Victorian Red Poll On Farm Challenge, 21 - 25 January, 2014.

For Commercial, Junior, and Full Members

AIMS

1. To promote and improve the Red Poll Breed to meet future market needs.
2. To provide assistance to breeders by communication with experts who can provide constructive comments about individual animals and/or herds.
3. To stimulate fellowship between members from different areas of Victoria
4. To showcase Red Polls in Victoria.

Classes

1. Female – 9-16 months
2. Female – over 16-24 months
3. Female – over 24 – 36 months
4. Female – over 3 – 5 years
5. Female – over 5 years
6. Bull – 9 – 16 months
7. Bull - over 16 – 24 months
8. Bull – over 24 months – 5 years
9. Bull - over 5 years
10. Two offspring of one sire up to 18 months.

Dean Afford judging cattle for the On Farm Challenge.2014

This year’s On Farm Challenge commenced on Monday with Judge Dean Afford, who was driving from Lyndoch, South Australia with his assessing Bob and Terry Nutting’s cattle at Hawkesdale. He then moved on to Stoneyford (near Warrnambool) to see the herd of Don Castle on Tuesday. Then Don drove the Judge to assess Gay Wuchatsch’s Red Polls at nearby Pirron Yallock. They then travelled to Timboon to see Elizabeth and Andrew Hancock’s team followed by Greg Abbott’s herd at Kolora. On Wednesday, Don drove the Judge north to assess Shane Storm’s herd at Barham, NSW. From there, Don and Dean drove to Gerogery, NSW to examine the entrants of Ian and Jill Coghlan. After overnighting with the Coghlans, they moved south on Thursday to Ian and Nell Staff’s herd at Pheasant Creek. A quick exchange of drivers on the ring road saw Doug D’Oliver pick up Dean and they overnighted at Doug’s home in Leongatha North. On Friday, the travellers journeyed to Mark and Elke Harris’ home at Lang Lang followed by a visit to Judy Rand’s herd at Cannon’s Creek. They then headed off to Pheasant Creek where the Judge, Dean, spent many hours analysing his records of assessment and preparing his results.

On Saturday a get together of Red Poll participants was held at Pheasant Creek to witness the Judge’s explanation of his judging system and words of wisdom about evaluating structure, milking ability and fertility assessment in cattle. This was done via a Powerpoint presentation viewed on the Staff’s Television. The presentation of awards followed with the results shown below. All told, there were 33 Junior Heifers, 62 Senior cows and 9 Junior Bulls along with 10 Senior Bulls entered from 11 herds. This year we awarded Trophies for Junior and Senior Bulls and Females.

Judge Dean Afford, giving his Powerpoint presentation to participants.

The Judge used his own Classification System, which contains a range of scores from 1 to 9 for 30 characteristics. The top score of 5 was preferred whilst animals with characters scoring more or less than 5 were not optimal.

The characteristics used were entitled Breed Attributes, Structure, Production, and both Female or Male attributes He stressed the importance of selecting animals with good legs and feet and cows with well-structured and textured udders with good attachments and good teat placement and pointed out that if you show cattle and trim their feet regularly, then commercial cattle derived from them will also breed cattle with foot problems. If you keep and breed with cattle that have calving problems, then it is highly likely that their offspring will have similar problems.

When commenting on the animals assessed, Dean stated that he saw a high quality of cattle, evenness of stock and no really serious faults. He reiterated that Red Polls are highly underrated in the Beef Stock Industry and should be considered as leaders in Fertility, Femininity, Productivity and Ease of Doing. The great results of Red Polls in Carcase Competitions, where Judges’ breed preferences in On the Hoof Competitions are annulled, provide proof that the long flat muscling in Red Polls is a highly desirable characteristic that produces high muscle volume and dressing percentages (>60%) and is used by knowledgeable breeders in their cross-breeding activities.

Victorian Red Poll On Farm Challenge 2014 Results

Prize Winners: Jill Coghlan, Ian Coghlan Eurimbla Stud, Gerogery, NSW; Judge - Dean Afford, Lyndoch, SA; Nell Staff Sophronites Stud, Pheasant Creek VIC.