Hereford and Hereford cross steers have claimed silver and bronze medals in the prestigious 2016 Sydney Royal Beef Challenge.
In the 70-day grain fed domestic class, Matt and Debbie Kelley, Warragundi Beef Co, Carrabubula, NSW, placed third in the carcass judging and took home a bronze medal with their purebred entry.
Purebred steers also won a bronze medal for Scott and Pip Hann, Truro Herefords, Bellata, NSW.
Paul Boland, East Coraki, Casino, NSW, placed third in the taste test, second in dressing percentage and won the live assessment with a Charolais-Hereford cross steer.
Michael Summerville, Casino, NSW, placed second in the live assessment and dressing percentage, and third in profitability, also with a Charolais-Hereford cross entry.
Trambus Pty Ltd placed third in the 100 day export class taste test with a Black Baldy steer while their team overall was awarded silver in the taste test awards.
Established in 2011, the Sydney Royal Beef Challenge is a feedlot trial run by the RAS in regional NSW.
The commercially focused competition takes in all stages of processing including live assessment, carcass judging, profitability and eating quality.
The teams of six steers were fed at the Wilga feedlot, Bellata, NSW, with the domestic section catering for a HGP free program targeting carcass weights of 220-285kg.
The export section involved heavier cattle on a 100 day HGP free grain fed program targeting carcass weights of 320-400kg.
Judge for the live assessment in the export section was Andrew Herbert, Gundamine Feedlot, Eugowra, NSW, while Bryce Camm, Wonga Plains Feedlot, Dalby, Qld, judged the domestic cattle.
The trial drew 22 teams in the export class and 55 teams in the domestic category.
Scott and Pip Hann, Truro Whiteface, Bellata, won a bronze medal in the taste test with their purebred team in the 100-day export class.
The steers were awarded 77.3 points for average daily gain, 31.4 points for dressing percentage, 191 points for feedlot performance, 95.8 points for carcass grid, 145.6 points for carcass judging and 39.7 in the taste test for a total of 434.8 points.
Within the team, the highest individual average daily weight gain was 2.1kg in the feedlot, highest dressing percentage was 55.34, highest gross value carcass $1982 (at 590c/kg HSCW), biggest eye muscle area of 81sqcm and highest MSA Index of 64.85.
A team of Black Baldy steers entered by Trambus Pty Ltd in the 100-day export class won a silver medal in the taste test.
Within the team, the highest dressing percentage was 55.89, the highest gross value carcass $2065 (at 590c/kg HSCW), biggest eye muscle area 84sqcm, and highest MSA Index of 63.42.
In the Warragundi team wining the bronze medal in the 70 day domestic class, the highest average daily gain was 2.1kg, highest gross value carcass was $1396 (at 600c/kg HSCW), and biggest eye muscle area 68sqcm.
The Trambus Pty Ltd’s silver medal winning team of Charolais-Hereford cross steers in the 70 day domestic class had a top average daily gain of 2.2kg, and eye muscle area of 85sqcm.
John and Maree Smith, Woodenbong, NSW, won two bronze medals in the 70-day domestic class with their teams of Santa Gertrudis-Hereford cross steers.
Within their first team, the top individual average daily gain was 1.8kg, dressing percentage 54.8, eye muscle area 75sqcm, and highest gross value carcass at $1651 (at 600c/kg HSCW).
In the second team, the highest average daily gain was 2.1kg, dressing percentage of 54.4, eye muscle area of 69sqcm and highest gross value carcass of $1706 (at 600c/kg HSCW).
A team of Charolais-Hereford cross steers entered by Paul Boland, Casino, won a bronze medal in the 70-day domestic class, with the highest individual average daily gain of 2.2kg, dressing percentage of 56.3, eye muscle area of 89sqcm, and gross value of $1756 (at 600c/kg HSCW).
