"WINNING IS A GREAT FEELING"

Making the decision when to show and when not to go is sometimes a power struggle between the dream and the reality.

This year, that was true for Andrew and Cassandra Kath, of Gowrie Junction, who had an exciting two-year-old heifer calve just 19 days out from the Jersey judging day at the Brisbane Royal Show. Ideally, it was too close for her to have a shot at settling into the herd, let alone being in form for show day.

“We would have loved to seen her in a few more weeks prior to the show, but when a heifer looks that exciting it hard to leave them at home,” Andrew Kath said.  

Andrew and Cassandra’s in-milk numbers will peak at 175 this spring on 220 acres (fully irrigated). With a new 10,000 milk vat on the way and progress towards a Total Mixed Ration feeding regime, deciding to show was a weighty move.

The young couple decided to take the heifer, who is one of the first Semex-sired Bridon Remake Comerica heifers to calve in Australia. She was barely two years old and already milking 21 litres a day.

Not only did Kathleigh Comerica Daisy win her class. She won intermediate Jersey champion and supreme intermediate champion of all breeds.

“Winning was a great feeling because we have stepped away from showing a little in the last few years as we have concentrated on working hard on developing the farm,” Andrew said. “We have always believed type and production go hand-in-hand and we love breeding quality cows. Daisy is an example of this and we feel rewarded for the effort we have put in.”

 They showed Daisy's dam, Claydon Park Bens Daisy, at the Centenary Jersey show in Brisbane 2006 under Canadian judge Callum McKinven, who advised them at the time to join Bens Daisy to Comerica. They did – and Comerica Daisy was the result.

“We only have three Comerica daughters because we used the bull selectively on cows that needed some strength through the front end and who are super dairy,” Andrew said. “We love what Comerica has transmitted in terms of strength, capacity and udder quality, we will continue to use him now that we have seen the results.”

The Daisy family is an emerging cow family for the Kaths with Daisy’s sister, YD Daisy VHC90 winning reserve junior champion at the 2008 Toowoomba Royal and reserve champion cow at the 2009 Toowoomba Royal.

Comerica Daisy and Bens Daisy are now being lined up for an embryo transfer program. 

For more information:
David Mayo
Market Development Manager
Mobile: Aus + 0439 343 121
Email: davidmayo@semex.com.au
Web: www.semex.com.au