Supreme exhibit: B Ward and M Ziermann, Glenrowan
Champion female: B Ward & M Ziermann
Reserve: Renard Blondes, Cobram
THE ONLY TWO entries in the Blonde d’Aquitaine class at the Royal Melbourne Show, a nine month-old calf and two and a half year-old cow, were like peas in a pod, according to judge Lucy Newham.
But Ms Newham said the muscling and power evident in the cow exhibited by Bronwyn Ward, Glenrowan West, made the cow Francille Mia the logical supreme exhibit.
“Both are structurally correct with plenty of length, width and all those dimensions we are looking for,” Ms Newham said.
“They are both mobile, in getting around the ring. They are a bit like peas in a pod, with the same type of makeup, same bone and carrying that same kind of cover and same muscling pattern.”
But she said the older female was coming up to calve.
“She might not have that overall softness, but she is coming into production,” she said.
Francille Mia, a March 2016-drop cow, was sired by Usus, out of the dam Old Kentucky Cherish.
“I would be more than happy to take either of these home, I don’t care what colour or breed animals are, these are certainly lovely females,” Ms Newham said.
Renard Nardia, Renard Blondes, Cobram, was awarded junior champion heifer.
Nadia, a December 2017-drop heifer, was sired by Renard Galillee, from Renard Hattie.
”She is just so sweet, beautifully made, beautifully proportioned, she has all the carcase we are looking for and that lovely softness, right through,” Ms Newham said.
“She has that fantastic length and once again has that strength over the spine, the spring of rib, that denotes muscle in the animal.”
She said the heifer had a pronounced hindquarter, which was lovely, and soft-fleshing throughout, and plenty of neck.
