Supreme exhibit: Burramurra, Moama, NSW
Champion female: Nangaringa, Loxton, SA
Reserve: Burramurra
Champion bull: Burramurra
Reserve: Nangaringa
Winning supreme Santa Gertrudis exhibit at the Royal Melbourne Show was a big achievement for Mark Bazeley, Burramurra Santa Gertrudis stud, Moama, NSW, simply because his bull came out on top of what he considered to be an outstanding champion female.
“To beat that heifer that I had personally ranked really highly, was a great result,” Mr Bazeley said.
It was the first ribbon Mr Bazeley’s three year-old bull had won in his show career.
And he said it was one of his only bulls that he hadn’t sold.
“He has a beautiful nature, he’s really kind around other cattle, so I just haven’t been able to let him go,” he said.
And he still hadn’t decided what he would do with the bull, whether he kept him or sold him.
And it was against the junior champion female, who ended up being grand champion female, by Nangaringa Santa Gertrudis stud, Loxton, SA.
The stud’s Eleni Fogden said the 14 month-old heifer was an “all-round female, with everything we look for”.
“Although she’s a show animal, she can walk well around the paddock and will still be able to carry a calf, her udder development is really good,” Ms Fogden said.
The heifer had won supreme champion Santa Gertrudis exhibit at the Royal Adelaide Show, SA, a few weeks prior.
And she still has a busy few weeks ahead, being shown at Mildura and Penola, SA, at upcoming events.
After that, they plan to join her to get a good calf.
Judge Richard Sullivan said all Santa Gertrudis exhibits were credits to the breed.
“It’s terrific to see all the Santas out here today, to get a good idea of what the breeders are trying to achieve,” Mr Sullivan said.