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Cattle Competition History
Development of Early Stock
From the outset, the founding members of the RAS were committed to the development of early cattle stocks in the Colony. The Society’s original 1822 prospectus states:
When we contemplate our Colony, as adapted to breeding of cattle, we have great reason to be satisfied; for, with very small efforts, we have attained to considerable merit in our horned stock…The importation of still finer breeds will raise our cattle to excellence, and make them eagerly sought for in the markets…
To that end a subscription fund was established for the purpose of importing improved breeds of cattle and other livestock, and prizes were awarded at the first Show in 1823 to recognise superior animals. Three of the original thirteen classes at that Show were for cattle:
Best Colonial-bred Bull, not more than three years old
Second-best Colonial-bred Bull, not more than three years old
Best two-year old heifer, Colonial-bred
In 1858 when the Society reconstituted itself (initially as the Cumberland Agricultural Society) its prize schedule noted awards for:
Best & second-best bull, any age
Best & second-best bull, two years old
Best & second-best cow, any age
Best & second-best heifer, two years old
Best & second-best fat bullock
Best & second-best fat cow
Classes were divided into Colonial Bred and Imported, but these were further divided into breeds for the first time in 1862 with Durhams, Hereford, and Devons listed. Separate dairy breeds were not introduced until 1875.
During this period important support for the cattle industry was provided when the first Australian Stud and Herd Book was published by the Society in 1870.
Many breed classes and other innovations have been introduced over the years (see timeline below), but the biggest change occurred in 1986 when Beef and Dairy were split into separate competitions. In total forty-seven perpetual trophies are currently awarded in the Cattle section at the Show.
Timeline
(Please note: some breeds are no longer shown or may have not been shown consistently following their first appearance.)
| 1862 | New breed - Beef Shorthorn |
| 1870 | Society publishes the first Australian Stud & Herd Book |
| 1875 | New breeds - Angus or Polled Scots, Ayrshire, Alderney, Brittany |
| 1875 | Stockmen's prizes given for the stockmen who brings his master's stock to the show in the best condition (this year only) |
| 1882 | Polled Cattle [Bull and Cow entered by E. Woodhouse bred by George Loder, Singleton, from pure bred Polled Angus Cattle, descended from animals imported from the herd of Mr McCombie, Tillyfour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland] |
| 1887 | New breed - Jersey, Guernsey |
| 1891/ 1892 | New breed - Holstein-Friesian |
| c.1897-1899 | Red Polled and Black Polled cattle classed separately |
| 1899 | New breed - Kerry |
| 1899 | Introduction of weight guessing competition |
| 1901 | Introduction of milk and butter test comeptitions |
| 1903 | New breed - Dairy Shorthorn |
| 1906 | Fat Cattle introduced (previously in a separate competition called Fat Stock |
| 1906 | Aberdeen Angus and Red Polled cattle classed separately |
| 1908 | New breed - Dexter - Kerries |
| 1912 | New breed - Australian Illawarra Shorthorn |
| 1914 | New breed - Lincoln Red Shorthorn |
| 1919 | No Show due to influenza outbreak |
| 1920 | New breed - South Devon |
| 1935 | New breed - Poll Hereford, Poll Shorthorn |
| 1938 | Introduction of cattle judging competitions |
| 1940 | Introduction of herdsman competitions |
| 1942-1946 | No Show due to WWII and military occupation of the Showground |
| 1953 | New breed - Galloway |
| 1956 | New breed - Santa Gertrudis |
| 1958 | Introduction of inter-breed competitions for dairy cattle |
| 1960 | Name change - 'Aberdeen Angus' became 'Angus' |
| 1964 | New breed - Polled Devon, Brahman |
| 1967 | New breed - Murray Grey |
| 1967 | Fat Cattle renamed Steer & Carcase |
| 1970 | New breed - Braford, Droughtmaster |
| 1971 | New breed - Brangus |
| 1971 | Scanogram introduced for use in cattle judging |
| 1972 | New breed - Charolais |
| 1976 | New breed - Simmental |
| 1977 | New breed - Lincoln Red, Limousin |
| 1978 | New breed - Chianina, Maine-Anjou, Belted Galloway |
| 1979 | New breed - Marchigiana, Romagnola |
| 1981 | Introduction of Supreme Beef Championship |
| 1982 | Special prize (medallion) awarded to best beef cattle and best cattle, as part of 100 years at Moore Park celebrations |
| 1984 | New breed - Mandalong Specials |
| 1986 | Beef and dairy cattle move to separate sections |
| 1987 | New breed - British White, Sahiwal, Salers |
| 1987 | Introduction of Best Maintained Breed competition, divided into Beef & Dairy cattle |
| 1988 | New breed - Brown Swiss |
| 1989 | New breed - Blonde D'Aquitaine |
| 1989 | Introduction of Young Auctioneers Competition |
| 1990 | New breed - Red Angus |
| 1991 | New breed - Belgian Blue, Gelbvieh |
| 1992 | New breed - Braunvieh, Highland, Piedmontese, Pinzgauer, Wagyu |
| 1993 | New breed - Charbray |
| 1995 | Tarentaise, Lowline |
| 1996 | New breed - Dexter |
| 1998 | New breed - Square Meater |
| 1999 | New breed - Bazadais |
| 2000 | New breed - Fleckvieh |
| 2003 | Introduction of Heifer Show |
| 2010 | New breed - Speckle Park |
| 2011 | New breed - Welsh Black |
| 2018 | New breed - Simmental-Fleckvieh |
For a complete list of Supreme Dairy Cow winners, click here.



