STANTHORPE State High school’s first outing at a Beef Australia event has paid dividends with it claiming top honours in the junior led steer competition this morning.
The 692kg Limousin, aptly named Big Red, caught the eye of judge Terry Nolan who heaped praise on the animal for its market appeal.
Big Red had an eye muscle area (EMA) of 105cm sq with a rib score of 10.
Mr Nolan delayed his final decision for some time as he walked between the final four animals.
It’s a major coup for the school which has a significant agriculture program, including its own stud, Stanhigh Limousins.
School principal and Limousin breeder Peter Grant, The Downfall Limousins, said both the students and the cattle were well prepared for the event.
He said it was good to see Big Red get up even though he wasn’t “the prettiest steer in the showring”.
“He wasn’t necessarily structurally correct as Terry kept pointing out but he was good enough to put him through,” he said.
Big Red was by Diamond K Chattahoochee out of a purebred commercial Limousin cow.
Reserve champion went to the Dalby State High School’s Speck, a 449kg Blonde d’Aquitaine with an EMA of 91cm and rib score of nine.
