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Animals
NAB Animal Nursery – FREE
This year the popular NAB Animal Nursery has been relocated into the pavilion closest to the car park entrance with more than 450 animals of 18 different varieties to meet and cuddle! The NEW NAB Animal Nursery will house a patting pen twice the size of previous years making it even easier to pat your favorite animal.
The patting pen also extends outdoors where families can get up close to a range of animals. See all your favourites including puppies, lambs, kids, calves, chooks, emus, ducklings and rabbits.
This year, pigs with their newborn piglets make their return to the Show, with the dedicated Piglet Patting Pen – not to mention the Live Birthing Centre, where viewers can experience the amazing spectacle of a lamb being born.
The Farmyard - FREE
Visit The Farmyard this year to learn about our Scottish Heritage and the influence it has had on Australian agriculture. Meet animal breeds that originated from Scotland and see the Scots of Victoria perform live on stage at The Farmyard.
Stroll past cows with their calves, horses and the duck pond, the classic Grey Fergie Tractors and meet Australian native animals at the “Animals of OZ” demonstrations.
Explore the family orientated, child friendly Discovery Garden that brings all the joy of gardening to the Show.
Step inside and be amazed at the diversity of plant life. Find new ideas for your own garden and enjoy seeing the children discover the hidden delights of this beautiful display.
Designed to showcase the diversity of garden plants readily available to the home gardener, the Discovery Garden presents a fabulous insight into just how easy it is to transform a simple suburban space into a tranquil oasis from the busy world.
Milk a Cow in the Milking Barn - FREE
The Milking Barn located in The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion provides a hands-on, real life farm experience for kids, where they will be provided the unique opportunity to hand milk a cow or observe a cow being milked by a farmer. The sessions will also include learning about the dairy industry and how butter is made. This interactive, entertaining and unique activity is sure to be great fun, with prizes on offer every show!
Poultry
Poultry will be on show from the Saturday 18 – Friday 24 September in the Poultry and Alpaca Pavilion, with a smaller display on show within the pavilion from Saturday 25 – Tuesday 28 September. Over 1400 bantams, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys from around Victoria and interstate will be exhibited.
The Feature Breed for 2010 is the Bantam Waterfowl. This display includes true bantam breeds such as the Black East Indian, the Call and the Mallard, with miniatures of standard breeds including the standout Bantam Silver Appleyard and the Bantam Saxony. These little ducks generally only weigh between 0.6 and 1.5 kg, making them ideally suited to people with a limited area for poultry.
In addition to seeing unique breeds of birds competing for a blue ribbon, visitors can expect to enjoy a range of displays and talks about all things poultry, making the Poultry and Alpaca Pavilion a highlight for those who share a fascination with poultry.
A full program of Poultry judging will be available in September.
Beef Cattle
Over 30 breeds of beef cattle will be on display and competing for a blue ribbon in The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion.
Beef cattle are produced differently throughout Australia, depending on the climate. In northern Australia, tropical beef breeds are commonly used, including Santa Getrudis and Brahman whereas in southern Australia, temperate breeds are used, including Angus and Charolais.
Make sure you visit The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion to see over 600 head of the best cattle in southern Australia! It is not to be missed!
You can also visit The Beef Experience in The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion to learn more about Australian beef cattle industry.
A full program of Beef Cattle judging will be available in September.
Dairy Cattle
In 2010 the Dairy Cattle competition will be held immediately prior to the Royal Melbourne Show on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 September! If you would like more information on the Royal Melbourne Show Dairy Show click here.
A Dairy Industry display will feature a selection of dairy cattle in The Weekly Time Livestock Pavilion for the duration of the Royal Melbourne Show.
Alpacas
The Alpaca competition will run from 25 – 28 September in the Poultry and Alpaca Pavilion, with a display of Alpacas in the pavilion from 18 – 24 September.
Alpacas are one of the world's premium fleece animals, producing the fibre used in the highest quality garments! A feature within the Poultry and Alpaca Pavilion will be a display of alpaca fleece, fabrics and garments allowing visitors to not only see these wonderful animals and talk with their breeders, but also see the high quality products created in this niche fibre industry.
A full program of Alpaca judging will be available in September.
Dogs
With over 190 breeds and over 4,000 entries, the Royal Melbourne Championship Dog Show is the largest dog show in the Southern Hemisphere and ranked within the top 10 of the world’s most highly regarded Dog Shows.
Did you know that until the mid 1800’s, dogs were mostly bred for work as trackers, hunters or herders? Over time, they began to be enjoyed for their appearance and unique characteristics and in 1859, owners of Pointers and Setters and their dogs were invited to the first official dog show in the World.
Due to the competitive spirit of humans, it is not surprising that owners began to compare their dogs, each believing that his or hers was the best. As a result, there are now numerous competitions or dog shows worldwide that officially judge one animal against another and declare the “Best in Show” winner.
See the Best in Show compete in September at the Dog Pavilion.
A full program of Dog judging will be available in September.
Horses
Catch the Horses in Action program on the Coca-Cola Arena each day of the Show. Features include the World Cup Showjumping, Australian Stock Horses, Clydesdales, Tradesman and Delivery, Harness Clydesdales, Light Harness plus Saddle Classes including the prestigious Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout, Riding and Hunting.
A full Horses In Action Program will be available in September.
Sheep
A spectacular array of sheep will be on display during the Show in the Weekly Time Livestock Pavilion including the unique Border Leicester’s as the feature breed highlight. Originating in England and raised primarily for meat, Border Leicester’s are the number one maternal breed in Australia. These polled long wooled beauties were imported to Australia in 1871 and can now be found almost all over the country!
In 2010, the Royal Melbourne Show will celebrate 25 years of White Suffolk judging at the Show, as well as showcasing a large competition of Poll Dorset's, a sheep breed developed here in Australia.
A full program of Sheep judging will be available in September.
Goats
The Weekly Time Livestock Pavilion is also host to both Dairy and Boer goats. Goat's milk is a wonderful source of calcium and is commonly processed used to make a number of different products including feta cheese, soap and beauty products. More recently, goats' milk has been used as a substitute to cows' milk for infants and people who may be lactose intolerant.
Boer goats originated in South Africa in the early 1900’s and were introduced to Australia in the late 1980s. Their name was derived from the Dutch word “farmer” and is grown for meat which is low in saturated fats and cholesterol.
A full program of Goat judging will be available in September.
Fleece
Fleeces are displayed in the The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion and sold after Show with the proceeds from their sale being donated to the Leukaemia Foundation.
The Fleece competition features the Australasian Lamb’s Wool Competition as well as the Skirted Fleece, Black and Colored and District Fleece section. The District Fleece section is unique to the Show, with eligibility restricted to fleeces that have won a championship at a district Show in Victoria.
Cats
The Cat competition features an array of cats within the NEW Flowers, Gardening, and Pets Pavilion. The Longhairs, including the enormous Maine Coons and the cuddly Ragdolls will be on display on Saturday 18 September. The shorthairs, including the stunning Bengals and the only “Australian made” cat the Australian Mist will feature on Sunday 19 September. The slinky Siamese and Foreign cats will join the Domestic cats on show on Monday 20 September. The Supreme Exhibit will be judged on stage each day in the Flowers, Gardening and Pets Pavilion.
A full program of Cat judging will be available in September.
Rabbits
Victorian Rabbit Breeders will showcase their animals on Friday 24 September and exhibit a number of different rabbits in the NEW Flowers, Gardening and Pets Pavilion. Breeds such as the Angora, Dutch and Cashmere will be judged.
A full program of Rabbit judging will be available in September.
Reptiles
Visit Animals of OZ at The Farmyard and experience the wildlife education program, including meeting live native crocodiles, snakes, lizards, birds and marsupials. Animals of OZ encourage safe and positive interactions with the animals, developing respect and appreciation for their needs and habitats.
The Victorian Herpetological Society will be in the Flowers Gardening and Pets Pavilion from the 21 to 24 September with a large collection of live reptiles & amphibians for you to marvel. This hands-on approach is designed to promote a better understanding of reptiles and therefore conservation of their species.
Feature Breeds (Sheep, Cattle, Poultry)
Sheep
A spectacular array of sheep will be on display during the Show in the Weekly Time Livestock Pavilion including the unique Border Leicester’s as the feature breed highlight. Originating in England and raised primarily for meat, Border Leicester’s are the number one maternal breed in Australia. These polled long wooled beauties were imported to Australia in 1871 and can now be found almost all over the country!
Beef Cattle
A staggering 30 breeds of beef cattle will be on display during the 2010 Show, including Simmental cattle as part of the World Simmental Congress. The Simmental feature show is expected to be the largest showing of Simmental cattle in Australia! There are incredibly now over 50 million Simmentals worldwide, making it the second largest world breed following Bos Indicus breeds!
Poultry
The Feature Breed for 2010 is the Bantam Waterfowl. This feature display includes true bantam breeds such as the Black East Indian, the Call and the Mallard, with miniatures of standard breeds including the standout Bantam Silver Appleyard and the Bantam Saxony. These little ducks generally only weigh between 0.6 and 1.5 kg, making them ideally suited to people with a limited area for poultry.
