Dairy farmers came together to kick off events at the Toowoomba Royal Show this week, with just under 100 entries in the section.
Dairy chairman Wayne Bradshaw said there were five breeds showcased on Tuesday with increased numbers of Jerseys, Holsteins and Ayrshires.
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"We've had exhibitors from as far as Kenilworth and we've got people who haven't missed a Toowoomba show apart from when it was cancelled because of COVID-19," he said.
"I really think people just wanted to come back and be at a show again."
Top honours of the day went to Jersey cow Glen-Echo Moon Lady 2994, owned by the Keir and Parker families of Kenilworth, with the rising seven-year-old Jersey taking not only the award for supreme champion dairy cow but also the prize for supreme udder.
Presenting the supreme dairy champion trophy, judge Travis Deans said during his career he had sometimes come across "cows that give me goosebumps".
"This Jersey cow has been the first cow to do that for quite some years," he said.
"I think that if I looked for a cow that I think is close to an ideal type, the way she's made, this cow fits the bill.
"She is dairy, she spells milk, she has the right strength in her muzzle, she has the width of chest, she has the sweep and the right angle, enough fore rib, the sweep in her rear rib, and walks well with her udder.
"But I think when you get to the business end, and I'm a black and white man, have been all my life, I would be happy if that cow walked into my dairy."
Glen-Echo Moon Lady 2994 was bred by the Parker family and this was her first outing at the Toowoomba Royal Show.
She's no stranger to showing success though, with her supreme intermediate heifer win at the Gatton Dairy Showcase three years ago prompting Clinton Keir to approach Chad Parker to buy a half share in her.
"We knew she was pretty special but to win this is pretty good," Mr Parker said.
"She's one of 600 or 700 that come through the dairy every day and every morning she's a pleasure to get up and look at, does everything right and is a nice cow.
"She might end up at Gympie in a month's time or maybe Brisbane in August, we'll just wait and see."
The reserve supreme champion cow was awarded to Ardylbar Atwood Gracie, exhibited by the Barron family of Cambooya.
The Parker family also netted the supreme intermediate heifer and the supreme intermediate udder with Glen-Echo Vanhalem Melissa.
The supreme champion juvenile heifer was awarded to Tara Buttercup 4, exhibited by the Henry family, Hodgson Vale.
Overall results
- Trevor Schoorl memorial supreme junior heifer: Tara Buttercup 4, the Henry family, Hodgson Vale
- Reserve supreme junior heifer: Arababella SK Tam, Arabella Farming Company, Brookstead
- Supreme group of three intermediate under 3 years: Jersey group - Glen-Echo Vanhalem Melissa, Palm Springs Joel Darling and Glen-Echo Deal Narella
- Reserve supreme group of three intermediate under 3 years: Illawarra group - Myall Phoenix Angela 2nd, Tara Daffodil 53 and Tara Dahlia 22
- Supreme intermediate udder: Glen-Echo Vanhalem Melissa, the Parker family, Kenilworth
- Reserve supreme intermediate udder: Arabella Fry Tassa, Arabella Farming Company, Brookstead
- Supreme intermediate heifer: Glen-Echo Vanhalem Melissa, the Parker family, Kenilworth
- Reserve supreme intermediate heifer: Myall Phoenix Angela 2nd, Clinton and Melissa Vonhoff
- Supreme group of three cows: the Holstein group - Ardylbar Atwood Gracie, Ardylbar Aftershock Lolita and Ardylbar Atwood Graceful
- Reserve supreme group of three cows: the Jersey group - Glen-Echo Moon Lady 2994, Glen-Echo Sultan Tossa and Yandavale Joel Fiona
- Supreme udder: Glen-Echo Moon Lady 2994, Keir and Parker families, Kenilworth
- Reserve supreme udder: Ardylbar Atwood Gracie, the Barron family, Cambooya
- Supreme champion dairy cow: Glen-Echo Moon Lady 2994, Keir and Parker families, Kenilworth
- Reserve supreme champion dairy cow: Ardylbar Atwood Gracie, the Barron family, Cambooya
Breed results
- Most successful exhibitor Ayrshire: Richard Wheeldon
- Champion Ayrshire cow: Raleigh Princess WV Allison, Richard Wheeldon
- Most successful exhibitor Guernsey: Jim and Janice O'Donohoe
- Champion Guernsey cow: Shadow Valley Joondoomba, Jim and Janice O'Donohoe
- Most successful exhibitor Jersey: Chad and Carita Parker
- Champion Jersey cow: Glen-Echo Moon Lady 2994, Keir and Parker families
- Most successful exhibitor Holstein: Arabella Farming Company, tied with the Barron family
- Champion Holstein cow: Ardylbar Atwood Gracie, the Barron family
- Most successful exhibitor Illawarra: the Henry family
- Champion Illawarra cow: Tara Buttercup 3, the Henry family