After a fifteen year hiatus from the show ring, the Viamonte Brangus Stud made a victorious return at Beef 2021 with 25-month-old Viamonte Red Endure Q001 claiming grand champion bull honours.
Palgrove seedstock general manager Ben Noller presided over the judging of the 100 Brangus on show, acknowledging that the superb efforts of breeders in preparing their animals had made his job very difficult.
Exhibited by David McKean and Martin Lill, Coonabarabran, NSW, Viamonte Red Endure weighed in at 920kg and had an EMA of 130sq.cm.
Mr Noller noted Red Endure was far from the largest bull in the ring but said he was the most correct and well put together.
Mr Lill said the judges comments reflected his own thoughts about the bull and the "shift" the Viamonte Stud had made in their own breeding program.
"Many progressive breeders are changing their philosophy to be less about performance and more about productivity and efficiency," he said.
Mr Lill said that in light of the recent drought, he was focused on using animals in the most efficient way to help the landscape recover.
Sired by Chadwick Downs Red Sahara, Red Endure is now for sale and will be offered at the Brangus National Sale in October if not sold privately beforehand.
Red Endure faced strong competition from the junior champion bull, Kulkyne Queensland, exhibited by upcoming studmaster, Henry Sinnamon, Kulkyne Brangus, Jackson.
17-month-old Queensland weighed in at 700kg, had an EMA of 110sq.cm and rib eye and P8 measurements of 7mm and 13mm respectively.
Mr Sinnamon started his stud a decade ago as a 12 year old and has been waiting for the right bull to come along to launch into showing.
"That was the first major showing for our stud and we just thought he was a good calf and wanted to put him in front of the public," Mr Sinnamon said.
"I always wanted to show at Beef but I didn't want to take something there unless it was a genuine chance.
"I've put a lot of hard work into getting stuff right - it's great to get some recognition for our cattle."
Queensland will lead a team of Kulkyne bulls to be offered at the Roma Brangus Sale later in the year.
Mr Sinnamon said he wasn't the "biggest or flashest" bull in the ring but was structurally very correct.
"He's very true to breed characteristics, he's got a beautiful head, he's soft and it was great to hear the judge say he was structurally faultless because that's what we like about him," he said.
The male calf champion, Lunar Revolver, was exhibited by Lunar Brangus, Emerald.
The grand champion female honours went to the 24-month-old Telpara Hills Miss Foundation 920, who was exhibited by John Collins, Yaraandoo Brangus, Gogango.
Mr Collins purchased Miss Foundation in September 2020 and said he liked her "balance, length and temperament".
"She is just the ideal female for what I am looking for," he said.
In commenting on the female classes Mr Noller said putting a heifer above a proven breeding cow always gave a judge reason for pause, but he said Miss Foundation was the type of female the industry should be aiming to breed.
"I love the shape, that beautiful, long, square hip that goes right down into her hock and she is long bodied and has that bit of extra bone," he said during the judging.
Miss Foundation is in calf via artificial insemination to a Brahman bull and will go into a flush program next year.
"Just being a bit lower content I thought a Brahman sire might suit her best," Mr Collins said.
Ultimately, the Brangus spoils were shared widely among exhibitors with no one stud dominating the judging.
Some other wins of note included the junior champion female, Bullakeana The One And Only, exhibited by Brad and Vicki Hanson, Moura.
Mr Noller said he had to admire the "fleshing, softness and depth of carcase" of the 16-month-old heifer.
The female calf champion was Forest Hills Hannah 1589, exhibited by Forest Hills Brangus, Capella.
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Full results
Calf champion male: Lunar Revolver, exhibited by Lunar Brangus, Emerald.
Reserve calf champion male: Kaydeeay Fargo 120, exhibited by Kaydeeay Pty Ltd, Gunalda.
Calf champion female: Forest Hills Hannah 1589, exhibited by Forest Hills Brangus, Capella.
Reserve calf champion female: Kraken Pearl of the North 535R, exhibited by Sheehan-Jeynes, Dalma
Junior champion bull: Kulkyne Queensland, exhibited by Kulkyne Brangus, Jackson.
Reserve junior champion bull: Duarran Perkins, exhibited by Galloway Cattle Co, Roma.
Junior champion female: Bullakeana The One and Only, exhibited by Brad and Vicki Hanson, Moura.
Reserve junior champion female: Rockyview Black Pearl, exhibited by Rockyview Brangus, Aubigny.
Senior champion bull: Viamonte Red Endure Q001, exhibited by Viamonte Brangus, Coonabarabran, NSW
Reserve senior champion bull: Voewood Pheonix, exhibited by Voewood Brangus, Calliope.
Senior champion female: Telpara Hills Miss Foundation 920, exhibited by Yaraandoo Brangus Stud, Gogango.
Reserve senior champion female: Yabba-Do Porsche 13P5, exhibited by Yabba-Do Brangus, Kanganga.
Grand champion bull: Viamonte Red Endure Q001
Grand champion female: Telpara Hills Miss Foundation 920