News & Results
2008 Ekka Report
2nd September, 2008
A large crowd looked on as the Romagnola breed celebrated 20 years of exhibiting at the Brisbane Ekka in August.
Nine studs paraded an impressive display of cattle before Judge Renee Rutherford from Mornish. Two new exhibitors, D & J’s Romagnolas and Matthew Black made their Ekka debut with two stylish females. The Robur Jason daughter D & J’s Bambi was named Reserve Junior Champion Female.
The winner of the 16 – 20 months class, Hamilton Park Cheesecake, took out the Junior Champion title. It was the 2nd Ekka outing for 16 month old Cheesecake who was the calf at foot of last year’s Ekka Grand Champion winner Hamilton Park Zarina. Cheesecake went head to head with another Vasco daughter, the Senior Champion Cow Remus Zsa Zsa for Grand Champion. Judge Renee Rutherford described the decision to split the two Romagnola Beef Genetics exhibits as the hardest on the day. “These two well-grown, beautiful females are a credit to their breeder, and would be competitive against any breed” she said. A decision was made and the eye-catching Cheesecake was awarded the tri coloured ribbon. The Wyoming Stud at Nebo exhibited the Reserve Senior Champion cow with the Ergum daughter, Wyoming Alisa.
The male section was very strong in the 16 – 20 months class. After much deliberation, the 776kg Remus Cointreau and the 708kg Remus Cognac were placed 1st and 2nd and subsequently Junior and Reserve Junior Champion Bull. Ms Rutherford commented on the great style and structure of these two bulls and commended the breed on the quality of their large junior line up.
The senior classes saw last year’s Ekka Grand Champion bull, 31 month old Wyoming Abe, take out the Senior Champion Bull award. Ms Rutherford commended his mobility for a big bull and his masculine outlook. Romagnola Beef Genetics, Roma exhibited the Reserve Senior Champion bull with the 830kg Remus Zorro son, Italia James Bond. Interestingly, at 140sq cm, 21 month old James Bond measured one of the largest eye muscle areas of any bull on the showground.
Ms Rutherford presented the Junior Champion bull, Remus Cointreau as Grand Champion Romagnola bull, describing him as a powerhouse with a lot of performance for his young age. By Italia Xerox and out of the super- dam Remus U-babe, Cointreau recorded a 1.34kg daily gain and an EMA of 133sq cm at just 19 months.
Matt and Anna Ahern from Romagnola Beef Genetics at Roma capped off a stellar day with a win over the Pullen family’s Wyoming Stud, Nebo in the Breeder’ s Group.
Wing Valley, Carramar and Robur Romagnola Studs were also successful exhibitors at what was certainly one of the strongest showing of Romagnola cattle at the Ekka.
![Cointreau_Ekka_08[2]_1220387757.jpg](http://www.romagnola.com.au/images/Grand%20Champion%20Bull%20-%20Remus%20Cointreau_1220387924.jpg "Cointreau_Ekka_08[2]_1220387757.jpg")
![Cheescake_Ekka_08[1]_1220387401.jpg](http://www.romagnola.com.au/images/Grand%20Champion%20Cow%20or%20Heifer%20-%20Hamilton%20Park%20Cheesecake_1220387625.jpg "Cheescake_Ekka_08[1]_1220387401.jpg")
Photos courtesy of Queensland Country Life