Australia's Biggest Annual Dairy Competition Underway
Australia’s biggest annual dairy livestock competition, involving close to 3000 cows and 500 farms, is once again poised to bring commercial and registered dairymen together like no other event in this country. The Semex/Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition enters its 14th year this month, and the nationwide spectacle is widely accepted as offering producers key marketing and profile from the associated exposure of winning regional and state championships. Each of Holstein Australia’s 29 sub-branches involved have or are now kicking off their local competitions (which involves one judge per sub-branch). Entries peak at more than 250 animals in some of the sub-branch strongholds. All the cows are judged for their conformation on-farm without preparation. The first and second placegetters in each class at the sub-branch level then move forward to the state finals where they will be re-assessed by a fresh over-judge in early November to find the state champions. Semex initiated the competition to acknowledge quality, functional dairy cows – often the unsung heroes of Australia’s dairy industry. It now includes a special application because cows that may not have enjoyed a profile before have a chance to shine and/or be discovered in the farmer-friendly time-efficient format. “This competition has a lot of momentum and is held in high regard – very high regard – both here in Australia and overseas,” Semex’s Jim Conroy said. “Semex in 2014 is about offering Genetics for Life to our dairy farmers – everyone wants cows that produce, re-produce and live long healthy lives.” He said the On-Farm Competition’s role was well accepted. “The breeding industry is alive and well,” Jim said. “There is always good money to be made in selling high-end livestock. “This competition is all about helping our producers gain exposure and marketability for their animals without ... Read More...
