For Kangaloon Angus breeder and proud Southern Highlands resident Theo Onisforous the results of the Royal Melbourne Show and centenary celebration of Angus cattle in Australia was a dream come true.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Crowned Grand Champion, Senior Champion and Supreme Exhibition, KO Dream was the star of the show and the star for KO Angus.
KO Dream's supreme run shouldn't come as a surprise, last year she was the interbreed champion heifer and comes from an award winning female line of Angus cows.
KO Angus also took home the intermediate female champion with KO Vicky as well as a number of prizes to the value of $40,000 and trophies.
"We took home four trophies, four medals and the series rosette," said Theo Onisforous.
"We received $10,000 in fertiliser, a $15,000 Kybota farm buggy, $9000 in cash, $5000 in fencing, $2000 in cattle drench, and $500 in bull semen."
The prize money is a welcomed addition to KO Angus who have been affected by the drought conditions.
"In the 27 years [we've had the Angus farm] dams are at their lowest," said Mr Onisforous.
"We've never had to turn on our bore water in 27 years and then last year we had to turn it on for the first time.
"We never use to buy feed either but we've had to for the last three years.
"We've decreased the size of the herd and made it more selective.
"It's difficult [but] we run on passion.
"We're a resilient lot."
The win at the Royal Melbourne Show also puts KO Angus in the breeding spotlight.
"We are simply not in a good area for bull buying," Mr Onisforou said.
"People will drive in a two hour radius.
"We are 40 per-cent coastal, 40 per-cent Sydney and 20 per-cent subdivided in the Southern Highlands
"Bull buyers have to travel.
"We have a champion heard and that's why we put them in shows. We are happy to put our cows where our mouths are.
"We are hoping that people will realise that we have a champion breed.
"We've had a number of offers and we will contact them when the time is right.
When Mr Onisforous first became an Angus cattle breeder, he initially did because he thought "black looked good with green" and saw the importance of genetic diversity in cattle.
Now, it's an an absolute passion for him, with 500 Angus cows and four staff members.
The cool climate of the Southern Highlands is perfect for the Angus breed, where the marbling in the meat comes from calves raised in cold climates.
Read Also: Garry Orriss cycles around Australia