There might have been smaller class sizes but there was no drop in quality in the other recognised breeds ring at the Sydney Royal on Saturday.
The Australian Lowline Cann Valley New Moon P010, exhibited by Matt Cooney from Cann Valley, Lemnos, Victoria, won the champion female before going on to be sashed best exhibit by judge Hayley Robinson from Aubigny, Queensland.
By Cann Valley Count Lucifer and out of Cann Valley Lunar Eclipse, she won the female over 30 months class.
Mr Cooney said the Lowlines usually had their own class, but fewer entries meant this year meant they instead exhibited with the other recognised breeds.
New Moon was best exhibit in the Lowline ring last year's Sydney Royal, and also won best Lowline exhibit at Canberra Royal in February.
"That's her fourth calf - his full brother (Cann Valley The Big Bang) was actually grand champion at Canberra show, so it was mother and son up against each other as supreme exhibit," he said.
Ms Robinson said the cow had plenty of thickness which could also be seen in her calf.
"To me she best combines the power and productivity with femininity and to me was a representative of the Lowline breed," she said.
"Regardless of age I think she's got a very sound udder. She's raised a few calves with that - it's a testament to her and the breeders.
"She just really was the best example of what a beef animal should be."
Ms Robinson noted that it was a well prepared group of animals across the various breeds.
In reserve was the Dexter, Carragheen Tatiana, exhibited by Tayla Ann Gallo, Mijota Park Dexters, Kingsvale.
By Bircham Ballantyne and out of Carragheen Red Poppy, she won the 14 to 20 month class.
There was only the one exhibit for the bulls, with the Belted Galloway Jandrew Stanley 11410 from the 20 to 30 month class winning champion.
By Dirigo Apache US3565D and out of Jandrew Janice 9967, he was exhibited by Andrew Monaghan and Alison Mathieu of Jandrew Belted Galloways, Stuart Town.
He weighed 435 kilograms with an eye muscle area of 75 square centimetres, four millimetres over the rump and rib, and average daily gain of 0.5kg per day.
Rebecca Nadge
Bec is livestock editor for The Land. She has previously worked for Stock & Land in Victoria, the ABC in Kununurra, and newspapers in Kalgoorlie and New Zealand. Contact her at bec.nadge@theland.com.au
Bec is livestock editor for The Land. She has previously worked for Stock & Land in Victoria, the ABC in Kununurra, and newspapers in Kalgoorlie and New Zealand. Contact her at bec.nadge@theland.com.au
