While the precision and flair of stud cattle judging continued in the main arena, the Royal Queensland Show prime beef classes drew a keen audience of beef producers and buyers into the grandstand to witness the judging of 200 quality animals.
Judges David Bassingthwaighte, Waco Santa Gertrudis, and Glen Franz, Jandowae, each offered long running beef industry experience and agreed the quality of entries was second to none.
“The prime cattle this year are a credit to all vendors and they should be rewarded with a good sale tomorrow,” Mr Franz said.
“It’s been a solid week across all markets right across Australia so I can’t see any reason why that shouldn’t follow through here in the auction tomorrow.”
Mr Franz said he and co-judge Mr Bassingthwaighte made clear cut decisions in their role as judges and were happy with the end results.
“The cattle were that good you could have 10 different people judging and get 10 different answers, but I believe the cattle will hang up well,” he said.
“People go to a lot of effort to enter cattle in the Ekka prime beef classes so we try to get it as close as we can.”
At the conclusion of judging, Noel and Liz Cook, Moruya Feedlot, Goondiwindi, claimed the title of grand champion pen with their pen of six Charolais cross steers.
Mr Bassingthwaighte said the steers were a powerful pen and asked for a round of applause from the crowd to congratulate the winning exhibitors.
“Their evenness as a group got them over the line. The width and depth of these steers is outstanding, there’s no waste on them and they suit the 100 day job down to a T,” he said.
Exhibitor Noel Cook said the steers averaged 663kg and were bought as weaners out of the Toogoolawah sale that he and his family attended regularly.
“They’re all milk tooth steers and they’ve been fed for 120 days after being grown out in the paddock,” he said.
“We’ve entered cattle here for four years and received a few places here and there but this is our first big win.
“The difference is we bought these cattle as weaners specifically for the competition and grew them out whereas previously we’ve made up a pen with whatever we’ve had in the feedlot.”
The Cook family feed about 4000 head in their on-property feedlot, buying in cattle from sales such as Toogoolawah and sending about 1100 head to Kilcoy and Coles meatworks monthly.
They also run a 3000 head pure Hereford breeding herd with progeny finished at Moruya Feedlot and aimed for the Coles market.
The champion pen of three award went to Greg and Kel Kelly, Juandah Grazing, Guluguba, for their entry of three Charolais cross heifers averaging 420kg.
Juandah grazing operate under organic accreditation and Mrs Kelly said the heifers were “sacrificed” as part of a publicity strategy.
“We breed and sell about 20 Charolais Charbray bulls each year mainly to local graziers and into the Brisbane Valley so we enter cattle in the prime and carcase classes at the Ekka to get our name out there,” she said.
“We pulled out 12 head to feed at Glenidyll Feedlot just for the Ekka. From a financial point of view it’s not really worth doing- 100 day grain fed cattle are making about 600c/kg whereas grass fed organics are paying about 730c/kg, but it’s our way of advertising.”
Mrs Kelly said the heifers were rising 12-months-old and their sisters were awarded grand champion last year.
The Queensland Country Life champion single steer ribbon went to the O’Dwyer family, Tallara, Roadvale, for their entry of a 694kg Charolais cross steer.
Exhibitor Matt O’Dwyer said the family had entered in the prime cattle section once before and won the same class then so the odds were in their favour to return next year.
