Two young farmers from Dordogne present their cow for the first time at the agricultural show. On February 28, Pétra, a beautiful Prim’Holstein based in Beaumontois-en-Périgord, will enter the ring in front of the jury.
With her 450 kilos of muscles and her 62 meter, “Pétroupette” as they call her, is a real star: in a few days, she will leave in a semi-trailer, direction Paris, to represent the Prim’Holstein breed at the show of the Agriculture. A few days before the big departure, its two owners Clara and Louis are in full preparation.
“She’s the most beautiful, she’s our darling”
It’s here very first time that Clara and Louis present one of their cows at the agricultural show. Pétra is originally from Charente, she was born on the farm of Clara’s parents before joining the Gaec du Grand Mayne, in Beaumontois-en-Périgord. “She has the perfect udder, very good, very solid legs… These are somewhat technical terms but that’s what will interest the jury on the day of the competition. That’s why she’s the most beautiful , she is our darling!”smiles Louis.
Before the big departure, Clara and Louis pamper her like a miss. Already, Petra has her own box all to herself, very spacious. Then she has a specific diet, three times a day. You also have to make her walk once a week to teach her to lift her head properly. Not to mention her physical appearance: she has to be perfect. “Every week, I try to wash her, Clara explains. And then we’ll mow it again just before leaving for the capital.”
A real miss
On the day of the competition, Monday February 28, it will be necessary two hours of preparation before entering the ring. “We’re going to put some glitter on it so that it shines, even on the udder we’re going to put some shine on it. At the level of the back line, we try to catch up the hair a little with a hair dryer”, adds Louis laughing. This departure to Paris nevertheless remains something very serious. For the two young farmers, it’s a lot of pressure. “Every morning we talk about her, almost. We send each other messages. Every evening we talk about her, to find out if she has eaten well”says Clara. “In fact, we really take it to heart so it’s very stressful… And since we live it together it’s great but also very stressful”adds Louis.
Both breeders are determined to do everything to win the competition. In the ring, facing the jury, the competition promises to be fierce: Petra will face thirty Prim’Holsteins in its category.