Riverside Christian College at Maryborough has triumphed in its very first outing to the Royal Queensland Show, exhibiting the champion Bazadaise cow, which then went on to be crowned champion Bazadaise exhibit.
Riverside Ellie was born and bred at the school farm from a sire, Riverside King, who did well in the show ring a couple of years ago.
She was first awarded the junior champion heifer ribbon by judge John Mercer of Kandanga Valley Charbrays, while the school's only other exhibit, Riverside Dolly was second in her heifer class.
The "Australianising" direction taken by Rodney Johannesen's Folkslee stud at Brooweena was acknowledged by Mr Mercer in awarding Folkslee Lasso the champion bull sash.
Competing in the youngest bull class in the competition, Mr Johannesen described Lasso as one of his new generation of poll genetics.
"He'll be one of our future stud sires," he said. "I've spent the last 20 years successfully breeding the first poll Bazadaise anywhere in the world.
“I just wanted to Australianise our cattle and it looks like I've done that successfully."
Bazadaise were a breed Mr Mercer said he admired greatly. "They have natural traits of yield and carcase, built on a sound structure and soft meat.
“They feel like soft butter, even though there's not a lot of fat cover. Australianising has taken a little bit of muscle expression off, but still left the fat cover that butchers need.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
