FUTURE hoof and hook champions went under the hammer at the 10th annual Potential Show Steer Sale hosted by Colin Say and Co at the Glen Innes saleyards on Monday.
All 28 lots were sold to a new sale record of $13.80/kg, up $2.80kg on the previous record set in 2017, for an average of $6.44/kg.
It was a steer presented by Chris Law, Hunday Pastoral Company, Quirindi, who took the top honours with his Limousin/Hereford steer.
Weighing in at 260kg he sold to the Triple Threat Show Steers syndicate at Glen Innes to return at $3588.
Toowoomba based show steer fitter, Travis Luscombe, Luscombe Show Steers and Livestock, selected the steer on behalf of the syndicate and will feed and prepare the steer for the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) in August.
"This syndicate had a brother to this steer last year and it came second at Ekka," he said.
"They wanted one from the same stable this year.
"The genetics and breeding program of Chris' works. We will present him at a couple of local Darling Downs shows then onto Ekka aiming for a middle-weight class."
Vendor Chris Law said he didn't do anything special to breed winning show steers but simply produced commercially focused articles that sell at market, and stood up in the ring too.
"I sell the mates to this steer at Scone saleyards as finished articles, recently getting $3.20/kg for steers and heifers," he said.
Sired by a Greenacres Limousin bull and out of a British Hereford cow, Mr Law said the genetic combination gave softness in the cattle, a little bit of bone and the ability to finish in 70-90 days.
Delungra vendors, Nigel and Casey Wieck, CB Charolais/Limousins 'n' Select Show Cattle, presented this year's grand champion steer who sold for $8.70/kg.
The Limousin cross Angus/Charolais steer sold to Tim Eastwell and his grandfather, Ron Shelley, Warwick.
The 270 kilogram steer returned $2349 at auction, a $500 cheque from Crowe Horwath Accountants for taking top honours and a $500 bull credit with Dulverton Angus for best Angus Infused exhibit.
Judge Jon Gaffney, Graneta Limousin and Angus, Bell, Queensland, said there was only half a point between the top five.
Having won the Ekka grand champion steer twice and bred a further two winners, Mr Gaffney liked the loose skin, muscle pattern, structural correctness, length and fine bone the grand champion steer exhibited and said it should stand up well at Ekka.
Tim and his grandfather will feed and prepare the steer themselves for the state's top show.
The reserve champion, a Charolais cross Black Baldy Simmental steer, exhibited by sale founder Dugald McIndoe, Smithston Farms, Glencoe, sold for $7.10 to volume buyers, Coonamble High School.
The 265 kilogram steer returned $1881.50 at auction and a $400 cheque from Crowe Horwath, Say and Co Rural and the Lockyer family for taking the honours.
As volume buyers they also received the half tonne of stockfeed donated by Riverina Australia while McIntyre High School, Inverell, were drawn from a hat to receive another half tonne.
Sale coordinator Nathan Purvis said the standard of steers and heifers was high along with the interest from schools and show steer enthusiasts.
"Whilst a lot of these steers will go on to Ekka, some will return in September for our Colin Say and Co Steer Extravaganza with $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs," he said.
The sale was conducted by Colin Say and Co and interfaced on Elite Livestock Auctions with Shad Bailey controlling the bids.