THE Limousin breed’s future is in safe hands after 70 young people converged on Murgon for the 2017 Murgon Limousin Youth Cattle Camp on September 22-24.
All up, 150 people came from across Queensland, central New South Wales and Alice Springs for the event which was held at Murgon for the first time.
The participants, including 20 novices, learnt about everything from cattle selection and artificial insemination, parading and judging through to nutrition and clipping.
Coordinator Alan Eagleson, Ulster Limousins, Murgon, raised 16 animals and every participant was given an animal to look after and bond with for the weekend if they couldn’t bring their own.
“It was a very successful event with over $12,000 raised at our auction to go towards running next year’s camp,” Mr Eagleson said.
“A family with three children who had never handled cattle came along and they had a fantastic time.
“Brad Frohloff covered preg testing with a simulator.
“The simulator is a glass container we fill with 40 litres of water and the kids can put their hands inside a door and feel around just like they can in a cow, so it was very hands on stuff for them and their parents.”
There was also an intense focus on parading and cattle judging with the participants learning more about these aspects through tutorials and competitions.
The Cooper Family of CCJ’s stud, Willowbank had a very successful weekend with their steer Major Payne awarded champion steer and Major Payne’s brother Maximus was named reserve champion steer.
Jessica Cooper paraded Major Payne who is 16-months-old and weighs 730kg.
Cooper Rafton, Mount Marshall paraded Maximus who weighed in at 628kg.
Champion heifer went to Oakwood Pay Aleesa, owned by Paul and Kelli Forman, Oakward Limousins near Bundaberg.
The Formans bred the 23-month-old heifer which was paraded by Lauren Kelly of Bundaberg.
They also claimed reserve champion heifer with their nine-month-old heifer Oakwood Just Me which was paraded by Abby Franz, Wahroonga, Jandowae.
Storm King Marshall exhibited by the Silcock Family, Storm King Limousins, Mutdapilly was crowned the champion bull.
The Silcock’s daughter, Lucy, paraded the 12-month-old who weighs 580kg for his first showing.
Reserve champion bull went to Benjarra Magic who was exhibited by the Wilkes family, Leon Limousins, Pittsworth.
The participants also got to work on their auctioneering skills with the Saturday night auction raising over $12,000 which will go towards funding the 2018 camp.
Alan’s son, David Eagleson, who is an auctioneer with Territory Rural McPherson in Alice Springs sold everything from semen to lolly jars with Corey Evans, Aussie Land & Livestock, Kingaroy also helping out.
Western Wendt, Mundubbera won the champion herdsman and also took home the Jean Plaistead Memorial Award while Chloe Plowman, Ruby Ridge Angus, Kingaroy was awarded reserve champion herdsman.
Abby Hansen of Dalby was named the Queensland Limousin Youth Ambassador.
Caitlyn Cox of CCJ’s stud, Willowbank was another participant who performed well overall winning champion junior auctioneer, champion junior judge and champion junior parader at the camp.
Nine-year-old Jak Lyons, Kurwoongbah and Mitch Franz, Wahroonga, Jandowae tied for Reserve Champion Junior Judge.
Mr Eagleson summed up what the camp meant to Limousin breeders.
“It’s our young people who are the life of our breed, we’ve got a lot of young people who go through this system and they keep on coming back to put in for the young people after them which is what keeps it (the breed) alive.”
Paul Forman, who has coordinated previous camps, agrees, describing the camp as something which has stood the test of time and just keeps rolling on.
- Words: Jacinta Cummins. Pictures: Sarah Coulton, Coulton’s Country