STOCKYARD has again come up trumps, exhibiting the grand champion branded beef of the 2020 Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show.
Earning yet another gold medal and carrying the bragging rights of being Australia's best steak for the fourth year running, the strip loin was taken from a full blood, 400 day grainfed Wagyu fed at Kerwee Feedlot, Jondaryan.
"It's not just about feeding cattle," Mr Clark said. "It really is the love and care that the team at Kerwee have for the cattle."
The winning steak scored an impressive 90.8 points, 2.5 points ahead of the Stockyard Black entry.
Chief judge Elaine Millar said Kiwami once again showcased its extraordinary credentials. "... long-lasting well-retained juiciness, a luxurious molten texture on the palate, and visually it was outstanding," she said.
The Wagyu, which has a 9+ marbling score, beat 24 other entries to be named Australia's best, with the judges also impressed by the overall quality of beef entered in the competition.
"The scores were high and very close, many with less than one-point difference, therefore proving that grain, grass and Wagyu entries are all worthy of the highest accolades," Ms Millar said.
"For a country that produces some of the finest beef in the world, we have unearthed the best of the best which continues to position Australia as leader in the international beef market."
NH Foods Australia was also in the spotlight with its Angus Reserve brand, which was named the champion MSA branded beef of the show. It was earlier awarded a gold medal in the grain fed class.
The steak was produced from 150 day grain fed animal, which typically used to supply Costco as well as other retailers. Established 10 years ago, about 500 cattle a week are processed at Oakey to supply the brand.
Mort and Co also had a top day out, awarded a gold medal for its stand out score six Master Selection brand Wagyu beef (85.8 points) and a bronze medal for its Pheonix brand Wagyu beef (87.5 points) in the seven-plus marbling class.
Also earning a gold medal for its grass fed entry was Thomas Foods International for its Angus Pure Grass Fed entry from South Australia.
JBS Australia came up trumps in the open class earning a gold for its JBS Yardstick brand and a silver for its JBS Tender Valley brand. Both those entries scored more than 80 points, reflecting the popularity of the JBS entries with the panel of eight judges.
After being postponed in May because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Branded Beef and Lamb Competition was rescheduled until July 7, with an awards ceremony on Tuesday.
RQFWS award-winning beef and lamb products will be served on August 7-16 at a pop-up store in King Street on the Brisbane Showgrounds, as part of Ekka 2020 Online presented by RACQ to keep the spirit of the Royal Queensland Show alive.
Results
Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show. Stockyard (Stockyard Kiwami) 90.8 points.
Champion MSA Graded Branded Beef. NH Food Australia (Angus Reserve) 81.
Grain fed class. Gold: NH Food Australia (Angus Reserve) 81. Silver: Stockyard (Stockyard Gold) 80.8. Bronze: JBS Australia (JBS Thousand Guineas Shorthorn) 73.
Grass fed class. Gold: Thomas Foods International (Angus Pure Grass Fed) 77. Silver: Woodward Foods Australia (Natural Beef) 75.8. Bronze: NH Foods Australia (Manning Valley Naturally) 73.3.
Wagyu Class Aus-Meat Marble Score 6 or less. Gold: Mort & Co (Master Selection) 85.8. Silver: Lotte International Oceana (L'grow Wagyu) 79.8. Bronze: Paradigm Foods (Icon XL Wagyu) 79.5.
Wagyu Class Aus-Meat Marble Score Seven Plus. Gold: Stockyard (Stockyard Kiwami) 90.8. Silver: Stockyard (Stockyard Black) 88.3. Bronze: Mort & Co (The Pheonix) 87.5.
Open Class. Gold: JBS Australia (JBS Yardstick) 80.8. Silver: JBS Australia (JBS Tender Valley) 80.
Branded lamb
It was also a repeat win in the lamb competition with Woodward Foods Australia exhibiting the champion branded lamb of show.
The more than 24kg restaurant trade class winner was fed at Garrison Feedlot, Murray Downs, NSW, and scored a very impressive, gold medal winning 86.3 points.
Woodward also scored a silver medal with its HRW Tasmanian Lamb brand, which scored an also extremely impressive 83.3 points.
Peter and Sally Strelitz, Milly Hill, Armidale, NSW won the less than 20kg class with their Milly Hill entry.
South Australia's Thomas Foods International scored the gold medal for its Supreme brand in the more than 20kg section.
Chief judge Elaine Millar said the Australian Lamb product had a long-lasting juiciness, due to its fine silk-like threads of marbling.
"It showcased beautifully balanced flavours of emulsified cashew, sweet biscuit and delicate earthy oyster mushrooms," Ms Millar said.
Results
Champion Branded Lamb of Show. Woodward Farms Australia (Australian Lamb) 86.3.
MLA Branded Lamb 20kg or Less. Gold: Milly Hill (Milly Hill) 80.3. Silver: Woodward Farms Australia (HRW Tasmanian Lamb) 73.4. Bronze: Woodward Farms Australia (Australian Lamb) 65.4.
Branded Lamb More Than 20kg. Gold: Thomas Foods International (Supreme) 81. Silver: Milly Hill (Milly Hill) 74.1. Bronze: Thomas Foods International (Thomas Farms) 73.
Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb More Than 24kg. Gold: Woodward Farms Australia (Australian Lamb) 86.3. Silver: Woodward Farms Australia (HRW Tasmanian Lamb) 83.3.