Canberra Royal 2025: Sentimental win for breeder in small breeds competition

For the first time ever, a dedicated interbreed was held for the small and rare breeds at Canberra Royal 2025.

Australian Lowlines - the feature breed for 2025 - reigned supreme, claiming both the interbreed female and interbreed bull titles, before the heifer took out supreme small breed exhibit, judged by Geordie Elliot, GC Livestock Black Simmentals, Hamilton, Vic, Peter Collins, Merridale Angus, Tennyson, Vic, and David Bolton, Boltons Girls Red Angus, Shepparton, Vic.

Cann Valley UR Sentimental, exhibited by Matt Cooney, Lemnos, Victoria, claimed the supreme title.

The field was first whittled to a top five, consisting of Maine Anjou, British White, Miniature Galloway, Belted Galloway and Lowline females.

The judges selected a final three of the Lowline, Miniature Galloway, Oakvale Ullabella Ruby, exhibited by Barmaroo Miniature Galloways, Darraweit Guim, Vic, and Belted Galloway, Silvan Park Smokie 11314 exhibited by Silvan Park Belted Galloways, Murrindindi

The 16-month-old heifer was sired by Rotherwood Radical and out of Cann Valley Sentimental.

Mr Cooney said the win was "unbelievable".

"It was a really good idea to have the small and the rare breeds out there and it's good to see a small breed can be acknowledged for its breed characteristics," he said.

Mr Cooney said the winning heifer's mother and grandmother had all been donor cows in his breeding, so would fit well in his herd.

"For 16 months, she's pretty spectacular in her depth of body and length of spine," he said.

"I'll keep showing her and probably show her as a cow with calf eventually but definitely a future breeder for me."

Judge Mr Collins said the Lowline heifer had femininity and walked beautifully.

"Certainly a great example of the Lowline breed - just a great animal," he said.

Mr Cooney continued to have success in the bull title, with Rotherwood Top Shelf On Ice owned by his aunt, Vicki Gilbert, Terip Terip, Vic.

The two-year-old red Australian Lowline bull, 682 kilograms, was sired by Platinum Park The Red Baron and out of Vitulus Groovi and Red.

"He's one of very few red bulls and the only red bull to win an interbreed ever in the history of Lowlines - that's really special," he said.

"My aunt would be really proud - he's one of her favourite bulls."

Mr Cooney said they had been focusing on getting good quality red genetics into the breed with the trait currently rare.

"To be able to win with the red bull was quite amazing," he said.

"The heifer is also a red carrier so we're going a really good direction in that sense."

Mr Collins said he loved how thick and well put together the Red Lowline bull was.

"He's structurally very correct on his feet and legs," he said.

"He has a big sirey head and terrific outlook.

Mr Elliot said the decision was unanimous across all three judges.

"There were no arguments, and you can see why with the depth of body and the spine and square base this calf has," he said.

"He has a beautiful outlook head and hindquarter, he's a bull that does the job."