THE future champion steers of the show ring are on offer at the eight annual Potential Show Steer Sale at Glen Innes on March 6.
The sale includes 30 specially selected steers with proven performance, according to agent Nathan Purvis, Colin Say and Company, Glen Innes.
“We’re getting a core vendor list now and those breeders are coming up with the goods,” Mr Purvis said.
The steers are judged the morning before the auction.
"Buyers can view the steers prior to the sale and see the steers in competition," Mr Purvis said.
There are steers for professional fitters, but there’s also plenty of interest from schools.
A bonus for buyers is the $1000 jackpot for the steer, purchased through the sale, that has the highest pointscore in the hoof and hook competition at the EKKA.
“Last year that was won by the Glen Innes High school,” Mr Purvis said.
“They bought one of the cheaper steers and it went on to become the middleweight champion carcase steer.
“That just shows that there’s potential in every one of these steers – we got steers that can win anywhere, from the Brisbane Royal to country shows.”
Travis Luscombe, Luscombe Show Steers and Livestock, Toowoomba, is one of many professional fitters who support the Glen Innes sale each year.
His purchase of Black Gold, a black Limousin bred by Col McGilchrist, Wallabadah, at last year’s sale has paid off. The steer went on to win champion ribbons at the Darling Downs Beef Expo and the North Coast National Show at Lismore.
The steer was also fourth in the hoof and hook competition at Lismore.
Mr Luscombe has been showing steers for 15 years, starting during high school.
This year will be the third time he’s supported the sale.
“The Colin Say and Co team do a great job getting together a good line up of steers and it’s good to be able to go to a sale where I know there are going to be top quality steers from a number of different vendors,” he said.
“The steers have been dearer each year and that's an indication of the quality and reputation the sale has.”
The 2016 sale achieved a new cents per kilogram record with 29 lots, including 28 steers and one heifer, sold for a top of 1225c/kg and an average of 677c/kg. The top steer weighed in at 205kg and returned $2511.25.
