It was the Santa Gertrudis breed that were the big winners in the RNA’s Paddock to Palate pen of six steers fed for 70 day trade class when the breed trumped all three places in the class.
Winning the class were Peter and Nikki Mahony, Gyranda Santa Gertrudis Stud, Theodore with their steers recording an average daily weight gain of 3.07kg and average final weight of 646 kilograms.
Four of the winning pen of steers finished in the top 30 individual ADG placings with the highest coming in third with an ADG of 3.61 kilograms.
Their four pen entries were mostly cull stud bulls and it was the first time the family had taken out the 70 day class, after winning the 100 day section two years ago in their first time exhibiting.
Mr Mahony said he was ecstatic about the 70 day win after he had no idea his “little fellas” would perform so well.
“Our cattle (and) our market is more your Jap Ox market, a bit more later maturing type so it’s surprised us a bit,” Mr Mahony said.
Gyranda was also placed third in the 100 day class with their steers recording an average daily weight gain of 2.982kg.
Meanwhile Yulgilbar Pastoral Co. Baryulgil, NSW was placed second with a pen of Santa Gertrudis steers.
Yulgilbar’s pen of Santa Gertrudis steers recorded an average daily gain gain of 2.90kg.
“Yulgilbar was thrilled to continue its consistent performance at the 2017 RNA paddock to palate competition hosted by Mort and Co at Grassdale feedlot at Dalby,” general manager Rob Sinnamon said.
In third place was a pen of Santa Gertudis/Angus (Sangus) steers also exhibited by Yulgilbar. These steers recorded a daily weight gain of 2.86kg.
A Yulgilbar Sangus Steer also placed 2nd in the individual daily weight gain of 3.81kg.
David and Suzanne Bassingthwaighte, Waco Stud, Mungalla, were delighted when their Santa Gertrudis steers recorded the highest individual weight gain in the 100 day class.
Their steers were drawn from the Waco commercial herd recorded an average daily weight gain of 3.62kg.
“We are delighted our steers performed so well in the first phase of the Paddock to Palate,” Mrs Bassingthwaighte said.