Dairy cattle from farms in Bodalla, Bemboka, Candelo, Wolumla and around Bega were to be judged over two days.

The sections include Illawarras, Jerseys and Holsteins – with farmers eligible to enter a total of 10 of their best in the five classes in each breed of the competition.

Each breed will be judged separately with their own appointed judge.

Jason Maloney from the Southern Tablelands is the judge of Holsteins,

Michael Shipton from Kanoona will judge the jerseys and Natalie Cochrane from Nowra is judging the Illawarras.

On Friday night, after the judging is complete, a combined presentation dinner will be held at the Thornleigh on Newtown restaurant.

At the function photos taken on the farms will be formatted into a Powerpoint presentation, which the judges will go through class by class.

They will announce the winners of each of the five categories, then an overall champion, reserve champion and best udder (of each breed) will be revealed.

Local dairy farmer Norm Pearce said the on-farm competition was a simpler way for farmers to show their animals, with no transportation of the animal required.

“The biggest advantage is animals stay on the farm, there is no need to take them off farm so it’s good for bio-security,” he said. 

“The competition also acts as an open farm day on each farm.”

For each breed a maximum of two entries are permitted per class.

Exhibits are to be unclipped and unled and are to be presented in a small holding area.