The led steer and heifer competition kicked off on day one of CRT FarmFest 2016 with competition of the highest calibre making judging a challenge.
Judge Travis Iseppi, Ellendale Red Simmentals, Lowood, explained his main judging criteria and said he looked for finished animals ready to grade at abattoirs.
Cool, windy conditions did not deter exhibitors from putting their best foot forward and Mr Iseppi said all cattle were a credit to their owners and their breed.
The champion led steer or heifer award went to Bob and Elaine Dull, Hillview Led Steers, Gowrie Mountain, with their 650kg Angus cross steer, Bailey.
Mr Iseppi said the smoothness of the steer’s muscle pattern “tipped him over” the second placed steer.
“Everyone has to make a dollar in the chain for the chain to keep operating and this steer is a powerhouse of meat while still retaining the ability to finish with that overall softness,” he said.
Mrs Dull credited 12-year-old Bailey Voll, Biddeston, with the steer’s success and said they named the animal after the “young lad who bred a quality steer” and gave Mr Voll the winning ribbons in appreciation.
“We bought the steer from Bailey at four months of age and he has had a lot of success as a young steer,” Mrs Dull said.
“He won reserve champion at Blackbutt show and we were fairly confident in him coming into FarmFest.”
Mr Voll said he enjoyed seeing his breeding work pay off in the ring and looked forward to getting involved in cattle showing in future years.
2016 represented the second win for the Dull family at FarmFest and after 15 years on the show circuit Mrs Dull said it was a fitting finale as they began to “wind down.”
The reserve champion steer ribbon went to Brad Densley and his daughter Briar, Steele Rudd Murray Greys, East Greenmount, with their exhibition of 10-month-old Steele Rudd Bullet.
His 16 years experience as Woolworths meat manager lended Mr Iseppi the credibility to compare the champion and reserve champion steers.
Mr Iseppi said being the second biggest steer show in Queensland, competition at FarmFest was fierce and only finishing ability separated the top steers.
“The 462kg steer in the reserve champion position only needed about 40 more days on feed to be at the top,” he said.
“We can breed so much muscle and yield into our cattle but they need to be able to finish on time because that’s what the consumer wants.”
Mr Densley said his steer had placed at previous shows but this was his first win in a class as well as going on to win a broad ribbon.
“Bullet will go on to the Ekka now and compete in the carcase competition where we’ve had success and also the north coast national where we won reserve champion last year,” he said.
“We like to breed our own cattle to show as it’s most rewarding when you know what you’ve got genetically and are able to follow that up with results.”
