Dalby Feeder and Store Challenge 2019 report

Held at Dalby Saleyards on Friday the event drew a good quality yarding from the Darling Downs to Roma, with 1234 head sold for an average 280c/kg.

Steers topped at 315c/kg and heifers topped at 280c/kg.

More than $30,000 in prize money was up for grabs with Troy D'Arcy, D'Arcy Farms, Yarranlea awarded grand champion pen for his pen of 13 Angus cross steers with an average weight of 433kg that sold to 315c/kg to average $1364/head.

His steers also claimed top spot in the 421-500kg heavy feeder steer class.

Mr D'Arcy said they were a nice quiet line of steers, bought from Inverell about 10 months ago and fed on grass and forage sorghum and oats.

"I just bought them in, fattened them up and got lucky today," he said.

"I didn't know they were quite that good.

"It was a bit of a surprise this morning when I got the phone call, telling me to get over here."

Elders Dalby branch manager Ashley Loveday said the rain had affected the numbers yarded for the challenge and sale.

"We're down approximately 400 head on what we expected," he said.

"We'll take the rain any day of the week."

The best pen of Santa or Santa-infused cattle was won by the Bassingthwaite family, Bass Cattle Co, Mungallalla for a pen of 10 Santa steers, average weight 451.5kg, selling for 308c/kg.

The best pen of Charolais or Charolais-infused cattle was claimed by Samuel Holdings Pty Ltd's manager Miles Patterson for 10 Charolais cross yearling steers, average weight 271.5kg, selling for 286c/kg.

The best pen of Droughtmaster or Droughtmaster-infused cattle went to Chris Burke, Burke Brothers, Moonie for a pen of 10 Droughtmaster steers, average weight 388kg, selling for 296c/kg.

The best pen of Angus or Angus-infused cattle was won by Greg Lithgow, Chinchilla for 10 Angus steers, average weight 371c/kg, selling for 308c/kg.

In the 200-299kg steer class, Mark and Rachel Bice, Jandowae took first place for 10 Angus cross yearling steers, average weight 285kg, selling for 302c/kg, with second place going to Jack McDonald, Goondiwindi for 10 yearling Santa Gertrudis steers, average weight 284.5kg, selling for 282c/kg.

Top place in the 200-292kg heifer class went to Ian Maben, Jandowae for 10 Angus cross yearling heifers, average weight 283kg, selling for 276c, while second place was claimed by the Barrett family, Cambooya for 10 Droughtmaster yearling heifers, average weight 250.5kg, selling for 230c/kg.

In the 300-360kg steer class, first went to David Wright, Chinchilla for a pen of 12 Angus yearling steers, average weight 305kg, selling for 290c/kg, while second was taken by Samuel Holdings Pty Ltd, Jimbour for a pen of 12 Angus cross steers, average weight 338.5kg, selling for 298c/kg.

In the 300-361kg heifer category Kelvin and Kathy Rule, Condamine, claimed top spot for a pen of 15 Angus cross heifers, average weight 334kg, selling for 276c/kg. Second place went to Melvin Newton and family, Dalby for a pen of 15 Angus cross heifers, average weight 315kg, selling to 272c/kg.

In the 361-420kg steer category, Ian, Jenny and Tom Hall, Jandowae, took first, selling their pen of 10 Santa Gertrudis steers, average weight 416kg, for 304c/kg, followed by Kelvin and Kathy Rule, Condamine who sold their pen of 14 Angus cross steers, average weight 365kg, for 308c/kg.

Geoff Reddan and family, Durong, took first in the 361-420kg heifer class for 10 Shorthorn heifers, average weight 410.5c/kg, selling to 280c/kg while second went to Robyn Boto, Larksghyll, Tara for 13 Angus cross heifers, average weight 406kg, selling for 274c/kg.

Reserve champion in the heavy feeder steer 421-500kg class was awarded to Tom Hoare and sons, Ironpot, who sold their 10 Charolais cross steers, average weight 438.5kg for 306c/kg.

There were no entries in the heavy feeder heifers class.