Among a strong line-up of 1272 head of prime and store cattle, the Tones family emerged as the champion pen at Dalby’s Beef Bonanza last Friday.
Judy and John Tones, Kiama, Jandowae entered a pen of 636 kilogram grain-assisted Limousin-cross steers who won the champion prime cattle grass, crop or grain assisted section of the beef bonanza before also being awarded champion overall exhibit.
Several steers in the consignment had previously being shown in local Led steer competitions from Toowoomba to Blackbutt.
“My son is very keen about led steer competitions and we decided to keep feeding these Limousin cattle and enter them in this local beef bonanza event,” Mr Tones said.
“This is our first year entering in the competition and it's great to receive such positive feedback.
“We’re also planning to established an accredited feedlot on our property in the future.”
The steers were also purchased at Dalby Saleyards as weaners making it a triumphant return for the cattle.
“We have been working with a cattle nutritionist to help improve the performance of our steers because good quality feed is very important in finishing-off cattle well,” Mr Tones said.
“Our passion for showing commercial cattle came from our son who was very involved in the Dalby State High School’s show cattle team.”
The Tones family’s champion steers sold to 318 cents-a-kilogram for an average weight of 636 kilogram to return up to $1988 a head during the sale section at the beef bonanza.
We have been working with a cattle nutritionist to help improve the performance of our steers because good quality feed is very important in finishing-off cattle well.
- John Tones, Kiama, Jandowae
Other section winners in this year’s Dalby Beef Bonanza were Camm Ag who took out the champion trophy in the Accredited Feedlot Challenge.
Their Angus-cross steers reached 296 cents-a-kilogram for 626 kilograms to return $1854 a head.
In the store cattle section of the Dalby Beef Bonanza, the Allen family won champion pen of weaner cattle with their Simmental-cross steers going on to sell for 342 cents-a-kilogram for 282 kilograms to return $966 a head.
Champion trade weight feeder exhibit went to Jerry Legge’s pen of Angus-cross steers that sold to 324 cents-a-kilogram for 330 kilograms to return $1071 a head.
Champion export weight feeder exhibit was awarded to Guy Campbell’s pen of Angus-cross steers that went on to sell for 300 cents-a-kilogram for 454 kilogram to return $1363 a head.
“Our second annual Dalby Beef Bonanza was again a great success with a fantastic yarding of cattle,” Eastern Rural’s Peter Bird said.
“John and Judy Tones from Jandowae took out the overall champion pen of the Dalby Beef Bonanza and prize money of $4000 cash.”
In other sales, a large run of grain assisted heifers from Garth and Susie Ritchie, Chinchilla also took out some prizes and their heifers that topped at 296 to average 269c/kg.
The winner of the heifer class, the Kennedy family, Kaimkillenbun received 295c/kg for their heifers, while a large number averaged 285c/kg.