Southern exhibitor 'ups the ante', claiming National Shorthorn Show top prize

A powerful pairing has led to the first National Shorthorn Show grand champion ribbon for this interstate stud.

Roly Park Up the Ante, exhibited by Roly Park, Lake Boga, Vic, claimed first the junior champion ribbon then grand champion bull at the Dubbo event.

He caught the eye of judge Ivan Price, Mongool Charolais, Yuleba, Queensland, right from his late August 2023-drop class, with him praising the bull's "sire appeal".

"He was a clear winner from when I first laid eyes on him," Mr Price said.

"This was the cleanest moving bull I've seen all day.

"I love that sirey head, love that muscle pattern and power and strength."

Up the Ante weighed in at 878 kilograms, with a 12 millimetre rump fat, 8mm rib fat, 127 square centimetre eye muscle area, 7.4 per cent intramuscular fat and 39cm scrotal circumference.

Exhibitors Scott and Tiffany Bruton said this was their first broadribbon at the national, after previously winning classes during their past seven years of competing at Dubbo.

"It's great to be recognised with this many elite bulls in the shed," Mr Bruton said.

"When he was a few weeks old, we saw him in the paddock and knew he was going to be something.

"We love his carcase attributes, his thickness - he's a real powerhouse of the Shorthorn breed."

Up the Ante had previously competed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, where he was reserve junior champion to another Roly Park bull.

He was sired by Canadian AI sire Crooked Post Stockman, out of dam Roly Park Miss Rosebud.

Mr Bruton said they had been using Crooked Post Stockman as a heifer bull for his moderate frame with light birthweight.

"But this time we paired him with a powerful cow and that's what he produced," he said.

The reserve junior champion was AJM Odyssey U113, exhibited by A and J Morris, Bendick Murrell.

This August-drop bull weighed 813kg with 16mm rib, 10mm rump, 123sqcm EMA, 7.6pc IMF and 38cm scrotal circumference.

Mr Price said the reserve champion was a great example of the Shorthorn breed, with plenty of power and weight-for-age.

In the senior classes, the sash went to Yanco Unison U35, shown by Yanco Agricultural High School in the school's first broadribbon.

The 964kg, July-drop measured 25mm rump, 16mm rib, 134sqcm EMA, 8pc IMF and 38cm scrotal circumference.

Yanco Agricultural High School has been breeding stud Shorthorn cattle since 2013.

School captain and stud bull sale captain Dominic Edwards said they had about 50 breeding cows and sell four bulls most years.

Unison was sired by Kamilaroi Warrigal P15, out of Futurity Skyfalls Carnation Q121.

Dominic said it was the bull's first outing.

"He's been a standout from calf right through," he said.

"There's a fair bit of student involvement with joining and calving - it's good to see the outcome for the work students put in."

Mr Price said he loved the balance of Unison, as well as the topline and depth.

The reserve senior champion ribbon went to Migz Extra Special U8, shown by Gary Andrew, Earlston, Vic, a bull that stood second in the class to the senior champion.

The July-drop bull was 830kg with 20mm rump, 12mm rib, 131sqcm EMA, 8pc IMF and 39cm scrotal circumference.

The champion unled bull was Marrington Emperor U24, exhibited by Howard Williams, Marrington Pastoral Co, Narromine.

The late July 2023-drop weighed 890kg with a 13mm rump, 9mm rib, 135sqcm EMA, 7pc IMF and 38cm scrotal circumference.

Mr Price said the bull "ticked so many boxes".

He's got a good head, beautiful neck extension, good feet, pulls up square and balances himself," he said.

The bull was sired by Sprys Emperor Q116, out of Marrington Queen M52.

The reserve unled champion, Marrington Emperor U3, was a half-brother to the champion, also sired by Sprys Emperor and shown by Marrington Pastoral Company, out of Marrington Ruby R30.

The late May-drop was 874kg with 10mm rump, 7mm rib, 129sqcm EMA, 6.9pc IMF and 41cm scrotal circumference.

Mr Price said the reserve champion was well put together with good balance and a great muscle pattern.

In the female class, Spencers Family Shorthorns bought just one animal to the show and will be returning home to Rutherglen, Vic, with a broadribbon.

Spencer Family Augusta Fool U426, an August 2023-drop heifer, came to the top of her big class because of her "balance".

"She balances up beautifully, is nicely covered, with a strong topline and spine," Mr Price said.

The heifer, who is pregnancy-tested in-calf and due to calve in August, was sired by Sprys Crackerjack, a bull exhibitor David Spencer owned in partnership with Gerald Spry.

"She's very typical of the Crackerjack offspring," Mr Spencer said.

"She's very feminine, plenty of capacity, spring of rib and correct - she ticks all the boxes."

The reserve champion female was Ronelle Park FW Nandi V79, shown by Janelle Johnstone, Ronelle Park, Garland.

Mr Price praised the September 2024-drop for her "overall volume and depth".

Roly Park also won the group of three, with Yanco High School in second.