DAIRY and sheep farmers can now enter the Royal Melbourne Show.
The 2014 Royal Melbourne Show sheep competition will be held over three days from Saturday, September 20 to Monday, September 22 at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
Conducted annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the Royal Melbourne Show Sheep Competition provides stud sheep breeders with an opportunity to promote their industry, benchmark their studs and socialise with fellow producers.
Producers from across Australia are encouraged to enter the prestigious competition to compete for more than $30,000 worth of cash, trophies and prizes, including $75 for each class and $500 for the prestigious Stock & Land Interbreed Champion Ram and Ewe titles.
RASV CEO Mark O’Sullivan said the Royal Melbourne Show Sheep Competition recognises and celebrates Victorian stud sheep breeders’ contribution to the agricultural industry.
“The Royal Melbourne Show Sheep Competition has been a long standing part of the Royal Melbourne Show and we’re pleased to give breeders an opportunity to benchmark their studs and gain valuable feedback from expert judges,” he said.
The sheep competition will be presided over by leading industry experts.
“Winning the Supreme Champion Border Leicester exhibit in 2013 was an honour. With strong competition and top quality judges, I encourage both experienced and new breeders to enter the 2014 Royal Melbourne Show Sheep Competition,” said exhibitor Jamie Buerckner.
The Border Leicester is this year’s feature breed, with a dedicated feature show to be held on Sunday, September 21, where $1500 will be awarded to both the champion ram and ewe and $5000 to the supreme exhibit, in addition to ordinary class prizes.
The show will be held in conjunction with the Kelso Park stud centenary, celebrating the longstanding contribution of the stud to the beef cattle and sheep industries.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Poll Dorset breed, established after an inaugural meeting was held at the Royal Melbourne Show on 28 September, 1954.
For the first time ever, the Royal Melbourne Show Sheep Competition will include March-shorn classes for Merinos, while the Royal Melbourne Show Sheep Schools Competition will also be open to all secondary schools, providing those aged 12 to 18 with an opportunity to handle and judge different breeds of sheep.
The Royal Melbourne Dairy Show will be from September 14-16.
Showcasing more than 400 of Australia’s finest dairy cattle, the show provides breeders with a valuable and timely springtime focus and continues to grow in stature and reach with the ongoing support of the Australian dairy industry.
Now in its fifth year, it also provides breeders with an opportunity to promote their discipline, benchmark their studs, gain feedback from industry experts and socialise with fellow breeders.
Jugiong Jersey’s Brendon Nicholson, winner of the 2012 and 2013 Royal Melbourne Dairy Show Supreme Exhibit, said the attention they’ve received since winning has been remarkable.
“Winning at the Royal Melbourne Dairy Show successively has opened many doors and we’ve been absolutely thrilled at the exposure it has brought us,” he said.
Enter at www.rasv.com.au/sheep or www.rasv.com.au/dairy