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said he felt the resilience of the breed in showing had more to do with the cyclical nature of participation.

While shows were a "great part of the industry", large herd sizes and the overall "corporatisation of dairy farming" were significant burdens for breeders.

"It's nearly a two-month program to prepare a cow and if you're taking a team of say 10 or dozen cows, it's a $25,000 to $30,000 cost factor," Mr Barrett said.

"Some breeders aren't prepared to spend the money to compete at that level. That's what you've got to do and if you're not prepared to do it, then you're not going to go, are you?

"If you don't have the available staff, it's a bit hard to get away to go to the show.

"If your plan is to go for a week to 10 days, it's not just the week to 10 days at the show - it's the several months beforehand that you've got to start preparing and planning and putting the time and effort into having your cows ready."

Is showing worth it for dairy studs?

Breeders have also begun to reassess if the royal shows are where they're seeing the best value for money.

Between the rising costs of fees and feed, labour shortages and an increasing preference for the digital marketplace, the show ring might not have the same appeal it once did.

The specialist stage offered by events like IDW has been welcomed, especially among Holstein studs.

Mr Patten said while IDW had suffered from the "shrinking market", it was clear studs were thinking about their priorities when it came to showing.

"You've really got to invest money where you're going to get the most bang for your buck," he said.

"There are a lot of extra things that you have to do to go to [the royal shows]."

Instyle Holsteins, Cooriemungle, Vic, has had success at IDW, claiming supreme champion cow in 2024.

Owner Brenton Thomas said the high amount of "scanning and rules" at the royal shows made him reluctant to show cattle there, even though the Melbourne Royal Show was closer to where he lived than Tatura, Vic, where IDW was held.

"International Dairy's probably still more of a country show, where the Royals are packed full of people and a bit full-on," he said.

Mr Butler said members had to think about where they invested for their business.

"As with everything resources are becoming more thinly spread, with both breeders and breed associations needing to focus on ensuring they get the best bang for their buck from the shows they attend and support," he said.

"From there it is up to the shows, be they standalone independent shows or royal shows, to work within that dynamic."

The future of dairy showing

The boutique environment offered by IDW also offered breeders the opportunity to make connections around the globe.

Chris Gleeson, Elm Banks Holsteins, Crossley, Vic, said cost and time barriers and the large size of his farm had led him to prioritise IDW, where the stud has had great success for years.

The benefits have kept him going back.

"What the royal shows are up against is the convenience for exhibitors," he said.

"In this day and age, with embryo technology, you can sell or promote your animals into any part of the world, or your pedigrees of your animals.

"It's a bigger marketing opportunity... at any stage, no showing is cheap to do."