Brett Morton, of Ingleside Farm in Seaward Downs, shows 4-year-old cow Ingleside Cal Mary, which won the supreme prize at the Ayrshire New Zealand South Island Championships. PHOTOS: SHAWN MCAVINUE

A range of spectacular southern livestock was on show at the Taieri A&P Show in Mosgiel last week.

A 4-year-old cow, Ingleside Cal Mary, was crowned the supreme champion at the Ayrshire New Zealand South Island Championships at the show.

About a dozen Ayrshire cows were entered in the competition.

Ingleside Farm owner Ross Morton, of Seaward Downs near Edendale, entered the cow.

The cow, which won the same title last year, was having a tough season including giving birth to twins and getting an infection after calving due to a wet spring in Southland.

Ross Morton.

"I didn’t think we’d get her here.

"She is a fantastic, strong cow."

She was one of the 240 cows producing milk on his farm Ingleside.

"We breed our cows to milk and if they’re good enough to show, we’ll show them."

Rob Hall, of Gore, won the overall champion sheep title for his Southdown ram.

Showing their Hampshire sheep which won the champion ewe title at the Taieri A&P Show are Sam Young and his fiance Emma Shaw, both of Outram.

The sheep judges were Preston Hope, of Deep Stream, and Barb Gordon, of East Taieri.

Mr Hope said the winning ram was "exceptionally well-covered".

"It has got the meat in all the right places."

Nearly 30 sheep were entered in the competition.

Mr Hope said a "spectacular" ewe came a close second to winning the overall sheep title.

Showing their Hampshire sheep which won the champion ewe title at the Taieri A&P Show are Sam Young and his fiance Emma Shaw, both of Outram.

The Hampshire ewe was owned by Outram couple Sam Young and Emma Shaw.

Miss Shaw said they were proud of their ewe and the progression of their breeding programme at their stud Bushy Park.

"It is nice see them tracking upwards and improving and starting to look like we want them to."

South Devon cow Loch Lomond Elaine was crowned the supreme beef breed champion.

Loch Lomond stud owner Brian Thomson, of Allanton, said he was "ecstatic" his 7-year-old cow won the supreme beef prize two years in a row.

A Southdown ram won the champion sheep title at the show.

Fourteen cattle were entered in the beef competition.

The winning cow was "very true and correct for her type" including a good udder and feet, Mr Thomson said.

"It is hard to win here back-to-back."

Taieri A&P Society president Dale Harris, of Henley, said he estimated up to 10,000 people visited the show.

"I was ecstatic with how it went. it was an amazing crowd."

shawn.mcavinue@alliedpress.co.nz