Canberra Royal 2025: Limousins and Poll Herefords claim interbreed titles

Two Crookwell-based breeders have taken the show ring by storm at the 2025 Royal Canberra Show, claiming the top prestigious titles.

A Limousin cow and calf pair rose the to top of 10 female entries for supreme female, to then go head to head with supreme bull JTR Unleashed U033, exhibited by JTR Cattle Company, Roslyn, to win the supreme beef exhibit.

The 30-month-old cow, Summit Temptress T39, exhibited by Summit Livestock, Crookwell, claimed the top honours of the show, under the eyes of Victorian judges Peter Collins, Tennyson, Geordie Elliot, Hamilton, and David Bolton, Shepparton.

Judge Peter Collins, Merridale Angus, Tennyson, Vic, said the two exhibits were picture perfect, both structurally correct, sound and functional.

"The way they walk is just amazing," he said.

Summit stud co-principal Hayden Green said it was a special win for the family.

"It's been four years since we won this here last time," he said.

"She's a very special cow, probably our favourite cow that we've shown in our 25 years.

"She's from a cow family that dates back to the Premier cows we started with, which were something wonderful that came out of Canada.

"It's a family we haven't propagated a lot as we only started with one, and this girl's going pretty well so far, we're pretty excited."

Earlier in the supreme female class, the young first-calver rose to the top of the five finalists, which included Angus cow Yallambee Beatrix S125, exhibited by JTR Cattle Company, Roslyn, Hereford cow Ivy Bank Eclipse S028, exhibited by Bond Poll Herefords, Tumut, and Shorthorn cow AJM Pattie T121, exhibited by Cherrylock Cattle Company, Tallygaroopna, Vic.

Mr Collins said the final line of four cows was particularly even.

"They're all very similar; they all have clean front ends on them, beautiful heads, clean necks, clean shoulders," he said.

"But again they all have really good tops on them and really great hindquarters with good udders.

"They're maternally made really well for their breeds, they all have great calves at-foot.

"The Limousin cow, which I commented about earlier today, the wedge-shape of this female, but look at the capacity this cow has got in her. It just amazes me.

"Then you get over the top of this cow, and she's got a topline on her, and she's wide from behind."

Judge Geordie Elliot said the vote was unanimous by the judges.

"As Peter's already said this is the cow that just blows you away, that type of udder, you go a long, long way to find an udder structure as good as that," he said.

"Then stick that on a cow that is as good as you're ever going to find with a heifer calf that ticks every box there is and that's what this cow and calf is and what has gotten her up today."

INTERBEED BULL

In the bull championships a Poll Hereford claimed supreme among six other entries.

It was an emotional win for Tim and Jemma Reid, Roslyn, won their first ever interbreed as JTR Cattle Company, claiming the title with 18-month-old bull JTR Unleashed U033, 804 kilograms.

The Poll Hereford was pulled forward into a top three, comprising of the Angus bull Hollywood Top O' The Morning T12, exhibited by IC and LE Frecklington, Peak Hill, the Limousin bull Summit Gold Rush U443, exhibited by Summit Livestock, Crookwell, and the Simmental bull Settler Undaunted, exhibited by Settler Suffolks, Bringelly.

The winning bull was sired by Tycolah Queenscliff N029 and out of Gfc Bolt Vanity.

Mrs Reid said the win felt "amazing".

"The bull is probably the best bull we have ever bred," she said.

"To have one of our animals, not only our bull, but also the Angus cow we own, in the top of the interbreed was a massive achievement for us.

"We're so thankful to all our people and all the hard work put in."

Mr Reid said the bull was "the full package".

"Like the judges said - he's sound, you can use him on anything," he said.

Judge Mr Bolton said all bulls in the final lineup had a lot of growth about them, a "lot of thump" and all moved well on good sets of feet and legs.

"In saying that today it was unanimous - the Poll Hereford wins," he said.

BREEDERS GROUP

Of the five entries in the interbreed breeders group class, it was the Limousin entry by Summit Livestock, Crookwell, that rose above the rest.

This group was also pulled into the top three against the Simmental group exhibited by Shannon Lawlor, Huntington and the Angus group exhibited by Hollywood Angus, Dubbo.

Geordie Elliot said when judging this class he was looking for a consistency of type and demonstration of the breeding program.

"That's what we see with all three of these groups," he said.

"The Limousin team, you have a nice big strong cow and calf bringing the team all the way up and the bull following up that complements them with the amount of muscle and power as he strides through.

"Then a heifer that just ties that all together and shows everything off and probably is very much a cookie-cutter type of the calf that the cow is carrying along.

"That is exactly what I want to see in a group."

JUNIOR PAIRS

In the junior pairs Summit Livestock claimed another win, alongside Barham and Sowter, Werai.

The pair consisted of the Summit bull Gold Rush U443, 772kg, and Barham and Sowter's heifer Lynbrook Nightingale U9.

The judges pulled forward a top five consisting of the Speckle Park, Simmental, Poll Hereford, Angus and Limousin pairs.

A final three was pulled forward with the Poll Hereford, Simmental and Limousins, before the final result.

Judge Mr Bolton said while all the final three were standouts, the Limousin pair were the "closest neat pair".