A Santa Gertrudis/Limousin-cross steer has won grand champion during the live judging of the 5th annual Colin Say and Co Beef Extravaganza competition held at Glen Innes Showgrounds on September 12.
Switching to an unled steer and heifer competition due to COVID-19, the live judging took place in the yards at showgrounds with judge Matt Spry from Woolworths assessing the 148 entries, many of which were originally destined for the Royal Queensland Show in August before it was cancelled.
The heavyweight and grand champion steer weighed 654 kilogram and was exhibited by Mitch and Shelbi McMahon, Warwick, Qld, and their 17-month-old son Fletcher.
READ ALSO: Beef Extravaganza 2021 carcase results wrap
"My uncle Pat McMahon bought him for us earlier this year... he buys cattle each week at Warwick, Toowoomba and Dalby saleyards in Queensland," he said.
Originally destined for the Ekka, he was fed on a Riverina pellet.
"He was a lovely bodied, deep calf with a hell of a lot of carcase and a beautiful nature about him," Mr McMahon said.
Return exhibitors to the Colin Say and Co competition, the McMahons also show steers annually at Ekka and the local shows around the Darling Downs.
Reserve heavyweight to the eventual grand champion was Almar Limousins and St Joseph's High School, Aberdeen, with its 600kg Limousin-cross steer.
Flemington Limousins, Batlow, and Tookawhile Show Steers, Rukenvale, won champion lightweight with a 435kg Limousin steer, with reserve going to the Makejev family with a Limousin-cross steer weighing 436kg.
Toowoomba entrant Travis Luscombe, Qld, received champion middleweight for his 518kg Limousin/Angus-cross steer which defeated the reserve, a Limousin-cross steer weighing 506kg from Shad Bailey of Shakriba Partnership, Glen Innes.
Mr Bailey's steer, known as 'Rockstar', also won the jackpot competition.
He was sired by Graneta Maltese and out of a first-calf heifer sired by Horseman out of a Charolais Murray Grey cross female.
"He was targeted for the top of the lightweights at Brisbane," he said.
Champion heifer went to Coonamble High School's 394kg Limousin-cross exhibit, while reserve went to a 445kg Speckle Park-cross from Syndicate Show Steers.
After the live judging, the points were tight for the Limousin State of Origin competition, however, NSW was the clear winners after the carcase scores were added.
St Joseph's High School at Aberdeen had a clean sweep in the junior led steer and heifer section, taking out champion junior exhibit and champion heifer.
A 504kg Limousin/Angus-cross won champion junior exhibit as well as champion Angus steer, while champion junior heifer went to another Limousin/Angus-cross which weighed 510kg.
The Colin Say Shoot-Out, open to entries that were purchased out of the 2021 Colin Say and Co Potential Show Steer Sale, was won by Owen Walmsley, Glen Innes, with his Limousin steer purchased from Downfall Limousins, Willsons Downfall.
Colin Say and Co director Shad Bailey echoed the comments made by the judge, saying you wouldn't see a better line-up of cattle anywhere.
"It is a testament to all exhibitors and breeders - the quality and how they presented blew us away," he said.
Mr Bailey commented that events such as this are an opportunity to support open competitors as well as schools and youth, to provide a great pathway for them to come into the beef industry.
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