Elite Poll Herefords claimed a top three finish with a purebred steer for the second consecutive year at the 2022 Wingham Beef Week School Steer Challenge Hoof and Hook (led).
Prepared by Scone Grammar School, the 12-month-old, Elite Tonka, had a liveweight of 476kg, carcase weight of 256.5kg and a dressing percentage of 53.9.
Placing second in the 476-510kg class, the carcase had a P8 fat depth of 8mm, 5mm on the rib, an eye muscle area of 108sqcm, and adjusted MSA Index of 64.01 and total score of 92.01.
All entries were processed by Wingham Beef Exports, NSW.
In the unled classes, St Stanislaus College exhibited a black baldy to win the 200-249.5kg HSCW on a total score of 92.3.
The steer had a dressed weight of 305.5kg, 12mm at the P8, 9mm on the rib, an eye muscle area of 103sqcm, and MSA Index of 66.57.
Wingham Beef Week is a community-based event with a week-long program focusing on all facets of the beef industry.
It provides students, juniors and producers with an opportunity to participate in assessment, meat judging, beef appreciation workshops, parading and judging competitions.
Elite Poll Herefords, Scone, NSW, competed in the 2021 competition with a steer prepared by St Josephs, Aberdeen, scoring 92.6 points, placing second in the heavy middleweight and the fifth highest overall score, being the only pure Hereford presented.
Elite principal Kay Payne said the competition endorsed the commercial emphasis of the stud’s selection program, with both steers sired by a maternal brother (Elite K74 N224) of Herefords Australia Super Sire, Elite K124 S069.
In the past the stud has competed with success in the Sydney RAS steer competition and the Sydney RAS Beef Challenge with a silver medal in the taste test. It also supplies European Union accredited steers to Caroona Feedlot, achieving an average marbling of 2.3.
Kay aims for the on-farm advantage of calving ease and good growth to 400 days to turn commercial progeny off within the first 12 months.
“Quick growth in the first 12 months is a big help for lowering ossification for better MSA scores and lifting meat quality and weight for age,” she said.
“We aim for muscling to achieve the top yield combined with IMF for marbling and adequate fat.
“The results at Wingham support the consistent carcase selection direction I’ve taken as they were one of the few purebred Herefords in the competition standing up beside European crossbreds.”
Kay supports the regional schools with steers to compete at the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza, Scone, and Wingham Beef Week.
Elite Tonka was prepared by Scone Grammar School.
Elite Tonka had an adjusted MSA Index of 64.01 and total score of 92.01. Image: Elite Poll Herefords
