SUMMER 2023
NEWSLETTER ‘DOES IT GET ANY BETTER?’ The 2023 Leading Edge Genetics On-Farm Competition may well go down as our greatest yet. In its 14th year, the depth of quality dairy cattle presented by 48 different breeders was of the highest order. A huge crowd of both exhibitors and industry members attended our presentation luncheon at the Drouin Golf Club on Friday 1st of December. Our judge for this year was well-known industry identity Roger Turner from Wisconsin, U.S.A. A regular visitor to Australia over the last 30 years Roger was impressed, but not surprised at the quality of animals presented to him. Taking out the 4 to 5 year old class and claiming the mantle as overall Champion was the Samite daughter 190 owned by Peter, Helen, and Michael Thomson at Fish Creek. This cow has had a great record in the competition winning the 2 year old class in 2021 and placing 2nd last year in the 4 to 5 year old class under the then judge, Cameron Bawden. The 2 year old class was won by MPH #2 at Labertouche, with their long bodied, soft uddered Alum daughter. A bull that was quite prolific throughout the competition was Summerday from Semex. The Thompson family won the 3 year old class with a daughter in 412. This exceptional uddered young cow placed over another daughter 6360, owned by the Loughridge family at Poowong North. The mature cow class had 48 remarkable cows from many different dairy breeds. It was the Bourbon daughter 3107 owned by MPH #2 that continued their strong showing in the competition. This predominantly black cow with a great dairy frame placed over the outstanding Soloman daughter owned by Karl Munden. The class that epitomises consistency of quality of a sire in a herd is the group class. It was the Samite daughter group which were in outstanding form from the Thompson family, that took the blue ribbon in this class. Continuing their success, the Thomson family also took out the Premier Exhibitor award. On behalf of the Leading Edge Genetics, we hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and we wish you a safe, happy and healthy New Year. Regards, Brad Aitken, Manager/Owner Leading Edge Genetics
The 2023 Overall Champion Cow - Samite 190, owned by P, H and M Thomson at Fish Creek.
Roger Turner (judge), Helen and Peter Thomson, Brad Aitken (LEG).
Inside is the 14th LEG On-Farm Competition results and an in depth overview of the December proof summaries.