Feature breeds boost Geelong Show entries

The sheep pavilion is anticipated to be a hive of activity with 40 exhibitors, 15 breeds and 450 sheep registered to be showcased.

Hampshire Downs will be a focal point with the breed's spotlight attracting several new stud exhibits from as far as NSW.

The Southdown National Show is a show highlight, with over 100 sheep preparing to compete for the prestigious champions' title.

Sheep superintendent Bron Ellis of Sweetfield Corriedales, Mount Moriac said the four-day event was a showcase of some of the State's best stud breeders.

All aspects of the sheep industry will be in the limelight from stud sheep, fleece and carcase competitions to wool crafts, all being exhibited in the sheep pavilion.

Ms Ellis said the pavilion aimed to present and educate attendees with the entire evolution of the sheep industry.

There are over 60 talented shearers registered to compete in Sunday's shearing extravaganza where they will battle it out for the top gong as Geelong's shearing champion.

Ms Ellis said the show had attracted and retained some of the best stud producers through new sponsors in the shearing and stud judging events.

A personal highlight of the show for Ms Ellis is the sheep fancy dress held on Saturday at lunch, where nearly 30 children aged between 4 and 12years-old will let their imagination run-wild while parading their stud sheep for judging.

Another drawcard to the show is the junior judging event, which Ms Ellis said had an estimated 40 students expected to participate in the event that has evolved into one of the lead youth judging event in the State.

Meanwhile the Red Angus feature breed over in the cattle pavilion has buoyed cattle entrant numbers with over 30 registered exhibitors and 240 entries across the three days of judging.

"The Red Angus has seen a lot of new and return exhibitor interest because of the breed's promotion," Geelong Show Cattle president Don McDonald said.

"We've seen a rise in Red Angus numbers that has attracted quality cattle that will all compete for the breed's championships. (Studs) will be able to say 'we were up against the best Red Angus'."

Some of the highlights in the cattle arena include the bull and heifer show Friday afternoon, the junior parades and handlers judging and the breed judging to take place on Saturday.

Mr McDonald said changes have been made to make the viewing of events more attractive with tiered seating surrounding the arena.

"We want the cattle events to be a part of the show's entertainment so we can further promote the breed and animals as hard as we can go," he said.

This year, organisers have had a strong response from Simmentals and Limousin breeders, while Murray Greys are making a return after a two year hiatus.

Sunday will be the dairy classes which Mr McDonald said were proving popular among the large dairy breeds.

To coincide with the dairy judging will be a milking demonstration, which he said was another aspect of the entertainment that promoted the connection between the agricultural and food industry.