International Dairy Week: Southwest Victorian farmers take out top honours
A dream of winning big at International Dairy Week has come true for a dynamic Holstein stud from Victoria’s southwest. See all the pictures here.
A southwest Victorian Holstein breeder with NSW roots has taken out top honours at 2024 International Dairy Week.
InStyle Solomon Dahlia exhibited by InStyle Holsteins won Australia’s Supreme Champion Dairy Cow, the ultimate bovine honour to cap off the six-day event.
Based at Corriemungle in southwest Victoria, InStyle Holsteins also won the All-Breeds Senior Champion title while taking out the Senior and Grand Champion titles at the National Holstein Show with InStyle Solomon Dahlia.
InStyle Holsteins breeder Brenton Thomas paid tribute to partner Ellie and his family after winning the top national prize at Tatura.
“I moved down to Victoria a few years ago and had a dream of winning Dairy Week, so (it feels good) to have done it,” Mr Thomas said.
“My Dad (Rodney) sold out at Dorrigo and moved a bunch of heifers down to Victoria and (InStyle Solomon Dahlia) was one of them.
“As a two-year-old, she was a bit immature but I saw potential and worked at her (over time).”
In the interbreed competition, the Intermediate Champion title was awarded to Eclipse Perennial C Princess, exhibited by Gavenlock and Polson from Tallygaroopna.
The Reserve Champion in the same class was awarded to Cherrylock Dreaming Of Olives, exhibited by Ben Pedretti, who also hails from Tallygaroopna.
Victoria performed strongly at the 2024 Dairy Week with Gorbro Hano O Princess, exhibited by Cohuna’s Gorbro Holsteins, taking out the Interbreed Competition Junior Champion title.
The Reserve Junior Champion title was clinched by Dusty Road Aldo Paris 13949, which was exhibited by Garvoc’s Leah Dickson from southwest Victoria.
The 2024 event was a big year for the Holstein breed.
National Holstein Show judge Barclay Phoenix said InStyle Solomon Dahlia was clearly one of the world’s best.
“I’ve judged different shows around the world and you hear of the quality, and it falls off after the three or four best ones, but the quality stayed through and through (at Tatura),” the Canadian cattle expert said.
International Dairy Week organiser Stacey Leppert said the enhanced educational flavour of the 2024 event showed the future was bright for the sector.
“We started off the Food Truck Festival and that was a great success. We had more than 2000 people here enjoying the event,” Ms Leppert said.
“Having teamed with Cows Create Careers was another highlight. It showed all the great job opportunities there are in dairy – not just farming and breeding but agricultural science, agribusiness.”
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
Some of the success stories at the 2024 International Dairy Week
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