The prominent event, which is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, will host 1279 cattle entries across six breeds.

In the Brown Swiss judging ring on Tuesday afternoon, Singleton, NSW, dairyfarmer Max Wake (pictured with fitter Jeremy Josefski, Qld) could not believe his luck after taking out three major broadribbons, including the intermediate, senior and supreme sashes.

But it was the breeder's nine-year-old entry, Benleigh Cartoon Sasha 2, who impressed the judge Dennis Mashek, USA, with her dairyness and maturity, to take out the top spot.

"This cow already has six calves on the ground," Mr Mashek said.

"When a cow can last this long - that's what you really look for."

As for Mr Wake, he plans to flush the successful cow and hopefully get her back in calf for next year.

"She's had some practice on the show circuit already," he said.

"She got champion cow in Sydney and Toowoomba in 2009, so I knew she had it in her."

He milks 200 cows and has been breeding Brown Swiss for more than 15 years now.

Meanwhile, it is the first year that Jerseys overtook black and white entry numbers at IDW.

The Holsteins are set to be judged today.