Stud and commercial Charolais and Charbray breeders Greg and Kel Kelly, Juandah Grazing, Guluguba, Qld, firmly believe carcase competitions are the best way to benchmark their cattle.
The Kellys run 280 commercial breeders and 100 Charolais and Charbray stud breeders on their property, Giligulgul.
They've put a firm focus on exhibiting in carcase contests and have notched up wins in showcases such as the Ekka's Woolworths Carcase Competition, Paddock to Palate and Beef Australia's National Carcase Competition.
"We don't dabble in exhibiting our cattle in the showring, as at the end of the day it is the carcase that counts," Mrs Kelly said.
Some of the Kelly's memorable wins include their Charbray steers claiming the first phase of the 2014 Mort and Co RNA Paddock to Palate Competition.
Their Charbray pen of six achieved an average daily gain of 3.206 kilograms which they believe is yet to be beaten. In this class, first to eleventh place were only separated by 171 grams.
Success has been a constant over the years and in this year's competition the Kellys were placed second in best weight gain for pen of six grain fed steers (100 Day) when their pen achieved an average daily gain of 2.832kg.
At the 2015 Ekka, an ecstatic Greg and Kel Kelly, took out the two main prizes in the Royal Queensland Show's prime cattle competition.
They were awarded the Queensland Country Life and Syd Vellnagel grand champion pen for their pen of three heifers and the champion local trade weight for a single steer in the 360-480 kg class.
The couple could not wipe the smiles from their faces the following morning when their champion steer sold for $7200 to Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel.
At $15/kg for their Charolais-cross, this was five times more than the average prices fetched at the prime cattle sale.
Closer to home they have enjoyed success in the Wandoan Show's carcase competition and this year were awarded reserve champion pen of steers best weight gain with their steer recording an average daily gain of 2.8kg. Thess later sold to Kilcoy Pastoral Company.
They also placed second in the 70-day Woolworth trade grainfed class with a heifer recording 2.5kg/day.
The couple moved to Giligulgul in 2004 and became certified organic in 2012. The stud was established in 2002 and genetics have been selected from Riverglen Charolais Stud, Ayr Charolais Stud and Belah Valley Brahmans. They sell 20 stud bulls annually as invited vendors at the Lilyvale Sale and Riverglen sales.