WINNING form is good form and it certainly held up for current Beef Australia grand champion Gelbvieh female, Sunshine Gem, after the prolific ribbon bagger claimed the top beef accolade at Gympie Show on Saturday.
The 40-month-old, second calf heifer and her bull calf are owned by the partnership of Guy Swan and Glenn and Donna Chaplin, Sunshine Gelbviehs, Cooroy Cattle Company, Cooroy, and were placed fifth in the interbreed female line-up at Beef 2015.
Sunshine Gem dominated the senior interbreed female class at Gympie and was proclaimed by judge Curtis Sutton, Lakefield Brahmans, Kybong, as a "sensational, functional female doing an excellent job with her calf" and an obvious choice for Champion of Champions supreme beef exhibit of show.
Sunshine Gem’s main competition came in the form of the Charolais senior interbreed champion bull, Sirrah Indiana Jones J11EF (P), exhibited by Ross and Paula Warren, Elridge Stud, Mothar Mountain via Gympie.
Indiana Jones, a 22-month-old son of former Brisbane interbreed champion bull in Rangan Redemption E42 outclassed a strong senior line-up which was described by co-judge Shane Bishop, Garglen Cattle Company, Kandanga, as a very correct, mobile bull and worthy winner of the Champion Opposite Sex title.
The Warrens also took out the junior interbreed champion male with Elridge Kendall (P) from a powerful 10 breed class.
“He’s [Kendall[ a sexual athlete with the ability to move freely because of his good feet and legs and correct structure and is a very functional, complete young bull,” Mr Bishop said.
Glen Perrett, Glenrae Pastoral Company, Bowenfels Angus, Nanango, exhibited the junior interbreed champion female, Bowenfels Jedda J9, which was also a member of their winning interbreed Breeder’s Group.
Chief cattle steward Warren Smith, Celestial Charbrays, Mothar Mountain, said the number of stud cattle entries had halved from last year because of Beef 2015, but there was still a large contingent of local exhibitors.