Champion Purebred Yearling Heifer and Grand Champion Purebred Female of the Show was Effertz EZ Ranch EZ Lacey 55T.
The Palacios Family from New York State. Left to Right: Isabelle Conover, Lilia Palacios, Frank Albert, Liam Palacios, Franciasco Palacios and Morgan Palacios with their Grand Champion Purebred Bull of the show Chatham Ridge Farm Skidmore.
Lowlines at Iowa State Fair,
Des Moines USA
Sally Yearbury reports
On a trip to USA in August, I had the opportunity to catch up
with a number of American Lowline breeders and to watch
the Lowline judging at the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa.
After navigating through endless avenues of food and drink outlets
selling anything from hamburgers with the 'works' to deep fried Mars Bars,
I found the Lowlines housed in a brand new barn facility.
Big fans were running non-stop to keep the temperatures comfortable
from the 35 plus degrees outside.
On most stalls exhibitors advertised their studs,
especially Dr. Keith Hansen's eye-catching stall with plenty of Lowline advertising and information available.
Alongside, in a brand new covered arena, approximately sixteen exhibitors bought over eighty head of purebred and percentage bred cattle to exhibit. Most exhibitors had travelled many miles to attend. Frank Albert and son-in-law Franciasco Palacios and family had come from New York State, a twenty-hour drive away.
American breeders besides registering their purebred cattle
(DNA verified) in the American Lowline Register (herd book) are also able
to record percentage-bred animals in a separate section.
These animals can never be eligible for the purebred register.
They say it encourages more people to become involved with the cattle
with many going on to purchase purebreds at a later date.
The standard of the cattle was high and during the afternoon a very capable young Angus breeder judged over forty Lowline classes.
He then continued to judge a number of young handler classes giving great encouragement to young exhibitors.
Many of the bloodlines of the cattle in the show schedule,
which is produced on the day of the show, were very familiar,
being the result of imported animals, semen and embryos from Australia.
(I did think having a standard dress code the way we do it
in Australia and New Zealand has a better look. )
Lowline prize-winners on the day received small silk banners
to hang on the wall at home, which was a nice touch being different from ribbons,
which we are more familiar with.
Before judging started I was able to chat to a number of breeders including
Bill Goldsbury, American Lowline Registry President, and Neil Effertz, a Director.
I mentioned how well Lowline cross steers were doing in steer classes
in Australia and was surprised American breeders were not producing steers
for the calf classes (up to eighteen months of age) which were very popular amongst young exhibitors at another venue of the Fair.
The classes were not Hoof and Hook classes;
the animals were kept to be shown for the season.
I discovered in the States there were breeders breeding and selling 'calves'
especially for showing, which has a big following there.
Both breeders thought it a great idea and knew of shows later that would be ideal to start at.
I encouraged them to come to Sydney 2010 to see
the best line-up of Lowlines in their country of origin
and promoted our online 'Lowline Country' newsletter.
Some Results:
Grand Champion Percentage Female:
Double J's Who Dunnit DOB 3/9/06 Sire: Bell Brae Boris
Grand Champion Percentage Male:
EBC Sharper Image 50S DOB 30/3/2006 Sire: EZ Sharper Image 2M
Champion Purebred Heifer Calf:
5H Ursula DOB 7/3/08 Sire: Monte Allegro Artussi Dam: Colombo Park Alcina
Champion Purebred Yearling Heifer:
EZ Lacey 55T DOB 21/5/07 Sire: EZ Lisbon 29L Dam Lady Luck 51N
EZ Lacey was also judged Grand Champion Purebred Female of the show.
Grand Champion Purebred Bull of the show:
CRF Skidmore DOB 25/9/06 Sire: Fairwyn's Legacy Dam: Mistletoe 47N
Sally Yearbury
2009 ALCA Journal
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Getting ready to go out for the Yearling heifer