International Dairy Week: Australia’s top Jersey a proven winner

Australia’s champion Jersey has form when it comes to International Dairy Week, as it picked up more awards in Tatura.

Dawn has shone on in many competitive arenas and this year’s International Dairy Week was no exception.

The proven champion — known by the full title Windy Ways Galaxies Dawn 7 — picked up the titles of senior and grand champion Jersey at the Tatura event, held last week.

Part-owned by Cobden’s Frank Walsh along with Tallygaroopna’s Brad and Jess Gavenlock, last week represented the second time Dawn picked up top Jersey honours.

Brad Gavenlock from Tallygaroopna and his business partner Frank Walsh with Senior Champion Jersey cow Dawn. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mr Gavenlock said not only had Dawn been 2020 IDW Jersey grand champion, she had also been judged interbreed and supreme champion at last year’s Sydney Royal.

He said Dawn’s IDW winning streak started as a two-year-old when she won her class back in 2018.

“There’s no cow quite like Dawn. She’s incredibly well balanced and a proven champion,” Mr Gavenlock said.

“Temperament plays a big part. If (the cattle) used to being around people, used to sizeable crowds, then of course, they’ll perform well on the day.

“A mate from Queensland saw Dawn earlier on the day of the competition, this was five or six hours before the event, and he was impressed. But in the competition itself, she really reached her full potential.”

The Gavenlocks have been showing at International Dairy Week under the banner of Cherrylock Cattle Co for more than a decade.

Mr Gavenlock said many in the industry were relieved to be back in 2022 after the pandemic-induced hiatus of 2021 for the Tatura tradition.

“International Dairy Week isn’t just about the titles and trophies. It’s about people from across the industry getting together and catching up,” he said.

“We knew we missed it last year but coming back (to Tatura) you realise how much it means for the dairy sector. The organisers ran a top event.”