A total of 2120 head of cattle were penned for this year’s Dalby Feeder Challenge cattle show and sale on Friday.
Grand Champion pen was awarded to Don and Kay Blanch, Glenfilan, Jandowae consignment of Angus domestic feeder weight steers. The pen weighed 346 kilograms-a-head and sold for 304c/kg to return $1051/head. The champion pen won the 301kg to 360kg steer class before going on to take the top prize.
It was the Blanch family’s first time entering the Dalby Feeder Cattle Challenge and were surprise about winning Grand Champion pen.
The Blanch’s livestock agent, Ross Ruddell, said the family had moved from Cunnamulla five years ago to the Jandowae district and breed very good cattle.
Mr Ruddell noted the Blanch family had been using the Hegarty family’s Carabar Angus bull genetics for many years.
“The competition gives cattle producers great feedback about the commercial cattle they are breeding,” Mr Ruddell said.
The 200 to 300kg class champion steer pen was Samuel Holdings, Jandowae with their consignment of Angus-cross steers that sold to 316c/kg for 283kg to return $897/head.
The 361 to 420kg class champion steer pen was Greg and Andrea Lithgow, Lithgow Partnership, Chinchilla with their consignment of Santa-cross steers selling to 292c/kg for 416kg to return $1214/head.
The 421 to 500kg class champion steer pen was the Slack family, Tara with their consignment of Charolais-cross steers that sold to 296c/kg for 423kg to return $1370/head.
The 301 to 360kg class champion heifer pen was Kilburnie Cattle Co, NSW with their consignment of Angus heifers that sold to 270c/kg for 356kg to return $962/head.
The 361 to 420kg class champion heifer pen was Greg and Andrea Lithgow, Lithgow Partnership, Chinchilla with their consignment of Angus heifers that sold 282c/kg for 373kg to return $1053/head.
The 421 to 500kg class champion heifer pen was Burenda Angus manager John Schmidt with their consignment of Angus heifers that sold to 222c/kg for 473kg to return $1051/head.
Dalby Feeder Challenge champion pen of Angus was awarded to Gary Hopson, Chinchilla with his Angus steers that sold to 312c/kg for 310kg to return $967/head.
Dalby Feeder Challenge champion pen of Santa was awarded to Ian Hall, Jandowae with his Santa steers selling to 296c/kg for 403kg to return $1193/head.
Dalby Feeder Challenge champion pen of Droughtmaster was awarded to the Atthow family, Millmerran with their Droughtmaster steers selling to 291c/kg for 414kg to return $1206/head.