Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition to go ahead at local level
Following the cancellation of last year’s Semex-Holstein Australia On-farm Competition Semex and Holstein Australia have confirmed that the 2021 competition will go ahead, albeit with changes due to continuing state lockdowns and COVID related border and social distancing restrictions.
For 2021 the competition will be run as a Holstein Australia Sub-branch competition at a local level, with Sub-branches nominating judges in the usual way and animals judged on farm. The regional and state based elements of the competition will not take place this year.
Holstein Australia CEO, Rohan Butler, says: “When we sat down with Semex and looked at how we could make the competition work this year it was pretty clear that with constantly changing travel restrictions the latter stages of the competition would be problematic, if not impossible, to coordinate and run.
“Over judging for the wider regional and state based elements of the competition involves extensive travel, including interstate, with hundreds of farm visits. In the current climate we can’t do this either logistically or for health and safety reasons.
“Running the competition locally makes sense. It’s a really important event for our Sub-branches and the Holstein community. By keeping it local travel and farm visits from outside each area are minimised, with the option for Sub-branches located within the same area to hold their own mini-regional competition subject to any government restrictions in place at the time.”
The entry period for this year’s competition opens on 20th August and closes on 20th October. Semex will be in touch with all Sub-branches prior to the competition opening with regular updates on Holstein Australia and Semex social media.
This year marks the twentieth running of the Semex-Holstein Australia On-farm Competition, the Southern hemisphere’s largest dairy livestock judging competition, attracting in excess of 2,500 entries nationally. Unlike conventional livestock judging events, cattle are assessed for their structural correctness on their home property.
The competition is open to all females that are either registered or eligible for registration in the Holstein Australia Herdbook or Appendix.
COVID-19 restrictions in your area
All Sub-branch events, including the Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition, must be carried out in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions as they apply in your state or region. With the situation changing frequently in a number of states, please check the links below before planning any events.
New South Wales I Victoria I Queensland I South Australia I Tasmania I Western Australia I ACT
Enquiries should be directed to Adam Sawell on 0401 096 507 asawell@holstein.com.au or Chief Executive Officer Rohan Butler on 0428 135 361 rbutler@holstein.com.au.