After a three-year spell, the NSW Ayrshire branch held its annual calf show in Camden in September, making it the 37th show in the history of the event.
President Mick Eagles said it was great to have the event up and running again and he was extremely pleased with the turnout.
“We had 28 entries across nine exhibitors and even though numbers were a bit down due to some exhibitors unable to attend due to illness, we were happy with the whole day and the quality of the animals,” Mick said.
“It was also good to be able to catch up with exhibitors we haven’t seen for a few years as well.”
The Ayrshire calf show has a long and proud history, having been first established at Hurlstone Ag High School back the 1980s.
“Hurlstone used to have a dairy back in the day and at the time the farmers got together and donated calves to the school to help the Year 7 borders overcome homesickness,” Mick said.
“The students then participated in the calf show and the tradition continued for many years.”
A change of circumstances and loss of land has meant the school has now moved away from dairy, however, the event has continued.
“Camden is the perfect place to hold a calf show,” Mick said.
“This used to be a really strong Ayrshire region and even though some farmers have moved out to other dairying areas, there are still a couple of working dairies here.
“Many of the Ayrshires in our breed are descendants from this area.”
Mick said the Ayrshire society, like all minor breeds, is feeling the impact of a shrinking membership base.
“We have lost a few of our bigger farms over the last couple of years so it was good to have such a strong, standalone Ayrshire show, it was a really great day.”
Exhibitors travelled from as far north as Taree to as far south as Wagga, along with some from the Camden area (on the edge of Sydney).
Classes included calf under three months up to 19 months of age.
Judge Callum McPhee from Finley said it was great to head up to Camden and, as a Holstein breeder, get to judge some Ayrshires.
“From a judge’s point of view its great to be asked to judge a different breed,” Callum said.
“It was a great little show and there were some pretty good-looking animals on show, including Junior Champion Woodburn Park Signature Trifle, owned by the Biffin family from Camden.
“Senior Champion heifer Ghinni Creek Chariots of Fire, owned by the Eagle family from Taree, was also crowned junior champion Ayrshire at the Sydney Royal Show this year.”
Exhibitor and fifth generation Camden dairy farmer Todd Biffin was keen to get along and support the calf show; the fact his family won junior champion heifer was a bonus.
Sired by prominent Ayrshire bull Marlie Autograph, Trifle is one of the bull’s first calves in the country to hit the ground.
“Trifle is out of one of the better cow families in our herd. She is about seven months old and is a lovely looking heifer,” Todd said.
Showing was always a big part of Todd’s earlier life and he is keen to pass the experience onto his own family.
“In the past I went to a lot of calf shows and I am keen to get back into it with my boys Jesse and Brody.
“Genetics and showing cows drove my passion to follow my parents into the dairy industry.
“I had a lot of fun over they years leading cows and calves around and I want my kids to have the same opportunity.”
Todd and his family milk 120 Holstein and Ayrshire cows on 93 ha.