Supreme Champion Cow: Tony Burnett, Dairy Farmers, owners Jennifer, Trish and Pat McDonald, RNA Councillor Duncan McInnes and handler Todd Wilson. Picture: Andrea Crothers
A VETERAN of Australia’s dairy industry has exhibited the Supreme Champion Cow at the Royal Queensland Show.
In what was a magical result for 82-year-old owner Pat McDonald, his five-year-old cow Kenarie Jade Finch took the title for the Jersey breed.
A Murwillumbah dairy farmer, Mr McDonald has attended the Ekka since 1940 and has exhibited for 44 years.
He said this moment compared exceptionally well.
“It’s one of the great days of my showing career,” Mr McDonald said.
“We’ve been very successful here before with Champion Cows and Supremes, but this just seemed to be very special.
“We showed her as a three-year-old at the Dairy Spectacular in Lismore and she won her class and was honourable mention for Champion Cow.
“Then we showed her here last year as a dry cow and we made special efforts to try and get her back this year in milk which we managed to do.”
Ekka Jersey judge Matt Templeton, Arcadia, Victoria, said Kenarie Jade Finch was an “easy winner”.
“Through her frame [she was] just a balanced cow, like any time you looked at her there was never a fault wrong with her,” he said.
“A cow that has had four calves in a row and was so shallow, just carries her udder so well; one of the better Jerseys I’ve seen in a long time and certainly a credit to the breeder.
“[The Royal Queensland Show] is one of the better dairy shows in Australia, but she could handle competition anywhere in the world … she really is that good.”
The McDonald family celebrated 50 years of breeding in 2014.
In May next year they’ll offer their entire show team for sale as they draw the curtains on an era.
Source: The Weekly Times Now
