This year the Bombala Show ran a new commercial cattle judging competition to stimulate some more interest in the cattle section.
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Bombala Show sponsor and farmer Charlie Maslin said that while stud cattle were well represented over the years, the commercial area has had difficulty in attracting interest.
“This has been largely due to the logistics and time involved in getting commercial cattle into the show ground on show day. So it was decided to try to take the judge out to the cattle, and a "circuit sale" type event was trialed,” he said.
The judging for the new commercial competition was based on a pen of five heifers or five steers, weaned and less than two-years-old. To make it simpler, the competition was held mid week, before show day, and cattle had just to be penned for a short time at home, and once assessed by the judge could be let out.
“With a good season behind us on the Monaro, all the cattle presented extremely well, and it soon became apparent it was to be a testing day for the judge,” Mr Maslin said.
“Some of the contestants also came along for the mornings judging, all commenting on the high standard of the lots presented, and found it interesting seeing the cattle and hearing some of the stories behind them.
“Around 10 teams were entered and Tony Brady of Landmark Bombala kindly judged the first event. The day started on the Delegate Road, went out along the Cambalong Road, Gunningrah Road, Snowy River Way, Mt Cooper Road, and finished on the Poddy Hut Rd.
“All contestants entered pens of heifers, with the Angus, Hereford, and Blond Aquitaine breeds represented. This year it was just a bit late for rising two year old steers due to the season, and just a week or so too early for weaned steers with the calf sales yet to start, so no steer teams were entered.
“Next years competition may be simplified to be just pens of five heifers, which all agreed is the basis to our breeding herds, and the simplest representation of our cattle enterprises,” Mr Maslin said.
See the Bombala Show full results online at www.bombalatimes.com.au