The RNA’s Paddock to Palate is Australia’s richest beef supply chain competition with $46,000 in prize money on offer.
And now the results of the first phase of the competition have been announced, the steers have entered the second phase and were processed by JBS Australia last Wednesday.
The three phased competition comprises best aggregate weight gain over 70-days for trade class; for the best weight over 100-days for the export class, a carcass competition and an MSA eating quality competition.
Exhibitors will now eagerly await the announcement of the overall winners at the Ekka Showgrounds on Friday August 11 at a special awards breakfast.
In the first phase of the competition it was the Akinson family, Katandra, Hughenden who won the 100-day class, Gyranda Pastoral Company, Theodore claimed the 70-day class and Stanbroke Beef the Wagyu Challenge over 300-days.
After battling severe drought for the past five years theirs win gave the Atkinson family plenty of reasons to smile.
The family partnership of Rob and Donna, son John and wife Bec, daughter Amy and husband Guy Slack-Smith finished with two first and a second place.
Their Angus/Droughtmaster-cross steers placed first in the 100-day class with an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.11kg. Another Atkinson pen placed second with and ADG of 3.02kg and a similar pen in the 70-day class were the highest individual weight gaining steers with an ADG of 3.94kgs
“This result is really pretty daunting – we are blown away,” a grinning from ear-to-ear Rob Atkinson said.
In the competition points allocated from a total of 35 points for weight gain, 110 points for the carcase competent and the final points from the highest of eight points are added for MSA eating quality.
The exhibitors who poll the highest aggregate score across all categories are then awarded the overall prize.
RNA Beef Cattle Committee Chairman Gary Noller said the Paddock to Palate Competition has been bringing together the nation’s top cattle producers for the past 20 years.
“The high quality of genetics entered into the competition this year presented average daily gains higher than normal feedlot conditions, so we’re pleased with the results,” Mr Noller said.
The RNA first introduced the Paddock to Palate in 1997 and cattle were fed at Launcells Feedlot, owned by the Duncan Sturrock and family, Drillham.
Mort and Co’s Grassdale Feedlot near Dalby has now being feeding the steers for the past seven years.