Around the Ring: How a cow with a calf at foot beat "a beef breeding machine"
A Brangus cow's functionality and femininity made her a standout at the 70th annual Yeppoon Show on the weekend, May 7 and 8.
Exhibited by the Lamb family of N Bar Brangus, Parraweena, Banana, the four and half year old cow, Bullakeana Unanimous, scored a win as senior champion interbreed female first before going on to be named the grand champion interbreed exhibit.
Dan Lamb, who with his wife, Megan, own N Bar Brangus and N Bar Lowlines, could not have been happier with the family's wins at this year's Yeppoon Show.
As well winning the grand champion interbreed title, the Lamb family won junior champion interbreed heifer with N Bar Well Maid; the compact breed junior champion heifer with Cann Valley Lady Pepper and the compact senior champion female with Adelaide Park Saylor
Cann Valley Lady Pepper was also named grand champion compact winner.
Mr Lamb believes his Brangus females won the blue ribbons because the family had always chased functionality first and foremost, and femininity.
"That's what he (the judge) kept mentioning time and time again - that they're functional females that will do a job and we never chase any extremes," he said.
This week, the family will be among stud cattle exhibitors at this year's Rockhampton Show while later this year they will be first time exhibitors at the Ekka with three junior Brangus heifers.
"I've never exhibited at the Ekka before - I've never even been as a spectator so we just thought we'd keep it simple for our first go and then we might go back bigger and better next year," Mr Lamb said.
A commercial breeder of Brangus since 2000, Mr Lamb said they had only had the two studs for the past five years.
"We've always liked Brangus - we came from a Brahman base so initially we put Angus bulls in and then we put Brangus bulls in because they suit our country," he said.
Judge Shane Perry, Strathfield Droughtmasters, Clermont, said stud cattle exhibitors were really punching above their weight with the quality of cattle at the Yeppoon Show this year.
Mr Perry said it was really amazing to see such quality across the breeds from the Bos taurus to the Bos indicus at a coastal show, agreeing the turnout at Yeppoon was a good thing for the industry.
"Obviously showing takes a lot of time and lot of money...I just take my hat off to all these exhibitors here today (Sunday, May 8)," he said.
"They've put the time in and put money in and the cattle are really showing off what they can produce and the beef industry is the winner at the end."
Mr Perry also acknowledged all the young people involved in leading the cattle at the Yeppoon, saying they were the future for the beef industry.
"I am promoting every breed here today and promoting all these young people to stay in the industry," he said.
Mr Perry said the top Interbreed bull, Pinnacle Pocket Mauka, was a magnificent Senepol bull.
"He's definitely a credit to the breed and the breeder...you want a bull that has the capacity to serve a lot of females," he said.
"This bull was reproductively sound underneath and...the way he's made up he has the capacity to serve a lot of females in the future...he's certainly a beef breeding machine."
Compact breed judge Georgie Spencer, Daly Creek Brangus, Bungundarra, chose Cann Valley Lady Pepper as the grand champion compact because she was structurally and reproductively sound.
"She brings good versatility to the Lowline breed and demonstrates good breed character, she has a feminine face, walks out well and is clean and tidy," Ms Spencer said.
In the young paraders contest, Olivia Paine came first while Elizabeth Lawrence was second. In the young judges competition, Bonnie Jones scored first prize with Elizabeth Lawrence coming second.
Results compact
- Junior champion female - Cann Valley Lady Pepper, the Lamb family. Reserve - Crimson Park Vanessa, Sharon Coome
- Senior champion female - Adelaide Park Saylor, the Lamb family. Reserve - N Bar Victory, the Lamb family
- Junior champion bull - Crimson Park Voltamor, Sharon Coome. Reserve - Alton Val Kyrie, Alton Lowlines
- Senior champion bull - Skyview Ultimate Impression, Noelene Yates. Reserve - Cann Valley Titan Moon, Sloan Bridges
- Grand champion compact - Cann Valley Lady Pepper
Results all other breeds (interbreed)
- Junior champion female - N Bar Wellmaid, the Lamb family. Reserve - N Bar Vibe
- Senior champion female - Bullakeana Unanimous, the Lamb family. Reserve - Black Diamond Remix, Celambia Speckle Park
- Junior champion bull - Cleethorpe Remington, Cleethorpe Brahmans. Reserve - St Brendan's Vince, St Brendan's College
- Senior and grand champion bull - Pinnacle Pocket Manuka, Pinnacle Pocket Senepols. Reserve - Pinnacle Pocket Vince
- Grand champion interbreed - Bullakeana Unanimous
