JANDOWAE producers Mark and Rachael Bice came up trumps with their Santa/Angus-cross steers, exhibiting the grand champion pen at Elders’ inaugural Dalby Feeder Sale and Challenge on May 13.
The Bices were awarded a Warwick Cattle ZT Ultimate cattle crush sponsored by Elders for their achievement.
A total of 1200 head of excellent quality cattle were drawn from Mitchell, Miles, Yuleba, Goondiwindi, Meandarra, Jandowae and the local Dalby area for the competition.
All cattle were mouthed and pre-weighed and sold in weight ranges of 300-360kg, 361-420kg and 421-500kg classes for both steers and heifers.
The judges were Ryan Brown, Smithfield Cattle Co, Geoff Garland, B&W, Moree, and Leo McMahon.
In the 300-360kg class steers averaged 304c/kg to top 330c. Heifers averaged 296c, topping at 304c. The winning steers were Santas shown by Jack McDonald, Goondiwindi, in a class sponsored by Wild River Concrete. The winning heifers were Angus-cross from Elite Cattle Co, Meandarra, in a class sponsored by Allflex.
In the 361-420kg class steers averaged 305c to top 330c. Heifers averaged 295c to top 298c. The winning Santa steers were yarded by Russell and Marion Duncan, Dalby, in a class sponsored by Olssons. The winning heifers were shown by Ivan and Donna Phipps, Meandarra, in a class sponsored by Tru-test.
Steers in the 421-500kg class averaged 300c topping at 330c. Heifers averaged 286c for a top of 292c. Mark and Rachael Bice had a winning pen in a class sponsored by Coopers. The heifers were from Moongool Charolais, Yuleba, in a class sponsored by Wild River Concrete.
The best pen of Santa steers class was Mark and Rachael Bice, while the heifers were shown by The Lithgow Partnership in classes sponsored by Rosevale Santa Gertrudis.
AF&MF Douglas had the best pen of Droughtmaster cattle, sponsored by Clonlara Droughtmasters.
Merv and June Slack and family had the best pen of Charolais cattle, sponsored by Elite Cattle Co.
Mark and Rachael Bice also had the best pen of Angus cattle, sponsored by Valorbrook Angus.
Andrew Cavanagh from Elders said all of the regular feedlot buyers were active at the sale with extra buying support coming from Warwick and Walgett.
“The excellent line up of cattle sold to very strong competition and vendors were rewarded for the quality on display,” Mr Cavanagh said.
