Related story: Faces of Dalby Feeder Challenge
In only its second year, the annual Dalby Feeder Challenge attracted a total 1769 head of cattle entries to the show and special sale.
Held at Dalby Saleyards on Friday the event provided plenty of strong competition between feeder cattle consignments sent in by cattle producers from across the Western Downs.
Over $30,000 in prize money was up for grabs with Ross and Cheryl Brown, Belmont Park, Meandarra receiving $1000 for their win in the 360 to 420 kilogram feeder steer class.
The Brown family’s 16 head of 393 kilogram Santa-cross steers were a standout of the competition and feedlot cattle buyers snapped-up the prize winning pen during the special Dalby Feeder Challenge sale for 348c/kg to return $1396/head.
“The last six years we’ve been using cattle genetics from Dangarfield Santa Gertrudis stud near Taroom over our cross bred cow herd,” Mr Brown said.
“The class winning pen is out of our Santa/Shorthorn-cross cows by a Dangarfield bull.
“We went through about 120 head of cattle on our property and picked out what we thought were the best feeder steers in the mob for today’s competition.
Mr Brown said the family consigned a total of 110 head of steers and heifers to the feeder cattle competition and special sale.
“We have been very lucky the season has really turned around for us recently with our properties around the Meandarra area receiving 317 millimeters of rain since late January this year.”
The Brown family also placed second in the 360 to 420kg feeder heifer class with their pen of Santa-cross females selling to 336c/kg for 393kg to return $1324/head.
Overall, the McCormack family, Glenmorgan were awarded Grand Champion Pen of the feeder cattle challenge for their 478kg Droughtmaster heavy feeder steers that sold to 352c/kg to return $1683/head.
Reserve Champion in the over 420kg heavy feeder steer class was the Bradshaw family with their pen selling to 350c/kg for 465kg to return $1629/head.
The heavy feeder heifers over 420kg class winner was Maxvale Pastoral with their pen making to 312c/kg for 421kg to return $1315/head.
The 360 to 420kg feeder heifer class win was awarded to the Weldon family with their pen selling to 332c/kg for 391kg to return $1301/head.
Second place in the light feeder steer 300 to 360kg class was awarded to Samuel Holdings with their pen of Charolais steers selling to 350c/kg for 336kg to return $1176/head.
First place winner in the 300 to 360kg domestic feeder heifer class went to the Barron family with their pen selling to 336c/kg for 339kg to return $1139/head. Second place was awarded to Golden Arrow Grazing Company with their pen of Angus heifers making 340c/kg for 328kg to return $1117/head.
The under 300kg steer class winner was Arrabury Pastoral Co and their pen sold to 355c/kg for 295kg to return $1049/head. The Anderton family received second place in the under 300kg steer class and their pen sold to 362c/kg for 298kg to return $1082/head.
First place in the under 300kg heifer class was awarded to the Whitaker family with their pen making 360c/kg for 232kg to return $837/head.
