Gelbvieh junior bull whose sire was a champion follows in father's hoof steps
The Gelbvieh grand champion male at this year's Royal Queensland Show was described by its owner, Julie Nixon, as "a very complete bull from the head right through to the tail".
Mrs Nixon, Weetalabah Cattle, Dulacca, said Weetalabah Vector had stood out ever since he was a calf.
"He's one of my favourite bulls," she said.
The 10-month-old bull weighing 434 kilograms was sired by Wbht207 and was out of Wbhq211.
His P8 and rib fat was 5 millimetres and 4mm respectively, and he had an eye muscle area of 87 square centimetres.
Mrs Nixon said his father was a champion, but unfortunately passed away recently.
"So this little fellow means the world to me...and will replace his dad (in the stud)," she said.
Mrs Nixon and her husband, Aderian, who also have a Hereford stud, started showing at the Royal Queensland Show 32 years ago.
"I saw the Gelbvieh when I was over in the (United) states and my parents had a commercial operation and they put Gelbviehs over their black baldy Hereford Angus cross," she said.
Mrs Nixon's favourites are the Gelbviehs while the Herefords are preferred by Mr Nixon and their daughter Aleacea.
The Gelbvieh grand champion female title went to Midas Emm T043, which was exhibited by last year's winner of both grand champion titles in the breed, Chris Braithwaite, Midas Gelbvieh, Tableland, near Murgon.
The 32-month-old Midas Emm T043 was sired by Glendale Jasper and was out of Midas Emm R031.
Mr Braithwaite, who has been breeding Gelbviehs for 35 years, said he was chuffed with the win, but he had taken out the title several times.
"She was on the cow that won here two years ago as a heifer calf," he said.
"I look for structure, softness, length so they can survive in the paddock."
Mr Braithwaite said when he came to the Royal Queensland Show in 1990 it was the first showing of Gelbvieh cattle.
"They impressed me, really impressed me so we did some research, went to America and had a look at where they did all the trial work and everything, and the Gelbvieh were in the top...for all the markers - so we decided to have a look further and love them," he said.
Judge John Mercer said there were some real standout animals among this year's Gelbviehs.
"The champion female was a cow and calf and her breed characteristic was very to type," he said.
"She was a true Gelbvieh, a real feminine type of cow and...you go to a lot of shows and quite often the best calf that you see following a cow is a Gelbvieh and she had a magnificent calf behind her,"
Mr Mercer said the grand champion bull was up against a bull two years older than him.
"But, this young bull was outstanding, no matter what colour coat you put on him, he was a standout calf - a polled head, a terribly masculine head and everything followed through behind with muscling and strength of spine.
"What won him the grand champion was the width through the hindquarter, hips and back which carried right through down the leg.
"Like I say, no matter what color coat you put on him, he's a clinking little bull."
Results
Judge: John Mercer
No. of exhibits: 16
Junior champion male: Weetalabah Vector, AJ and JC Nixon, Weetalabah, Dulacca
Reserve junior champion male: Midas V013, Chris Braithwaite, Midas Gelbvvieh, Tablelands near Murgon
Senior champion male: Midas T036, Chris Braithwaite
Reserve senior champion male: Merrindale Ulrick, Brian and Jasmin Kaddatz, Cinnabar, Qld
Junior champion female: Crosshill Miss Callista, MJ & SM Agnew and JG & JG Fulton, Lockyer Waters
Reserve junior champion female: AH Gelbvieh Stud Veronica, Guy Swan, Tuchekoi
Senior champion female: Midas Emm, Chris Braithwaite
Reserve senior champion female: AH Gelbvieh Stud True Lady, Guy Swan
Grand champion male: Weetalabah Vector, AJ and JC Nixon
Grand champion female: Midas Emm, Chris Braithwaite
Breeders group: Chris Braithwaite
