Red Poll entrants praised for keeping breed alive at Royal Queensland Show

What the Red Poll ring lacked in quantity, it certainly made up for in quality as judging got underway at the Royal Queensland Show on Friday, August 8.

With no bull classes, and only two entries apiece in the junior and senior cow and heifer competitions, it was a short and sweet judging.

Grand champion female was awarded to Omega 3 Samantha, exhibited by Gary Jones, Roselee stud, Texas.

The 23-month-old-cow was sired by Turanga Silver and out of Omega 3 Saturn.

Judge John Mercer, co-principal of Kandanga Valley Charolais and Charbray stud, near Gympie, commended all entrants on their cattle and expressed a wish to see more entrants in the ring.

"I'm old enough to remember when Red Polls were quite a common sight," Mr Mercer said.

"I've got to commend the breeders for sticking with the Red Polls.

"It really upsets me to see old breeds of cattle disappear.

"There's no reason Red Polls couldn't be the Angus of today."

Mr Mercer praised the grand champion cow, who also won the senior cow or heifer class, for refinement and femininity, and said she had everything you could want in a maternal breed such as the Red Poll.

Grand champion exhibitor Gary Jones said he was encouraged to look into Red Polls after his son, Cameron, had a go a breeding them.

"[I like that] they're dual purpose," Mr Jones said.

"They're good mothers and good hybrid-bred cows."

At home in Texas, Mr Jones breeds Speckle Park and Red Poll cattle for his stud, Roselee, and also has a commercial operation of Speckle Park cross Red Poll, which he runs on his property, Breaside.

Before being crowned grand champion female, Omega 3 Samantha had no previous show wins, and Mr Jones said she was usually beaten by the reserve senior champion cow or heifer, Omega 3 Pleasant.

Mr Jones said he hoped to return to the Royal Queensland Show with Omega 3 Samantha next year.

"The ambition is to bring her back her back next year with a big calf at foot," he said.

Full results

Breed: Red Poll

Judge: John Mercer

No. of exhibits: 4

Junior champion female: Fire Fly F90, exhibited by Lisa Whibley, GPS Stud, Pallamallawa, NSW

Reserve junior champion female: GPS Ivy, exhibited by GPS Stud, Pallamallawa

Senior champion female: Omega 3 Samantha, exhibited by Gary Jones, Roselee, Texas

Reserve senior champion female: Omega 3 Pleasent, exhibited by Gary Jones, Roselee, Texas

Grand champion female: Omega 3 Samantha, exhibited by Gary Jones, Roselee, Texas

There were no male entries for this breed.