New England Regional Show for 2019 ran across Friday and Saturday with a large sideshow alley that incorporated a couple of new rides for the thrill seekers, and a good array of wool exhibits, horse and cattle events as well as a poultry exhibit. This year's show displayed a great deal of resolve, despite the harsher conditions thrown up by the drought.
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It's very hard drought conditions throughout NSW and Central Queensland
- James Dockrill
Casino cattleman and cattle judge James Dockrill shows cattle everywhere including in Sydney. He thought the stock he had seen this weekend could be competitive in Sydney.
"In fact, you could probably win with them," he said.
"And that's good news, especially in the industry at this time. It's very hard drought conditions throughout NSW and Central Queensland, and they've even got flooding in central Queensland.
"It's a credit to this committee to be able to get a team of cattle here in the district with other shows in this area on today. To have 100 head of cattle here in trying conditions is a credit to the breeders to be able to bring cattle out.
He said there were those who had started to struggle on the Northern Rivers. At this time of the year they were running out of water, and the Casino Saleyards had seen some big yardings during the last six to eight weeks as a result.
"We're kind of known as a weaning area down there, and it might be a little bit scary as to where our weaners are going to go this year," he said.
"There's probably a lot of weaners come out of that Northern Rivers area and come up into the New England region to grow out, but at the moment with the feed situation, I believe it is going to be a struggle to sell weaner cattle this year."
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Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the cattle section remained his favourite event of any show.
"My family have always been cattle producers for many generations, so I always take an interest in the cattle. We bred Limousin-Hereford cross," Mr Marshall said.
"It's always interesting and it's also good because this section, like a lot of things at the show, gets the kids involved as well. In the breeding and also the leading which gives them a lot of confidence.
"It's not just about the cattle, it's also about developing young people and as part of that they have to learn how to parade and present themselves, talk to people and interact. So, it's a good development tool for them as well."
