THERE wouldn't be too many 100-year-old dairy farmers who could still spot a good udder.

Isobell Troutbeck might have shelved the gumboots and handed the milking reins over to her son, but that doesn't stop her from keeping an eye on the dairy judging at the Royal Melbourne Show.

This year marked her 59th show. Isobell and her late husband, Hutton, started showing Guernsey cattle at the show in 1939. For years the award for the best-vesselled Guernsey has been named in Mr Troutbeck's honour.

"It's all changed now but it is a great place to meet people and show off your top cows," Isobell said.

Isobell's son, Garry, milks 30 Guernseys on their 25ha farm at Yuroke, just north of Melbourne.

The Troutbecks started their Guernsey stud, Bala Wai, in 1935 after Isobell "nagged" her husband to switch from Friesians to Guernseys.

"They are a placid cow," she said.

Garry said the family's continued connection with the Guernseys stemmed from the breed's high butterfat and protein components. They have won a swag of ribbons in the past, despite no joy this year.

As judging finished in the show's dairy judging ring, the end products took centre stage. Awards were presented for 12 products in the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards dairy produce section.

Among the winners were:

  • Fonterra at Cobden, champion butter for Bonlac Unsalted butter.
  • Bega Cheese Co-op, champion cheddar for Bega 19th Century.
  • Margaret River Dairy Company, champion cheddar retail for its vintage cheddar.
  • Dairy Farmers, champion hard cheese for Mil Lel Superior Parmesan.
  • National Foods Tasmania, champion other varieties for Heidi Farm Raclette.
  • Wicked Cheese Company, champion white/blue mould cheese for its triple cream brie.
  • The Old Cheddar Cheese Company, champion fresh/unripened/fruit/savoury club cheese for its creamy cheddar.
  • Woodside Cheese Wright, champion non-bovine cheese for Woodside Figaro.
  • Serendipity Ice Cream, champion ice cream for the super fudge brownie.
  • Tutto Bene restaurant, champion Gelato for the Lemoncello Orange ripple.
  • The supreme cheese award was shared between the Wicked Cheese company's triple cream brie and Bega Cheese Co-op's Bega 19th Century cheddar.