Tatura Park will host up to 800 cows competing for the blue ribbons in six breeds, with the ultimate champion to be named on Thursday afternoon.
Cows will be primped, preened and polished to perfection in the largest cattle show in the country, showcasing the best of the best Australia has to offer across Jersey, Holstein, Illawarra, Guernsey, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss.
Tough times in the industry may have continued into 2020 but organisers are expecting another great year with entries up on last year and sitting around 800 head across 175 exhibitors.
A highlight of this year’s show will be the return of the Ayrshire World Dairy Conference to Australia, and to IDW for the very first time.
Ayrshire exhibitors have come out in force to support the conference with a strong 175 entries across all classes.
Other highlights of the week include the return of Ben Govett’s Brown Swiss Tandara Etvei Heidi, who will walk out into the show ring incredibly for the 10th time, a new format for the Power of Women in Dairy function and of course the many incredible cows and judges who will walk the ring for the four days of the show.
Organiser Robyn Barber said IDW always provided a reprieve for dairy farmers - both exhibitors and visitors.
“During tough times it is important to get off the farm and we encourage anyone involved in the dairy industry to come along and join us, even if it is just for one day,” Robyn said.
Robyn said the schedule was jam packed with all the usual attractions including a very strong youth show starting on Monday with 215 entries.
“IDW is not just about rewarding success in breeding, it is also about giving people in the industry a chance to think about things other than their day-to-day life on the farm.”