A LAST minute decision to extend their post-Beef 2018 show circuit and attend the Biggenden Show paid off for Munna Creek’s Orphant family, with their Droughtmaster heifer named supreme exhibit on Sunday.
It was the pregnant 23-month-old Seymour Sarah who was awarded the senior and grand champion female under judge Corey Evans, Jen-Daview Limousins, Kingaroy, before taking the supreme exhibit title ahead of grand champion bull, MK Cattle Maximum Energy from the Taylor family, Murgon.
Having spent just three nights in their own home this month, Seymour stud owners Rob and Kirstie Orphant made a ‘quick dash’ to the two-day show where 40 head of cattle were shown by 11 exhibitors.
“We got home from Gympie (show) and...I took their halters off, bushed them,” Ms Orphant said.
“(Rob) comes home after he had a few beers and said, ‘I think I might go to Biggenden tomorrow’.”
Seymour Sarah is yet to have her own natural calf but already has two progeny on the ground and two on the way after she was flushed at just 12 months old.
As an IVF calf herself, Sarah was by Hamadra Cooper and out of Billabong Savannah with her own calf to be sired by Seymour Go-Pro.
Just three years ago, the couple were showing Herefords at Beef 2015 and have used IVF as a way to quickly build their Droughtmaster genetics.
All but one of their seven head show team at Biggenden were IVF progeny with Rob keeping some of their best at home to rest.
When it came to the supreme exhibit decision, judge Corey Evans said it wasn’t easy.
Last year, it was Corey’s brother Brent Evans who judged Limousin bull, MK Cattle Maximum Energy, as the supreme exhibit of the show at just six months old.
Corey placed him as junior and grand champion bull in 2018 and said the bull was definitely one to watch.
But it was the extra power in the Droughtmaster female that he couldn’t look past.
“She has got the carcase, the volume – everything I’m looking for,” he said.
“Really well structured, really refined through that front end, great through the head and neck and a real matron.”
The Orphants will now take a break from the show circuit with a fishing trip.
“There are no cows coming to 1770 fishing, not after a month on the road nearly,” Ms Orphant said.
In other results from Biggenden show; the Forman family, Oakwood Limousins, Bundaberg, won the junior champion female title while the senior champion bull was awarded to the Orphant family’s Droughtmaster bull.