SIXTY FOUR Braford exhibits from across Queensland and northern New South Wales paraded the ring at Beef 2021, but it was Casino based Little Valley Brafords that were unstoppable.
Coming away with a truck full of awards that included half of the major sashes, the trip was worthwhile for the Bennett family of the Little Valley stud that exhibited 11 head at this year's event.
Little Valley Mateo was the studs successful junior bull that went all the way to take the grand champion title under judge Martin Lill of Chadwick Downs Cattle Company, Coonabarabran, NSW and his associate Olivia Marks, Winvic Pastoral, Clermont.
Weighing 738 kilograms at 20 months, he measured 10 millimetres and 7mm for rump and rib fat, and 120 square centimetres in the eye muscle area (EMA).
Mateo was out of Little Valley C3114 and sired by Little Valley Richard who was the $40,000 top-priced bull sold to Harriett Valley, Gayndah, at the 2019 Braford National Sale, Rockhampton.
"He has been used, we gave him a handful of show heifers before he came here, and we are debating if he will go to the national in September," Doug Bennett of Little Valley said.
Senior and grand champion female was Little Valley Miss Majestic, shown with her 10-day-old heifer calf at foot Little Valley Miss Anzac.
Sired by Little Valley Larry 2973 and out of Little Valley Lady Majestic, she was the previous reserve junior champion Braford female of the NSW Braford Feature Show in 2019.
"Her grandfather on her maternal side (Little Valley Majestic) won grand champion bull at Beef 2015," Mr Bennett said.
"We only got two bulls and three heifers by him, then we lost him to a snake bite."
Little Valley stud will not be taking her to the 2021 Ekka, but aim to rejoin her and possibly bring her back out as a mature cow.
They also exhibited the calf champion bull, Little Valley Nacho, calf champion female, Little Valley Miss Agnes 333, and reserve calf female, Little Valley Brie-Anna.
Clifton based breeder Neil Pacholke exhibited by reserve calf champion bull, Sunny Lawn Ferrari 1455 and junior champion female, Sunny Lawn Lady Di.
Reserve junior bull was Downfall Creek Ignite, while reserve junior female was Pen-Leigh Air. Senior bull was Edengarry Patrick, with reserve to Ascot Kansas 2143. Reserve senior female was Kioma Blossom 1812.
RESULTS PANEL
Judge: Martin Lill, Chadwick Downs Cattle Company, Coonabarabran, NSW and (associate) Olivia Marks, Winvic Pastoral, Clermont
No. of exhibits: 64
Calf champion male: Little Valley Nacho exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW
Reserve calf champion male: Sunny Lawn Ferrari 1455 exhibited by Neil Pacholke, Clifton
Calf champion female: Little Valley Miss Agnes 333 exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW
Reserve calf champion female: Little Valley Brie-Anna exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW
Junior champion bull: Little Valley Mateo exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW
Reserve junior champion bull: Downfall Creek Ignite exhibited by Robert and Lesette Hoffman, Downfall Creek Brafords, Guluguba
Junior champion female: Sunny Lawn Lady Di exhibited by Neil Pacholke, Clifton
Reserve junior champion female: Pen-Leigh Air exhibited by Penny Vohland, Pittsworth
Senior champion bull: Edengarry Patrick exhibited by Elwyn Rae, Edengarry Brafords, Ninemile
Reserve senior champion bull: Ascot Kansas 2143 exhibited by the Galloway family, Ascot Neiman Brafords, Banana
Senior champion female: Little Valley Miss Majestic exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW
Reserve senior champion female: Kioma Blossom 1812 exhibited by Dean and Melissa Graham, Kioma Brafords, Kingaroy
Grand champion bull: Little Valley Mateo exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW
Grand champion female: Little Valley Miss Majestic exhibited by the Bennett family, Little Valley Brafords, Casino, NSW