Variety spices up interbreed

The Perth Royal Show's interbreed beef cattle competition brought some outstanding examples of 13 breeds to the main arena.

As the junior and senior animals were paraded, the four judges were looking for the the pick of the bunch to award as their prestigious interbreed champions.

The junior bulls made the first impression as they were led out under the watchful eye of the eastern states judges.

After the placings were marked, the top three - a Red Angus, a Poll Hereford and a Simmental - were called forward.

Three of the four judges gave the 17-month-old Simmental bull, Bandeeka Fancypants, the highest number of points, saying it had the correct balance and an impressive 124sqcm eye muscle area, to be awarded the interbreed junior bull.

In the junior female judging, the breed numbers again added up to an impressive line-up of 13 exhibits.

Judges were looking for the strict traits that enable a young female to reach the high standards required of a matron breeder.

The top three included a Simmental, a Gelbvieh and a Charolais and again it was the high placings from three out of four of the judges that put the Charolais in front.

The 22-month-old Venturon Farrah carried the overall softness and structural correctness that won on the day.

In the senior bulls, numbers dropped to only eight breeds. Yet again, only one judge didn't see eye to eye with the rest and it was a Poll Hereford, Copplestone Enough, which was considered the most popular.

The judges said the 1015kg bull had tremendous length of body, a good head and eye cover and was an excellent representation of the breed.

For Copplestone principals Peter and Judy Milton, of Dardanup, it was their first Poll Hereford interbreed win at the Show.

The last time any Hereford cattle wore the purple sash was when Westhaven stud was given the nod in 1998.

In the senior females, numbers were back up to 12 and the judges found difficulty agreeing on the best in a quality field.

One judge marked the Simmental with a first placing, another had the Gelbvieh, another the Angus, but the winner was found with the fourth judge who chose the Red Angus.

Bandeeka Elina, with calf at foot, represented the efficiency of production for the judges who said the 31-month-old cow was functionally aligned with the local market.

Earlier, Bandeeka stud principals Tony and Loreen Kitchen, of Elgin, exhibited the winning interbreed group of three heifers which made for a successful showing for the couple.

The interbreed calf was won by the Thompson family, of Venturon Charolais stud, Collie, who did well with their young cattle since it was only their fourth year of showing.