UPDATED: MORE than 1100 of the best of the best in stud beef cattle lined the outer ring of the main oval at the Royal Queensland Show today with hundreds of exhibitors traveling from across Queensland and interstate to attend.
The team at Queensland Country Life was across each breed with a full report available in next week's QCL.
Here is a brief wrap-up from the major breed exhibits.
Droughtmaster
GLENLANDS Droughtmaster Stud has claimed top honours at the Royal Queensland Show, taking out the grand champion bull broad ribbon with 32-month-old Glenlands D Rambo.
Exhibited by the Childs family and prepared and shown by Tania Hartwig, Tanic Fitting Service, D Rambo impressed judge, Steve Farmer, Comanche Droughtmasters, Rockhampton, with his “overall balance and strength of spine”.
Weighing in at 1060kg, Dr Rambo was one of the heaviest bulls in the competition. He boasted an EMA of 143sq.cm and an average daily weight gain 1.11kg/day.
D Rambo outclassed the junior champion bull, Wirrigai Century D5, exhibited by Charm Ryrie, Wirrigai Droughtmaster Stud, Pittsworth.
Mr Farmer said there was “just a whisker” between the two bulls.
“It was very close and we actually had the junior bull selected but eventually went back to the senior bull,” the judge said.
“The way the senior champion bull carried his weight and moved was fantastic.”
In the female classes it was David and Robyn McCabe, Breffni Droughtmaster Stud, Chinchilla, who took out the grand champion female ribbon.
Sired by RSVP Boris and out of a home-bred dam, 37-month-old Breffni Emma had an eight-month-old bull calf at foot.
Her Ekka win capped off a highly successful show 2014 show campaign that saw her claim grand champion female at the Toowoomba Show and supreme exhibit at the Dalby Show.
Limousins
OVER 70 Limousins walked into the ring at the Royal Queensland Show this morning.
Judge Scott Myers, Myers Limousins, Moss Vale, NSW, was looking for softness, capacity, depth and volume and got this in spades.
From the under a year-old bulls to the 22-month-old heifers, he was impressed with quality and the future of the breed.
“I apologize for taking so long,” Mr Meyers said so many times during the judging.
In the end, grand champion bull went to the Taylor family, MK Cattle, Murgon, with their two-year-old and 940kg MK Cattle Hangover.
Grand champion female went to Mick and Sandy O’Sullivan, O’Sullivans Limousins, Mt Walker, for O’Sullivans Black Moonbeam.
Santa Gertrudis
YARRAWONGA Waco is boasting dual success following the Santa Gertrudis Ekka judging today, taking out both grand champion bull and female ribbons.
South African judge Willie de Jager selected senior champion cow, Yarrawonga Anastasia and senior champion bull, Yarrawonga Corvette for his broad ribbons in a massive day of judging.
The breed showed the largest number of cattle on the grounds, 116 entries, which made for strong competition in all classes.
They won their way through to the grand championships from junior heifer, Yarrawonga Diamond and junior bull, Glenn Oaks Jibba.
Angus
SPECTATORS to the Angus ring yesterday were treated to an outstanding line up of cattle, complimented by quality comments and the knowledge of renowned Angus breeder Andrew Raff, Drillham.
Mr Raff awarded the grand champion male to K5X Galaxy G34, a bull owned by the Acacia Angus stud and bred by Steve Hayward and Kellie Smith. The ribbons were shared around, with the grand champion female being presented to a New South Wales entry, N Bar Miss Black CC7.
Charolais
Glen Waldron, Mendarra, finally broke through for a championship win in Charolais judging at the Ekka after years of playing second fiddle.
His junior bull, Elite Hotshot, was judged grand champion bull and winner of the Trevor Cottee Memorial Trophy. The 888 kilogram youngster had runs on the board after starring this year at Taroom and Roma shows.
Senior and grand champion Charolais female was an emotional win for Casey Wieck from Delungra (NSW) with CD Gypsy Pearl. “I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever win the grand champion female award at the Ekka,” she said.
Senior champion Charolais bull was the 1022 kg Moongool Highwayman owned by Ian and Ivan Price, Maranoa. The father and son combination also had the junior champion female, Moongool Dianna 2.
Simmental
Elizabeth Skene and daughter Beck from Cecil Plains exhibited the senior and grand champion Simmental bull, Meldon Park Hugo, while senior and grand champion female was KBV Genie from the Rowlands and Lean family stables at Murphy’s Creek.
The joint owners also had the junior champion bull, KBV Judge.
A full report with results with will be available in next week’s Queensland Country Life
