NOTED Scenic Rim cattle producer Tom Surawski has come out on top at the Ekka prime cattle show with a pen of three outstanding Limousin heifers.
Held at Hayes and Co's Silverdale Saleyards, the competition was judged by JBS Australia's Dinmore livestock manager Anthony Griffiths, who was only handed the mighty task on Monday as Queensland went into further Covid-19 restrictions.
"They've done very well, especially after the four inches (100mm) of rain that fell in early July, which caused a few setbacks," Mr Surawski said.
"You certainly wouldn't want to take them any further than this. They are absolutely prime."
The heifers were sourced as weaners straight off their mothers from a breeder at Pine Mountain, near Ipswich. They immediately had access to a creep feeder, then spent the past 120 days on grain.
Weighing 482kg, the Queensland Country Life grand champion pen later sold for 490c live, to return $2319/head. The pen sold to Frohlies Meats, Yarraman.
Toowoomba based Travis Luscombe also had an exceptional Ekka competition with Limousin cattle, securing both the champion and reserve champion single steer trophies.
His heavier 675kg steer was named the Queensland Country Life champion steer. That steer later sold for 490c to return a very impressive $3307 from Kane Lutter's The Butcher Co in Boonah and Kalbar.
However, it was Mr Luscombe's lighter, reserve champion that went on to win the Woolworths champion local trade title. That 510kg animal sold for 480c to return $2448 from Highchester Meats, Beaudesert.
The heavier steer was bred by Kents Lagoon Limousins and purchased by Mr Luscombe at the Combined Forces Sale in Kalbar in March. The lighter steer was bred by Wayne and Debbie Jackson, Kumbia, and bought at the Coolabunia sale.
The Nutrien champion and reserve champion pens of six were both drawn from the 521-600kg class.
An exceptional quality draft of 110 day grain-fed, 597kg Limousin-cross steers from Stanhope Cattle, Wondai, took the top award. Those sold for 460c, earning $2748.
The reserve champion trophy went to a pen of 548kg Santa Gertrudis-cross from Harvey Black, that had been on feed for 120 days. They returned $2491.
Results
Queensland Country Life Steer 380-450kg: 1. Stenzel Farming Enterprises, Limousin-cross. 2. DA,CJ&AM Knopke, Limousin-cross. 3. Jilabri Family Trust, Limousin.
Queensland Country Life Steer 451-520kg: 1. Travis Luscombe, Limousin. 2. Stenzel Farming Enterprises, Limousin. 3. RB&VA Budd & Willoise Grazing, Charolais-cross.
Queensland Country Life Steer 521-600kg: 1. J&MJ Livingstone, Limousin. 2. Jilabri Family Trust, Limousin. 3. LS&PA Dunn, Droughtmaster.
Queensland Country Life Steer 601-720kg: 1. Travis Luscombe, Limousin. 2. Luke Cox & Emily Kohler, Limousin. 3. Travis Luscombe, Limousin.
Shepherdson and Boyd Pen of Three Steers of Heifers 380-450kg: 1. PM&LM McMahon, Angus. 2. RB&VA Budd & Willoise Grazing, Charolais-cross. 3. Stenzel Farming Enterprises, Limousin-cross.
Hayes & Co Pen of Three Steers of Heifers 451-520kg: 1. Tom & Joy Surawski, Limouson. 2. AJ&JRE Simmons, Limousin-cross. 3. Goldern Pastoral Holdings, Angus.
Elders Pen of Six Steers 400-520kg: 1. Ivery Downs Cattle Co, Speckle Park. 2. Stenzel Farming Enterprises, Limousin-cross. 3. Yulgilbar Cattle Co, Santa Gertrudis.
Bartholomew & Co Pen of Six Steers 521-600kg: 1. - Champion pen of six: Stanhope Cattle, Limousin-cross. 2. Reserve champion pen of six: Nebrean, Santa Gertrudis-cross. 3. Yulgilbar Pastoral Co, Santa Gertrudis.
Aussie Land & Livestock Pen of Six Steers 601-720kg: 1. Yarrawonga Cattle Co, Santa Gertrudis. 2. Yarrawonga Cattle Co, Santa Gertrudis.
Pen of 10 Feeder Steers: 1. Veraat Livestock Enterprises, Herefords.
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