IT’s taken six years, but Sullivan family from Riverglen Pastoral Company, Condamine, has reclaimed the perpetual, memorial shield named in honour of the late John Sullivan, a noted Charolais breeder.
Riverglen exhibited the winning pen of export weight pasture fed carcases in the prestigious JBS competition, which has been held by D&AD Bassingthwaihte, Yarrawonga, Wallumbilla, for the past five years with Santa entries.
Riverglen reclaimed the title with a 400kg average Charolais-cross entry finished on oats.
Michael Sullivan said the win was particularly rewarding because of his father’s long commitment to the competition.
“His skill was always being able to select six similar steers,” Michael said.
“There’s a real challenge in selecting that number of similar animals, so it is great we’ve been able to secure a win in the competition Dad dominated for so long.”
Both the champion and reserve champion JBS carcases were exhibited by brothers Reg and Midge Thompson, Nanango, with Charolais/Limousin-cross entries. Those heavy weight steers had also been finished on oats.
In the Woolworths pen of three pasture or grain fed MSA steers and/or heifers competition Ben and Megan Drynan, Gallinani, Esk, came up trumps with their Charbray entry.
The champion single carcase – an Angus – came from Bremer Feedlot, Grandchester. Reg and Midge Thompson had the reserve with a Limousin/Charolais-cross entry.
The top award in the HGP-free Coles Supermarket pen of three pasture or grain fed steers and/or heifers competition went to a thrilled Girlie Goody, Malakoff, Monto, for her grain assisted Limousin-cross entry.
Awards in the Coles competition for both the champion carcase and reserve champion carcases were secured by Ben and Megan Drynan who had fed the steers on a Bremer Stock Feeds ration.
