Bottlesford female shows her class to take out supreme Murray Grey exhibit

The Koopman family's Bottlesford stud proved hard to beat in the Murray Grey judging.

Judge Jason Strong, the former managing director of Meat & Livestock Australia, couldn't go past Bottlesford's grand champion and junior champion heifer for his supreme exhibit.

Touching on 18 months of age, the heifer - Bottlesford Leanne V29 - had plenty of the attributes he was looking for in a Murray Grey.

"She's an incredible representative of the breed," he said.

Out of Lindsay Leanne P38 and sired by Monterey Rainmaker R159, the heifer came from the 16-18 month class.

"This class is a really good group of heifers," Mr Strong said.

"I'm trying to find a balance and which one will give the best versatility.

"It's really an amazing female that moves really freely and shows tremendous scale.

"The way she carried herself around the ring, you can see she's carrying natural thickness and spring of rib really well."

Bottlesford also walked away with the grand champion Murray Grey bull, with its senior champ.

Bottlesford Unlimited was out of Bottlesford Showgirl N54 and sired by Monterey Rainmarker R159.

At just over two years of age, Unlimited weighed in at 936 kilograms.

"He's a really great demonstration of what the Murray Grey breed is doing," Mr Strong said.

"At just over 2yo, he's handling his weight really well."

Bottlesford also won junior champion bull with Bottlesford VIP, a 14-month-old sire weighing 570kg. It was out of Bottlesford Annabella S25 and sired by Monterey Rainmaker R159.

"The young bull stood out for all the things I'm looking for when they're young," Mr Strong said.

"He's got good growth for age, moves well, with a great frame.

"He's a really good young calf and I'll be excited to see how he develops. I love the potential in the junior bull."

Bottlesford was also named most successful exhibitor.

Coming in reserve to Bottlesford's supreme in the junior female championship was an exhibit from The Elms stud at Lobethal.

The Elms V18 Donna won the first class of the day and Mr Strong said it was a strong way to kick off judging.

"It's a great class to start with, it's a fantastic group of heifers," he said.

The Elms V18 Donna was out of Carrsview Donna R10 and sired by Woodbourn Stonecrest S108.

Mallbrae Pastoral, Wild Horse Plains, won senior champion female with Cratloe Linda Q50, which was out of Glenliam Farm Linda F12 and sired by Wallawong Magic Man M47.

Mr Strong said the 6yo cow had a lot to like.

"It's a fantastic cow, I love the scale and length," he said.

"For an older cow to hold up the way she has, it's very impressive."

In reserve was Ashvell Regan U216 from Ashvell Murray Greys, Maitland. It was out of Ashvell Regan R117 and sired by Ashvell Quarterback Q12.

Coming reserve to Bottlesford's junior champion bull was The Elms Valley of Praise V10. It was out of Bottlesford Cristy P29 and sired by Woodbourn Stonecrest S108.

"I love how much muscle he's got, but while still maintaining his smoothness," Mr Strong said.

The Elms Uno U8 came reserve in the senior bull judging. It was out of Bottlesford Cristy P29 and out of Montery Qantas Q18.

Murray Grey

Judge: Jason Strong

Exhibitors: 10

Entries: 95

Supreme exhibit, grand champion and junior champion female: Bottlesford Leanne V29

Reserve junior female: The Elms V18 Donna

Senior female: Mallbrae Pastoral Cratloe Linda Q50

Reserve: Ashvell Regan U216

Junior bull: KPN24V77 Bottlesford VIP

Reserve: The Elms Valley of Praise V10

Grand champion and senior bull: Bottlesford Unlimited

Reserve: The Elms Uno U8 Most successful exhibitor: G, JR & DJ Koopman, Bottlesford