The 62nd Central Gippsland Jersey Fair in April was contested by 76 cattle, from calves to mature cows, across 26 classes.
The Jersey Fair is organised by a committee representing the Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Group, and occurs each year at Warragul.
In 2025, the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair will be the first event in the World Jersey Fair, held in Australia.
This year’s judge was Roger Heath from Wanstead Jerseys, Bookar, in Victoria.
“Firstly, it was a very very well organised event,” Roger said.
“The committee they have organising this Jersey Fair is unbelievably good. They do a fantastic job.
“Going into judging the Jersey Fair, I was really excited. This was my first time judging the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair.
“It’s fair that’s always up there in importance in the Jersey world and calendar of events. And it was certainly a privilege to be asked to judge at it.”
Roger said each class had a strong showing of quality cattle, prepared and led well.
“It was a really strong cow show,” he said.
“The quality was up there with the best in the world.
“The people who exhibited at the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair are quite well respected in the Jersey world.
“The fact they showed there, made it a good show.
“There were a lot of good heifers and young cattle there.
“The intermediate classes were very strong.
“In the senior classes, 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.
“The aged cow class was quite spectacular. The first four cows were top notch.
“The cow that finished second in that class was 11 years old with nine calves, and she still looked very good.
“And it was really nice to see the amount of kids there, having a go. It’s really exciting. That’s where the future of our industry is,” Roger said.
The results of the Central Gippsland Jersey Fair were spread among the exhibitors.
Junior Champion was presented to Brookbora Standard Lady 366.
Reserve Junior Champion was presented to Lightning Ridge MB Victorious Tesla IMP-ET.
Honourable Mention Junior Champion went to Heartland Chocochip Princess.
Intermediate Champion Cow was awarded to Brookbora Oliver Sleeping Beauty 3.
Reserve Intermediate Champion was presented to Cherrylock Dreaming of Olives.
Honourable mention went to Brookbora Bashful Sweet Elfa-P.
The Vic Wallace Memorial Best Udder trophy was awarded to Brookbora Vanahlem Enchantress.
The Champion Type and Production Cow trophy was awarded to Brookbora Eileen 130.
The Group of Three Bred by the Exhibitor award was presented to Brookbora Jerseys. Runner-up was Philmar Dairy Company.
Organising committee coordinator Reece Attenborough said this award was keenly contested every year.
“The Group of Three Bred by one Exhibitor is a class that a lot of people like to win,” Reece said.
“Sometimes an exhibitor will have the champion of the show, but someone else has three strong animals they can exhibit.
“It’s an award that shows depth in your cattle.”
The Senior Champion Cow was awarded to Brookbora Eileen 130.
Reserve Champion Cow was awarded to Brookbora Vanahlem Enchantress.
Honourable mention was awarded to Miami Publican Jingle 5857-P.
The Supreme Champion was awarded to Brookbora Eileen 130.
Premier Exhibitor status was awarded to the Bacon family, of Brookbora Jerseys.
Cattle travelled from across Victoria and NSW to be exhibited at the Jersey Fair.
This year’s Jersey Fair included a focus on how dairy is used in food products.
The Untethered Chef, Matt Wilson, cooked and prepared a range of food utilising the dairy products of other exhibitors — That’s Amore Cheeese, Gippsland Jersey and Bulla Family Dairy.
RESULTS
Class 1: Dry Heifer born 01/10/2023 or after
1st Tanjil MLF MB Colton Float-ET; 2nd Rockstar AA Joel Jenny; 3rd Ripponlea Askn Bubbles 3540.
Class 2: Dry Heifer born 01/07/2023-30/09/2023
1st Heartland Chocochip Princess; 2nd Emu Banks Broadway Lassie 14248; 3rd Berryvale Russia 5; 4th Kings Ville Canary 105 P.
Class 3: Dry Heifer born 01/04/2023-30/06/2023
1st Brookbora Standard Lady 366; 2nd Kings Ville Marie 89; 3rd Rockstar SWB Joyride Jenny 3.
Class 4: Dry Heifer born 01/01/2023-31/03/2023
1st Impression Victor Olive; 2nd Miami Tequila Cowslip 7542; 3rd Rivendell Gigawatt Progress; 4th Dylander Park Pop Choc Illumination.
Class 5: Dry Heifer born 01/07/2022-31/12/2022
1st Dylander Park Lovely First Class; 2nd Brookbora Love Lies 882; 3rd I-Star Chocolate Fudge; 4th Heartland CC and Sprite.
Class 6: Dry Heifer born 01/01/2022-30/09/2022
1st Lightning Ridge MB Victorious Tesla IMP-ET; 2nd Rockstar Joyride Adelle.
Class 7: Pair of Dry Heifers by the same sire, born on or after 01/01/2022
1st Avonlea Chocochip Chip; 2nd River Valley Joyride.
Class 8: Handlers 10 years and under
1st Austin Ferris; 2nd Jaxon Collins; 3rd Darcy Blizzard; 4th Talia Ferris; 5th Harvey Ross.
Class 9: Handlers 11-14 years
1st Piper McDonald; 2nd Monata Reid; 3rd Maxwell Ross.
Class 10: Handlers 15-21 years
1st Adele Hanks; 2nd Leah Dickson; 3rd Alexis Allen; 4th Chelsea Atkins; 5th Sienna Ross.
Class 11: Heifer in Milk, born on or after 01/01/2022
1st Kings Ville Petunia 147 P; 2nd and Best Udder, Attaview Bashful Inch P.
Class 12: Heifer in Milk, born 01/07/2021-31/12/2021
1st and Best Udder, Brookbora Bashful Sweet Elfa-P; 2nd Froglands Askn Ranunculus; 3rd Wootanga Park Craze Rustic 7598; Stoneleigh Park Froglands Invincible Belle.
Class 13: Heifer in Milk, born 01/01/1021-30/06/2021
1st and Best Udder, Brookbora Love Lies 839; 2nd Miami Watt Waterfern 7304; 3rd Kings Ville Melmiss 64; 4th Element Megapower Ella.
Class 14: Cow in Milk, born 01/07/2020-31/12/2020
1st Brookbora Oliver Sleeping Beauty 3; 2nd Jackiah Victorious Silverbelle 3196; 3rd Sunshine Farm Lovely 322.
Class 15: Cow in Milk, born 01/01/2020-30/06/2020
1st and Best Udder, Cherrylock Dreaming of Olives; 2nd Homelands Sleeping Beauty 6; 3rd Brookbora Golden Glory 197.
Class 16: Cow in Milk, born 2019
1st and Best Udder, Brookbora Eileen 130; 2nd Miami Publican Jingke 5857-P; 3rd Heartland Crazily Gorgeous Girl.
Class 17: Cow in Milk, born 2018
1st Bercar Passport; 2nd Brookbora Vanahlem Flora 3; 3rd Kings Ville Cowslip 132.
Class 18: Cow in Milk, born 2017 or before
1st and Best Udder, Brookbora Vanahlem Enchantress; 2nd Brookbora Vanahlem Estelle; 3rd Jackiah Vanahlem Ella 472; 4th Bluechip Galaxies Rory.