First phase of Paddock to Palate weight gain winners announced

The company, who are headquartered near Dalveen in Queensland's Granite Belt, took home three first place awards in the nation's richest beef competition of its kind, sharing in the total prize pool of more than $54,000.

Palgrove Pastoral Company won the overall pen of six in Class 40 (100 days Hormone Growth Promotant free export), with their Charolais recording an average daily weight gain of 2.245kg. They also claimed the highest individual weight gain for Class 40, with one of their cattle weighing in with an ADG of 2.55kg.

To top off their haul, the company won Class 37 (100 day export), with their pen of six Charolais-cross recording an ADG of 2.773kg.

Over the years, Palgrove has been very competitive in the competition and has won the team weight gain component a number of times

Palgrove Pastoral's business and genetics manager Ben Noller said this competition provides another invaluable benchmarking opportunity.

He said the win confirmed Palgrove genetics have the ability to produce high-performing commercial cattle.

"Each year we draft off and put aside animals for competitions and select for a certain type of beast, and both pens included purebred Charolais and Ultra Black genetics," Mr Noller said.

Entries from the Russell family, Russell Pastoral Co, whose pastoral interests are centred around Champion Station, Blackall, Jimbour Station, near Dalby, and Cluny Station near Bingara, NSW, were also a standout in the competition.

They claimed the highest individual weight gain for Class 37 with one of their Angus-cross cattle (ADG 3.310kg). They also won Class 38 (70 day trade), with their pen of six recording an ADG of 2.843kg.

Class 38's individual weight gain award was taken out by John, Estelle and Ben Drynan and family from Esk, after one of their Charolais and Red Angus-cross recorded an ADG of 3.414kg.

Meanwhile Richard and Dyan Hughes, Wentworth Cattle Company, Clermont, almost took a clean sweep of the Wagyu Challenge (Class 39 - 400 day).

The pens of six 50 per cent Wagyu-cross entered in the competition took out first (ADG 1.159kg) and second (ADG 1.097kg), plus one of their cattle recorded the highest individual weight gain (ADG 1.289kg).

A total of 728 head of cattle were entered in the competition this year, slightly down on last year.

"This year we've seen the effects of the drought over the past two and a half years, with our commercial and long-term exhibitors unable to enter as many cattle," RNA beef committee chairman Gary Noller said.

"We also saw new exhibitors enter, as they recognise the benefits in being able to use the results data to promote their seedstock enterprises if they do well.

"Despite the wet and cold conditions this year, cattle health was good and they gained well, especially in Class 38, with more beasts over the three kilograms per day gain."

The Paddock to Palate Competition presented by JBS Australia has now moved into the second phase, carcase judging. Competition classes 37, 38 and 40 are three phased, comprising best aggregate weight gain, carcase and MSA eating quality, while the Wagyu Challenge is four phased, finishing in a beef taste-off judged by some of Queensland's top chefs.

Class 37 - Rabobank Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (100 Day)

Class 37 - Rabobank Highest Individual Weight Gain

Class 38 - Elanco Animal Health Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (70 Day)

Class 38 - Elanco Animal Health Highest Individual Weight Gain

Class 39 (Wagyu Challenge) - Smithfield Cattle Co Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Wagyu Steers (400 Day)

Class 39 (Wagyu Challenge) - Smithfield Cattle Co Highest Individual Weight Gain

Class 40 - Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers (100 Day HGP Free)

Class 40 - Highest Individual Weight Gain