The annual Northern District Jersey Breeders Club On-Farm Challenge was a dream come true for Bill Cochrane, with his cow Jugiong Daydream 7578 crowned Supreme Champion.

Daydream — along with two-year-old Tandara Craze Charo 2, three-year-old Jugiong Ranunculus 8489, four-year-old Shenstone Silvermine 370 and five-year-old Brookbora Eileen 130 — will go onto represent the club at the Great Southern Challenge.

More than 120 cows across 17 herds were presented in the on-farm challenge, with judging taking place over two days.

Tandara Craze Charo 2, owned by Tandara Genetics, was named Junior Champion while Best Udder went to J. and D. Easterbrook with Sunshine Farm Kim 6.

The best pen of five owned and bred was won by Brookbora Jerseys.

Highest pointed junior exhibitor was awarded to Jett and Deakin Easterbrook with Sunshine Farm Kim, while highest pointed cow by an exhibitor was K. and K. Cash with Brookbora Bontino Fernleaf.

Judges Stewart Robertson and Kelly Bleijendall said over the judging period they had the opportunity to see a lot of great cows.

“There has been a lot of cows with a tremendous will to milk, and udder and teat placement have been phenomenal,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the consistency across the breed has also been amazing.

“As a cattle breeder myself, it is a great honour to get to visit other people’s farms and judge their cows,” he said.

“Long-term the Jersey breed is well placed within the industry and I look forward to seeing the results from the Great Southern Challenge.”

Ben Govett from Tandara Genetics said he purchased the two-year-old Tandara Craze Charo 2 in an embryo package from Brookbora in an online sale.

“I am a huge fan of the mother and Charo 2 has turned out to be a pretty handy heifer with good type and production so far,” Ben said.

“It will be interesting to see where she goes in her future, she settled into the herd well.”

Stewart said Charo was a clear winner in the senior junior two class.

“She is a great young cow with great femininity and long dairy frame,” he said.

“She is one of those heifers you will watch in the future because she is made so correctly and she has a great udder for a two-year-old.

“It is also exciting for Ben when you invest in your genetics and come through with the goods, it is just so satisfying.”

Bill Cochrane has been involved in the competition for many years

“The on-farm challenge is a great way of showing cows without having to go to all the fuss of clipping and presenting for the public.”

This is his first win.

He bought Daydream as a two-year-old at the Jugiong dispersal sale a few years ago.

“We walked out into the paddock and she was the first cow we saw. I thought how awesome she was back then, and she has gone on to mature into a very nice cow,” Bill said.

“She has been bridesmaid a few times so it was a real thrill to see her get the win.”

Bill said he has purchased quite a few Jugiong cows over the years and they have always performed well.

“We are milking our first daughter out of Daydream this year and we have a couple of youngsters to come through as well so I will be keeping an eye on how they go.”

Bill said Daydream was a particularly easy cow to work with and she had no vices, just gets in there and gets the job done.

“We took her to IDW last year and we might wander off with her again this year, I’ll have to talk to the fitters first though.”

Stewart said the moment he and Kellie saw Daydream they knew she would be hard to beat.

“Daydream is a great dairy cow with a functional mammary system, great breed characteristics and dairy-ness,” he said.

“She is a credit to the Nicholson family who bred her and the Cochrane family who have got her to where she is today — she is a remarkable cow.”

The Great Southern Challenge covers Jersey clubs in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, while the Great Northern Challenge includes clubs from NSW and Queensland.

Winners of the southern and northern challenge are announced in December and will then go on to be judged by a panel of three judges via video, to determine the ultimate Great Australian Challenge winners.

These awards are announced and presented at the AGM dinner in May 2025.

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Thursday, 22nd February 2024

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