Herefords kings off grass again with weight gain superiority in Victorian trial

Hereford steers have recorded the highest overall weight gain in Australia’s only grass-fed trial, the 50th Lardner Park Steer Trial in Victoria. 

Sponsored by Herefords Australia, the steer trial is judged on liveweight gain, carcase evaluation and eating quality (MSA Index).  

A pair from the team entered by David Meikle, Tarwin Poll Herefords, Meeniyan, has achieved the overall top average daily gain of 1.69kg while an individual Tarwin steer recorded the top average daily gain of overall of 1.94kg. In second place was Featherstone Angus Stud, Crossover, on 1.58kg per day. 

The fifth and final weigh was on November 14 before processing at JBS Brooklyn. The winners will be presented at Farm World 2026 on Friday, March 27. 

The overall weight gain of the mob was 1.26kg per day with the cattle enduring challenging weather conditions.

David Meikle said the top performing Tarwin steer was sired by Injemira Redford J084 (P) and had high individual EBVs for growth.  

The second steer in the pair was by Hunter Lakes Regal R017 (AI) (PP). 

Mr Meikle said the result quantified the consistent performance of Tarwin steers, backing up a win in the Meat Standards Australia Index on 64.0 and Eating Quality Score of 50 in last year’s trial. 

The average MSA Index for the 2024 trial was 61.2. Herefords and black baldies led the way in meeting the ideal rib fat range of 5-10mm with 100 per cent of entries making specification while the black baldy steers were the youngest at processing with an average age of 410 days.  

Mr Meikle said the Tarwin herd’s genetic focus guaranteed weight gains were above average from year to year in the trial.  

“Those steers were outstanding when they came through the yards at selection time and both looked the goods. Overall, the Herefords performed quite well and there were a few more Hereford entries from East Gippsland this year,” he said.  

Mr Meikle thanked Herefords Australia for their involvement and encouraged other commercial and seedstock producers to enter the 2026 trial.  

The HGP-free steers were grazed a mix of ryegrass and clovers and supplemented with a molasses based mineral feed and silage. 

Seven producers with 14 purebred and infused Hereford teams entered the Warragul based trial which began on June 17 with 100 mixed breed steers entered from 35 producers from Victoria. 

The purebred entrants comprised: Stan and Denise Walker, Charellan Poll Herefords, Pearsondale; Steve Robinson, Moorville Herefords, Koonwarra; Geoff Gooch, Rathlyn, Sale; Alastair Black, Riverline, Myrtlebank; Tim Hayes, Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy; and David Meikle, Tarwin Poll Herefords, Meeniyan.  

The Hereford infused teams are Shorthorn/Angus/Hereford entered by Alison Burgess, Yan Yean, and Charolais/Hereford from Tim Hayes, Tarcombe. 

Tarwin Poll Herefords led the way in the Hereford entries at the second weighing with a top average daily gain of 1.86kg and then steamed ahead to the third weigh on August 26 to record first and second for average daily gain on 2.34kg and 2.11kg. 

The fourth weigh on September 30 resulted in an average daily weight gain for the mob of 1.32kg. Tarwin had a steer average 1.83kg a day, while Charellan’s top steer averaged 1.80kg/day, Tarcombe on 1.71kg, Rathlyn at 1.63kg, and Moorville’s top steer was at 1.49kg/day.  

The fifth and final weighing resulted in Rathlyn’s top team averaging 1.50kg, Charellan on 1.46kg, and Tarcombe on 1.30kg. 

Compliant with Coles QA grass fed program, the aim is to achieve the best outcomes during trial information and data collection, and purchase price on carcase meat when the trial is finished in late November. 

The final weigh incorporated the Lardner Park Beef Day with presentations by Rob Radford, Radford’s Warragul, Steve Rennie, Coles, Lachlan Jeffers, MLA, Michael Weldon, Coles senior development chef, Andrew Chippendale, Radford’s butcher, matt Runnalls, Mindfull Aus, and Simon Quilty, Global Agritrends.