Droughtmaster numbers down from 2024, but quality entries lead the way
Bulls with muscle, cows with femininity, and volume offered a quality display in the eyes of the Royal Queensland Show's Droughtmaster judge, Tania Sainsbury, Monto, on Friday.
"Numbers were down a little, but there was definitely a quality lineup for me to sift through," she said.
Last year's Droughtmaster entries were 41, while this year's exhibition was 38.
Ms Sainsbury's choice for the junior and eventually, grand champion bull was Glenlands J Gibraltar, a 728-kilogram, an 18-month-old, sired by Glenlands J Ambassador out of Glenlands J Cherish.
Stud co-principal, Jason Childs, Alkira, Dingo, said the youngster had already been part of a winning duo when he was at his dam's side when she won the interbreed pair at the 2023 RNA.
He said Gibraltar had also secured grand championship sashes at the Clermont and Capella shows.
Ms Sainsbury said the bull's structure and reproductive outlook was type to "get cows in calf".
"He's got a very sirey head and plenty of length and depth of body; his overall capacity is what got him up for the championship."
Gibraltar had an eye muscle area measurement of 124 square centimetres, with a P8 fat measurement of 11mm and 7mm on the rib.
Last year, the Glenlands J team of 10 carried away the major awards, showing the grand champion female, Glenlands J Electra, while Glenlands J Excalibur won the grand champion bull award.
This year, Glenlands J Elegance was the senior and grand champion cow.
"She's got plenty of length of body, and she is reproductively very sound," Ms Sainsbury said.
"There were some really good females in that back line to pick from.
But she's a refined animal, with plenty of hip to pin and angularity of hip."
The reserve senior champion female was Glenlands D Goody Two Shoes, Glenlands J, AC Cattle Co, Dianne Downs, Theodore.
The senior bull was Glenlands J Governor, a November 2023 drop entry in the 20 months and under 22 months class. It weighed 832kg, had an EMA of 138 sq/cm and measured 13 and 12mm over the P8 and rib sites.
The reserve senior champion bull was another from the Glenlands J team; Glenlands J Felix, weighing 1180kg, with a massive EMA of 151 sq/cm. It had a P8 fat measurement of 13mm and 10mm on the rib.
The reserve junior bull was Seymour Quambatook, shown by Robert and Kristie Orphant, Gunalda. Quambatook is a July 2024 drop calf that weighed 556kg with an EMA of 105sq/cm.
The junior champion female was Glenlands D Goody Two Shoes, AC Cattle Co, Dianne Downs, and Theodore.
"She's just a very clean and refined female through the shoulders, with plenty of length and depth of body," Ms Sainsbury said.
The reserve junior female was Glenlands J Holly, which also drew plenty of admiration from the judge.
Full results
Judge: Tania Sansbury
No. of exhibits: 38
Junior champion female: Glenlands D Goody Two Shoes, AC Cattle Co, Dianne Downs, Theodore.
Reserve junior champion female: Glenlands J Holly, Glenlands J Droughtmasters Dingo.
Senior champion female: Glenlands J Elegance, Glenlands J Droughtmasters.
Reserve senior champion female: Glenlands D Footloose, AC Cattle Co, Theodore.
Junior champion male: Glenlands J Gibraltar, Glenlands J Droughtmasters.
Reserve junior champion male: Seymour Quambatook, Robert and Kirstie Orphant, Gunalda.
Senior champion male: Glenlands J Governor, Glenlands J Droughtmasters.
Reserve senior champion male: Glenlands J Felix, Glenlands J Droughtmasters.
Grand champion female: Glenlands J Elegance.
Grand champion male: Glenlands J Gibraltar
Breeders group: Glenlands J Droughtmasters.
