Pig Competition History
It is likely that pigs have always been a part of Show Competitions.The prize schedule from 1858 denotes three classes for pigs.
- Best & second best boar
- Best & second best sow
- Best & second best fat pig
Pigs have always had their own section with classes in the early years organised by size.By 1881 classes were organised by size and colour and there were usually classes for bacon and pork pigs.
Breed specific classes began to take shape in 1892.In the subsequent years 1896 and 1899-1902 there was a prize for heaviest pig.
Pig Competitions were cancelled in 1904-1905 due to an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever (CSF). Further outbreaks of CSF in Australia resulted in Pig Competitions also being cancelled in 1927-1929 and 1962-1963.
Timeline
1892 |
Berkshire |
1900 |
Tamworth |
1906 |
Large Black |
1907 |
Poland-China |
1910 |
Yorkshire |
1922 |
Most successful exhibitor award |
1924 |
Duroc-Jersey |
1936 |
Large White |
1939 |
Wessex Saddleback |
1959 |
Landrace |
1972 |
Ultrasonic (scanogram) on hoof competition |
1973 |
Stockmen’s competition |
1983 |
Commercial classes Performance classes |
1987 |
Tocal tested classes |
Exhibits of breeds may have been shown earlier, but not been specified.
Goat Competition History
Goats were exhibited at the Show as early as 1869.Up until 1917, they appeared on and off in the Dog and Sheep sections.The first class in 1869, was a general non-competitive class, in which one Angora and one Cashmere goat were exhibited. All other goat classes in this period were for Angoras, and occasionally non-competitive.There were also classes for Angora Mohair and other goats wool included in the Wool section between 1870 and 1876.
From 1925 – 1928 goats moved into the cattle section with classes existing for general dairy and Angora goats.Finally in 1938, when goats remerged at the Show, they were given their own section.The competition was predominately open only for dairy goat classes during the period between 1938 and 1971.Classes were sporadically included from 1947-1950 and 1953 for ‘any other breed than dairy’.
To begin with there was only one specific breed class for goats.This was for Saanen Goats.Other classes were for ‘any other dairy breed’ and ‘other than Saanen’.
Timeline
1951 |
Type & production classes |
1954 |
Goat paraders |
1961 |
Toggenburg |
1962 |
Anglo-Nubian |
1963 |
British Alpine |
1972 |
Angora Mohair fleece |
1979 |
Herdsman’s Competition |
1995 |
School’s Angora Competition
Cashmere
Cashmere fleece
Most successful buck / sire
|
1997 |
Boer |
1998 |
Separation of goat paraders’ Competition into Dairy and Angora Goat paraders |
1999 |
Hoof & Hook Competition |
2001 |
Judging Competitions |
2002 |
Boer Goat paraders Appraisal class |
2003 |
School’s Dairy Competition |
