Quality cattle picture-Esk

In its third year, the Esk Show Society Australian Country Choice and Coles Supermarket Paddock to Plate Competition is also supported by Brisbane Valley livestock agency Shepherdson and Boyd, with prize money donated by Rabobank.

Esk cattle producer and Esk Show Society representative Ben Drynan said the 2014 competition was bigger and better than ever with a high quality offering entering the feedlot at Coominya.

"This competition certainly is reflective of the commercial producer's practices in the Brisbane Valley," Mr Drynan said.

A combination of feedlot performance and carcase assessment, the competition will see 34 entrants from the Brisbane Valley, Darling Downs, Scenic Rim and south Burnett go head to head next weekend when the top prize is awarded.

"We've seen a number of new entrants this year, which is great and I think it really provides producers with the opportunity to get some feedback on their cattle.

"Often people sell their cattle to feedlots and that's the end of the line, whereas this competition allows them to follow their cattle all the way through to the floor."

Mr Drynan said the Brisbane Valley had shifted from the traditional outlook of fattening cattle in favour of commercial breeding and backgrounding cattle.

"A lot of people are now breeding weaners for the market and also growing out backgrounders for the ACC, so I think the commercially-focused competition adds a further incentive for producers and is a boost for prime cattle in the area."

With a mixture of cattle breeds entering the Coominya feedlot for competition, Mr Drynan said the local show society was very impressed with the offering.

"The cattle are sold to ACC on induction and the Esk Show Society retains a portion of the commission, so it's definitely been great boost for the society," Mr Drynan said.

A friendly rivalry between producers

will see teams of five steers and/or heifers, suitable for the Coles supermarket trade,

fed for 70 days at the Australian Country Choice feedlot at Coominya.

Mr Drynan said the cattle would then go on to be slaughtered at the Australian Country Choice processing facility at Cannon Hill.

"We're very grateful to the ACC. Their cooperation and participation is quite special and they have a great willingness to pass along the information about the cattle, which they now own, to the society as part of the competition."

Pictured above: Proud to be involved with the upcoming Esk Show Society's Australian Country Choice and Coles Supermarket Paddock to Plate Competition are Damian Barsby, Australian Country Choice, Roma, John Drynan, Esk Show Society, Christopher Scott, Rabobank, Brisbane, and Jack Fogg, Shepherdson and Boyd.