PRODUCER confidence from a strong seasonal start saw a record yarding of 210 head of prime cattle at the Gayndah Show on Saturday.
Eclipsing last year’s record of 167, it was a two-tooth Santa Gertrudis Droughtmaster cross steer from Gayndah’s Lance Baker that was awarded grand champion beast of the show by judge and Condamine Shorthorn breeder, Spencer Morgan.
The 692kg beast, one of nine Mr Baker entered, was also named champion grain fed male or female of the show having been one of 52 competition entries fed for 100 days at Muan Feedlot in Biggenden.
The carcass cattle were sent to JBS Dinmore with the hook results to be delivered at a dinner tonight (Thursday).
Mr Baker, along with his wife Kym and children Hugo and Lawson, run Santa Gertrudis breeders on their 404 hectares home block with further cattle numbers spread across agistment in the North Burnett.
Turning off bullock weight cattle isn’t unusual for the Bakers, but it isn’t the only market they supply to.
“We sell into weaner sales at Biggenden and then also keep some of our own to hold on to,” Mr Baker said.
“It gives you a bit of room to move if things move and change.”
The prime cattle competition was supported by new exhibitors and a number of return vendors with as many as 31 head in the strongest class, grainfed steer 551kg and over.
Other major winners on the day were the Wain family, Mundubbera, who won reserve champion beast of the show, champion grass fed male and champion grass fed female.
The Hams family, Mundubbera, won the junior champion beast of the show, Lara Partnership took out the champion pen of male or females while Harriett Valley claimed champion pen of males. The Ahern family claimed the champion pen fattened at Muan.
Judge Spencer Morgan said the standard of the cattle entries was high across the board with many striking the right balance between high yields and structural correctness.
He said with the North Burnett boosted by a strong season it had highlighted the faster finishing cattle.
“Beef production is being able to turn off cattle as quick as you can,” he said.
“Striking that balance of having high yielding carcass but balancing that with an even fat cover.”
He said the high standard flowed through to the organisation of those involved.
Steward Vicki Palmer was assisted by volunteers as young as nine years old who helped the event run smoothly.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
