It was a successful day out for the Brookbora Jerseys Stud show team at the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair, on April 14.
Brookbora Jerseys took out the overall Premier Exhibitor Award, along with winning the Senior, Intermediate and Junior championship.
The Premier Exhibitor Award was sponsored by World Wide Sires Australia.
Brookbora principal Daniel Bacon said he exhibited 12 Brookbora cattle at the fair.
“We took eight cows and four heifers,” he said.
“We had an incredible result. We didn’t expect a day like that.
“I’m thankful to the show team for their time preparing and showing our cows and heifers.
“We took a bigger team of cattle and people than usual.
“We’re fortunate to have a really good team at home, and fortunate to have some great young people working for us at the shows.
“Some of them travel from interstate to support us.”
Brookbora, at Tennyson in northern Victoria, has been exhibiting at the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair for the past 10 years.
“It’s an incredible show and the people who organise it do an outstanding job.”
Senior Champion Cow was awarded to Brookbora Eileen 130. This award is sponsored by Rabobank.
Brookbora Eileen 130 impressed judge Roger Heath among a tightly contested class.
“There can only be one champion cow,” he said.
“There were six or seven cows at the show I could’ve picked as champions.
“The cows that made it to the top were big framed dairy cows, with big open frames, good soft textured udders and have the will to milk.
“I could’ve picked any one of these cows.”
Brookbora Eileen 130, classified EX91, was seventh in the four-year-old class at International Dairy Week this year.
She was previously exhibited at the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair in 2022 and achieved Intermediate Champion, following her status as Reserve Intermediate Champion at IDW 2022.
“Eileen is a very strong cow, a very correct cow, and has got so much width through her,” Daniel said.
“She’s always been one of my favourite cows.”
Brookbora Vanahlem Enchantress took home the Reserve Champion status in the Senior Cow class.
Honourable mention went to Miami Publican Jingle 5857-P, owned by Philmar Dairy Company and Miami Jerseys.
Brookbora Vanahlem Enchantress was also awarded the Vic Wallace Memorial Best Udder, sponsored by Wallacedale Jerseys and Alta Genetics Australia.
The Intermediate Champion Cow is Brookbora Oliver Sleeping Beauty 3. This award was sponsored by Lely Center Gippsland.
“She’s one of my favourite young cows, and has a very, very bright future,” Daniel said.
“She won the Junior 2yo class at Gippsland last year, was All-Australian 2yo in 2023 with Jersey Australia.
“That family seems to be going from strength to strength for us.”
Reserve Champion was conferred upon Cherrylock Dreaming of Olives, exhibited by Ben Pedretti from Froglands Jersey.
Honourable mention went to Brookbora Bashful Sweet Elfa-P.
This young cow was second in the Junior 2yo class at IDW 2024 National Jersey Show.
Roger was singularly impressed by Brookbora Oliver Sleeping Beauty 3.
“This cow just blew my mind when she came out here today,” he said.
“She’s a cow that has so much style and so much dairyness. This cow is going to grow into something special.”
He was also impressed with the line-up in this class.
“They’re top quality cows in every right and deserve their place out here on the arena,” Roger said.
“The cow in reserve has been milking since September and she’s a cow you have to admire because of her strength. This cow is so wide from her hip.”
The Junior Champion Cow was bestowed upon Brookbora Standard Lady 366. This award is sponsored by Leading Edge Genetics.
She also received first in the autumn calf class.
The Reserve Champion Cow is Lightning Ridge MB Victorious Tesla IMP-ET, owned by the McGrath family.
Honourable mention was awarded to Heartland Chocochip Princess, exhibited by Michaela Thompson and Hayden King.
Many of the cows and heifers exhibited at the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair are sired by Vanahlem.
“Vanahlem works for us,” Daniel said.
“Of the eight milkers we exhibited, they were by Vanahlem or their dams were by Vanahlem.
“Which I didn’t realise until we loaded them onto the truck to take to the Jersey Fair.”
The results are on the back of the Bacon family of Brookbora Jerseys recognised as one of the inaugural awardees of Jersey Australia’s Elite Master Breeders Award, late last year.
Most of the cows and heifers exhibited at the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair will be for sale at Brookbora Jerseys on May 28.
“Nine of the 12 cattle will be in the sale,” Daniel said.
“The two aged cows and Eileen 130 won’t be in the sale, but they have daughters in the sale.
“Brookbora Oliver Sleeping Beauty 3 and Brookbora Standard Lady 366 will be for sale.”
The on-property and online sale on May 28 commemorates Brookbora Jersey's 60th anniversary, with 45 females from the stud for sale, representing 60 cow families across the herd.
There will be 30 additional females on offer, by invitation, from other studs.
Brookbora Jerseys will also offer 15 bulls for sale.
The sale is a feature of the Jersey Australia annual general meeting, held this year in northern Victoria and supported by various farm visits.