TAMWORTH cattle breeders Don and Sarah Riley, Oakvale Limousins, have backed up their Sydney win, exhibiting the Royal Queensland Show's champion led steer.
The steer later sold for a staggering $61/kg to publican Paul and
Denise Comiskey, Eatons Hill Hotel. The underbidder was the Breakfast Creek Hotel, Newstead.
The Brisbane-winning Black Limousin steer was prepared in partnership by the Sowden Family, Kingaroy, and earlier named champion heavyweight exhibit of the 141-head Woolworths sponsored Brisbane competition.
The impressive 590kg steer was selected by judges Greg Ball, Singleton, NSW, Brett Littler, Piambong, NSW, and Queenslander Rod Freeman, Rosewood, from the winners of the lightweight and mediumweight categories as well as the winning steer from the previous day's schools' led steer competition.
Both the Brisbane and Sydney steers were bred from the Riley's bull Manali Fiction F53.
"The steer was probably the second best of six or seven we picked out as led steers," Mr Riley said.
"It really is something to have won both Brisbane and Sydney, especially knowing they are by the same bull."
In the lightweight section Murray and Nicole Nicholls, Tookawhile, Kyogle, NSW, and their daughters Catherine and Heidi took home the blue ribbon with their Charolais-cross. The 400kg steer which offered plenty of 'eye-appeal' was bred by a Charolais bull over a Limousin/Angus-cross cow. It sold for $12.50/kg to the Bracken Ridge Tavern.
Reserve lightweight was Margo Hayes' 338kg Ausline which earlier won the 321-350kg class. It sold for $8.60/kg to Circle-T Meats, Ipswich.
The winner of the mediumweight section was a 420kg Red Angus shown by Travis Luscombe, Toowoomba, on behalf of the Shakriba Partnership, Glen Innes, NSW. Woolworths bought that steer for $16.20/kg.
Reserve mediumweight was a class winning 488kg Limousin prepared by James and Jane Dockrill, Pinedock Fitting, Casino, in partnership with breeders, the Graham fairly, Bella Valley Limousins, Lismore. It sold to Rainbow Beach Meats for $7.90/kg.
The reserve champion heavyweight was the class winning 618kg Limousin shown by David and Jenny Evans, Jen-Daview Limousin Stud, Kingaroy.
Woolworths paid $8/kg, and secured 18 cattle from the sale.
Meanwhile, a team of three Angus led steers lead the way in the Ken McDonald Shield after the afternoon's hoof section. A team of Limousins is second place, with Red Angus third.
The steers will be processed tomorrow, judged on Friday night, with the over-the-hooks results and overall competition winners to be announced on Saturday morning.
