IT was a clean sweep of the major prizes by a Charolais stalwart on Friday at the Royal Adelaide Show, with Caithness stud, Mount Barker, awarded grand champion female, grand champion bull and supreme exhibit. It capped off a special show for stud principal Shirley Barker, who had become the first South Australian to receive life membership from the Charolais Society earlier in the show. A “beautiful” heifer that judge Nicole Nicholls, Tookawhile stud, Rukenvale, NSW, found hard to fault was sashed with the supreme exhibit broad ribbon. Caithness Philippa T54E, sired by Rosedale Quantum and out of Caithness Philippa P87E, won the cow or heifer, 16 months or under 18 months class before being named junior champion female, grand champion female and finally supreme exhibit.
Caithness also secured the grand champion bull title, with Caithness Topman T35E. Hailing from the 16 month and under 18 months class, Topman weighed in at 618 kilograms, and boasted measurements of 115 square centimetres for eye muscle area, 7cm for rib fat and a 7cm P8 figure. It was also sired by Rosedale Quantum and out of the Caithness Alice L93E dam. Judge Nicholls said cattle needed to be able to perform, be practical and be profitable, and the bull was all of those things. “He is a real sire and will be able to go out and do the job once he’s matured a fraction more,” she said. “He moves well, he’s free, he’s good in the testicular department and he’s going to have that frame and muscling that we look for.” Caithness rounded out the day with a win in the breeders’ group.
Other breeders to receive class and reserve champion ribbons included Alizah, Thomas and Eleni Fogden, Loxton, with Boulview Tori. Out of Boulview Kaylee BPBK10E and sired by Chenu Profile RLKP29E, the heifer won the 8 months and under 14 months class and was named reserve junior champion female. The reserve junior champion bull was awarded to Arabar Livestock for Arabar Thunder Struck T12.
Main picture: Judge Nicole Nicholls. Josh Wiltshire, Emma Kerrigan and exhibitor Dr Shirley Barker.
Grand Champion Bull, Caithness Topman with Emma Kerrigan, Richard Miller (Nutrien Studstock), Dr Shirley Barker and judge Nichole Nicholls.
Junior & Grand Champion bull, Caithness Topman (P)(R/F)
Junior and Grand Champion Female and Supreme Charolais Exhibit, Caithness Phillipa T55E (P)(R/F)
