Hereford infused steers have taken out the champion lightweight and reserve champion middleweight carcases at the 2023 Colin Say and Company Beef Extravaganza.
Drawing 160 entries, the event was held at the Glen Innes showground on September 8-10 and the carcase judges were Jason Siddell, Wandsworth, and Brett Littler, Mudgee.
The champion lightweight steer was a Limousin/Hereford cross entered by Mathew O’Dwyer and Neil Goetsch, Kalbar, Qld, and won the open led steer 436-470kg.
Tipping the scales at 458kg, the entry had a dressing percentage of 61.7, a MSA Index of 63.76, 8mm rib fat, eye muscle area of 109sqcm, 9mm rump fat, a carcase weight of 283kg, and scored 87 points.
Stock agent and auctioneer Neil Goetsch, Goetsch & Sons, had bought the steer at a local store sale with a view to finishing it for the led steer classes at the Royal Brisbane Show.
“He didn’t finish in time, so we hung on for a bit longer and took him to the Beef Extravaganza – he is out of a Limousin/Hereford cross cow by a Limousin bull, and hung up exceptionally well,” he said.
Neil sourced a yearling Hereford bull from Jamie Hollis, Kalara Poll Herefords, Clifton, to join to his Limousin females to add softness and finishing ability, with the first calves now on the ground.
“I will keep those crossbred heifers and join them to a Limousin bull, while the steers will go into carcase competitions next year.”
Coonamble High School, NSW, exhibited the winner, a Limousin x Limousin/Hereford cross, of the open led steer 506-540kg on the hoof and went on to win the hook with a score of 86.7, MSA Index of 64.45, rib eye area of 100sqcm, rib fat 7mm, marble score 2, rump fat 11mm, 58.5 dressing percentage, and a carcase weight of 311kg.
The entry won the reserve champion middleweight carcase and was the open winner of the Colin Say $1000 incentive.
The Herefords Northern NSW sponsored highest point led purebred Hereford carcase was exhibited by the Dean family. The steer placed fourth on the hook in the junior led steers 481-540kg and had an MSA Index of 62.14, 9mm rump fat, eye muscle area of 83sqcm, 11mm rump fat, and a carcase weight of 283kg.
Southmania Poll Herefords, Tenterfield, NSW, placed third on the hook in the unled steer or heifer 401-470kg with a Square Metre/Poll Hereford cross steer with 89.5 points, a MSA Index of 63.1, 58.9 per cent dressing percentage, 9mm rib gat, 84sqcm eye muscle area, 10mm rump fat, and carcase weight of 258kg.
HDCA Kids placed second on the hoof and third on the hook in the unled steer/heifer 330-400kg with a Limousin/Hereford cross with a carcase weight of 216kg, dressing percentage of 60.9, MSA Index of 63 and 85 points.
A Limousin/Hereford entry bought out of the Dalby saleyards and exhibited in the open led steer 436-470kg by Anthony O’Dwyer, Kalbar, placed third on the hook with 85.8 points, an eye muscle area of 97sqcm, a dressing percentage of 62.9 and an MSA Index of 63.75.
The champion lightweight steer was a Limousin/Hereford cross entered by Mathew O’Dwyer and Neil Goetsch, Kalbar, Qld, and won the open led steer 436-470kg. Image Neil Goetsch
