WRITTEN By MARK PHELPS, QCL
ANGUS steers from the Boggabri, NSW, headquartered Minnamurra Pastoral Company came up trumps at the Royal Queensland Show winning the JBS Australia trade section of the innovative Paddock to Palate competition.
The 70-day fed Minnamurra entry was also the reserve champion carcase and topped the MSA eating quality competition. The steer had a daily average gain of 2.94kg, and produced a 280kg carcase with a 52.04 per cent yield, P8 fat depth of 14mm, rib of 8mm and had an 88sq cm eye muscle. It scored 57.4 on the MSA index.
The trade steers were bred on Minnamurra’s Mudgee property Cortina.
Nigel White and his sons Jack and Harry, Coffin Creek Angus, Mudgee, placed second overall in the 70-day competition and exhibited both the Grant Daniel and Long champion pen of six and the champion trade carcase. The winning steer entered Grassdale Feedlot at 303.4kg to gain 2.38kg/day. The 260kg carcase had a P8 of 16mm, rib 6mm, and an EMA of 88sq cm. It had an MSA index of 55.99 points.
Third place in pen of six trade carcases went to Brisbane-based anti-coal seam gas campaigner Drew Hutton with Shorthorn/Angus-cross steers bred by Lee McNichol, Dulacca.
Creating plenty of interest was Richard and Dyan Hughes, Wentworth Cattle Co, Clermont, who won the Thompson Longhorn Beef Taste-Off with their Brahman entry.
“It would have been a high content Brahman steer,” Mr Hughes said. “It really is an endorsement of the Supergene selection system.”
The 70 day trade steer was bred on Strathalbyn, Collinsville.
Second in the beef taste-off was an Angus entry from Dalara Pastoral Partnership, Denman, NSW. Third was a Santa/Charolais-cross from Acton Land and Cattle Co, Rockhampton.
It was almost a sweep sweep for the northerners in the Mort and Co 100-day fed section of the Paddock to Palate competition.
The sole NSW entry to feature in the top 12 overall winners was the Santa Gertrudis entry from Yugilbar Pastoral Co, Baryulgil.
Charolais steers from the Sullivan Family’s Riverglen Pastoral Co, Glenmorgan, secured top honours after being earlier placed third in the feedlot phase held at Grassdale Feedlot, Dalby. The Sullivan’s top steer gained 3.6kg/day to produce a 408kg carcase.
Second place overall in the 100-day competition went to a Angus/Wagyu-cross entry from Edwards Livestock, Oakey. Third was a Angus-cross entry from Kudnappar Pastoral Co, Wyandra.
Edwards Livestock, Oakey, exhibited the champion 100-day carcase. The Angus/Wagyu-cross produced a 379.5kg carcase from a 2.81kg daily gain. It had a 12mm P8, 8mm of rib fat, and impressive 112sq cm EMA. It scored 59.01 on the MSA index.
The Edwards Livestock pen also won the champion pen of JBS Australia six carcases award and the MSA eating quality competition.
The reserve champion export carcase was exhibited by Geoff and Sonya Comiskey, Comiskey Bazadais, Old Mount Stuart, Capella. The steer had a 2.01kg daily gain to produce a 321.5kg carcase. it had a 10mm P8, 9mm of rib fat, and a 98sq cm EMA. It scored 50.84 on the MSA index.
Waraba Park Poll Herefords, Meandarra, topped the Thompson Longhorn taste test in the 100-day class. Second was a Shorthorn/Bonsmara/Santa-cross from Billinbah Pastoral Co, Glenmorgan. Third was a Barkley Composite from AACo.
* Beef from the Paddock to Palate competition is being sold through the Super Butcher stores in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast under the Royal 100 brand.
