Tamworth’s Calrossy Anglican School took the supreme carcase award at this year’s Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza in a fiercely contested event.
The Calrossy team took home the MacCallum Inglis Supreme Champion Carcase trophy and $2500 with their 580kg liveweight Charolais-Angus cross steer, “Bear”, bred by A.J. and M. Scrivener, Yarrowitch.
He took the heavyweight division with 96.3 points out of a possible 100 which was enough to give him the supreme title.
Reserve heavyweight champion was a 594kg Angus steer exhibited by Coolah Central School which scored 93.13 points.
The champion lightweight carcase award went to a 423kg Limousin heifer exhibited by Wayne Davis, East Kurrajong, which scored 92.45 points. Second was a 409kg Angus steer from St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen.
St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown, took the champion light middleweight award with a 468kg Limousin steer which scored 89.02 points, trumping a 490kg Limousin steer entered by Coonamble High School which scored 88.20 points.
The heavy middleweight trophy was won by Pymble Ladies College, Sydney, with a 522kg Angus steer which scored 95.78 points (the second highest in the competition).
A 536kg Shorthorn cross steer from St Joseph’s High School was second with 93.92 points.
The champion unled carcase award was picked up by a Belltrees Public School with a 598kg liveweight Angus steer which just shaded a 505kg Limousin steer exhibited by St John’s College, Dubbo.
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College exhibited the School Steer Challenge champion carcase with a 536kg Angus steer.
Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza president, Doug Robertson, said the 34 Waverley Station Angus steers provide to participating schools in the School Steer Challenge (which involves led steer judging and parading on the first day of the event) were selected for their evenness but had performed remarkably well in the open carcase competition.
Among successes were reserve champion heavyweight carcase (Coolah Central) and champion unled carcase (Belltrees Public School).
Calrossy’s head of agriculture, Brony Nielsen, warmly congratulated the organisers of the event.
“None of this would be possible without the tireless work and amazing organisation by Doug Robertson, Charles Mill and the rest of the Beef Bonanza committee.
“The popularity of this unique three-day show is testament to their awesome organisation and the educational opportunities they provide for cattle and ag students all over the state,” she said.
A total 462 prime cattle were slaughtered at JBS Australia’s Scone plant and Kurri Meats.
Charles Mill, one of the main organisers of the carcase competition, praised the quality of the carcases in this year’s competition, saying there had been minimal dark cutters and only four per cent of animals had a pH level of greater than 5.7.
He thanked event partner, Waverley Station, and major sponsors, Alexander Downs and MacCallum Inglis.
“Competitors must be congratulated on the quality of carcases produced for this year’s competition with some outstanding bodies and excellent results.
“We would like to thank JBS, Coles and Alexander Downs for the purchase of the carcases and their support of the Beef Bonanza.”
Vernon Graham
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
