Australia's biggest dairy livestock competition, involving roughly 2500 cows and 500 farms, is in gear!
Semex's distributor in Australia, Semex Pty Ltd and Holstein Australia host an On-Farm Competition. The Semex/Holstein Australia 
On-Farm Competition is in its 10th year and the nationwide spectacle has a number of unique points of difference.
All the cows are judged (for conformation) on-farm by a judge in a collective logistical marathon involving thousands of kilometres and an army of people.
It has a special application in that cows that may not have enjoyed a profile (because of the work, time and knowledge needed to be able to show cattle) have the chance to shine or be discovered in this format, because there is no additional work or preparation involved for the farmer.
"This is the second most recognised award dairy cows can win outside a first place at International Dairy Week," Semex Australia Pty's general manager Jim Conroy said. "But for many it is the No.1 event."
Each of Holstein Australia's 29 sub-branches involved are currently running their competitions, which involves one judge per sub-branch. Entries peak at more than 250-head in some of the sub-branch strongholds of the breed.
The first and second placegetters in each class at the sub-branch level then move forward to the state finals where they will be re-assessed by a fresh over-judge in early November to find the state champions.
The state lines are divided into Northern Queensland, Southern Queensland, New South Wales, South-Eastern Australia (incorporating Victoria, New South Wales Riverina and South East South Australia), Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Victorian state champions will be named during a luncheon at the Witchmount winery at Melton on December 3.
"There are many hundreds of cows and people involved now, including a New Zealand event that is also functioning very well. We continue to have contact from other countries enquiring after the concept," Jim said.
Semex initiated the competition model to acknowledge quality, functional dairy cows - often the unsung heroes of Australia's dairy industry.
"And it gives our non-showing customers the opportunity to compete and to be recognised," Jim said.
This year's Semex-Jersey Australia Great Southern Challenge is also underway.
The competition includes approximately 1400 cows from 11 different sub-branches in four states. Its Victorian/South Australian champions will be announced at Witchmount winery on December 8.
Semex Pty Ltd is the exclusive Australian distributor of livestock genetics marketed by the Semex Alliance, the world's largest artificial breeding organisation.
