ANY signs of a poor season in the North Burnett weren't on show when record entries were judged in the prime cattle section at Gayndah on Saturday.
A total of 167 head from Mundubbera, Cloyna, Murgon, Proston and the local area were presented at the Gayndah Show, up from last year’s entries of 142 head.
Mathew Pavey, Teys Biloela judged the event with a Droughtmaster South Devon cross steer from the Smith family, Proston named the Champion Grain Fed animal and going on to win Grand Champion Beast of the Show.
The grain fed steer weighed 596kg.
The Smith family are no strangers to the show ring or a broad ribbon after winning championships at Murgon and Goomeri shows already this year.
Brian and Gloria Smith have a small feedlot operation at Hivesville, near Proston selling cattle for the export and domestic and local trade.
The champion steer, one of 11 they entered in the show, was a first season calf from their South Devon bull that they have been crossing over their breeder herd of about 200 Droughtmaster cows.
Mr Smith said they typically used European genetics and were happy with the results of the new bull.
“We’ve got a few Bazadaise (crosses) too and we had a couple of them up there (at the show),” he said.
Prime Cattle steward Vicki Palmer said a strong class was the vealers born after July 2016 entered by someone 17 years old and under.
She said children and young adults also helped weigh cattle on Friday and during judging.
“An encouraging sign of the interest in the cattle industry by the younger generation,” she said.
Other results included:
Champion Grass Fed Female was exhibited by the Wain Family, Mundubbera.
Mitch Upton, Murgon exhibited a Champion Grass Fed Male milk tooth steer weighing 660kg.
Junior Champion Exhibit Showing No Permanent Teeth was exhibited by the Van Bale children.
Champion Pen of Male or Female and Bred and Fattened by exhibitor was a pen of grey Brahmans steers Grain Fed by Ahern Brahmans, Gayndah.
42 head, of which 30 were grain fed, went into either Japanese Ox or Domestic Trade Carcase competition.
JBS Swifts and Co, Dinmore processed and judged the carcases.
Trophies will be presented at a dinner held at the Golden Orange Hotel Motel on Wednesday night.