James and Sally Morse, "Wongalee", Molong, have topped a field of 95 competitors to take out overall Grand Champion of the 2018 Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial.
The Morse family’s pen of five steers scored a total of 806.5 from a possible 1000.
The Morses best performing Simmental-Angus steer put on an average of 2.69kg a day, going into the feedlot at 426kg and emerging at 708kg.
Finishing as Reserve Champion were Stephen and Sarah Palmer, Kyeamba Downs Partnership, Wagga Wagga, whose pen of Angus steers scored a total of 731.5.
Teams were scored across three categories - feedlot entry, feedlot performance and carcase.
The Morse family came in at number one for feedlot performance, scoring 330 from a possible 350 points.
Reserve champions for feedlot performance were James and Jacinda Douglas, “Waverley Run”, Wagga Wagga, who scored a total of 300 points for the category.
In the carcase category Lynette and Craig Turnbull, “Shepstone Park”, Bookham, took out the top spot with 404 points from a possible 550.
In the runner-up position were Stuart, John and Joanna Tait, “Sunny Downs”, Mandurama, who achieved a score of 383.5 for carcase.
Wayne and Patti Bartholemew, Gunninguldrie Pastoral Company, Lake Cargelligo, were awarded the Riverine Premium Beef Champion Pen with their Angus steers, scoring 730 from a possible 1000 total points.
The Turnbulls at Bookham were reserve champions in this category.
The Teys Certified Premium Black Angus Champion Pen was awarded to Stephen and Sarah Palmer, “Kyeamba Downs”, Wagga Wagga.
Reserve Champion was awarded to Matt and Margaret Shea, Barfold Beef, Barfold.
Riverine Classic Beef Champion Pen was awarded to the the Rosedale Livestock Partnership.
Runner up in this category were Russell and Tanya Menzies, “Wirra Park”, Mangoplah.
Finishing third overall across the categories were Gunninguldrie Pastoral Co, and in fourth was the Tait Pastoral Co.
In fifth place were James and Georgie Knight, “Dornoch”, Mortlake, Vic, a pen of Angus-Shorthorn crossbreds.
Matt Shea of Barfold Beef and the Turnbulls at Bookham finished in equal sixth position with 724 points.
In eight position was Royalla Shorthorns, Yeoval, the only team without Angus influence in the top 10.
Finishing ninth was Barfold Beef’s Angus steers.
Rounding out the top 10 were Angus-Hereford cross steers from James and Jacinda Douglas, Wagga.
Angus on top as feedback trial results arrive
The Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial received huge interest in 2018, with trial numbers the second highest recorded number wise from the nine years of running the event.
A total of 95 teams of five steers competed in the 100-day feedlot trial, with many newcomers to the event experiencing very strong results.
It was a very successful trial for the Angus breed with purebred Angus cattle taking out six of the top 10 team positions.
Trial analyst Jeff House, Jeff House Livestock, Forbes, said there was a very strong mix of breeds represented.
“There were 29 teams of Angus entered from the 95. Purebred Angus cattle made up about 30 per cent of the cattle involved. We also trialled plenty of European crosses, with Charolais and Simmental crosses doing very well,” he said.
Purebred Shorthorn cattle, as well as Shorthorn-Angus and Angus-Hereford crossbred cattle also featured in the top 10.
Teams were scored out of 100 points for their feedlot entry, which included hitting the correct induction weight, P8 fat score, frame and dentition as well as documentation.
A further 350 points were available for feedlot performance, taking into account final weight, average daily weight gain and health treatments.
A total of 550 points were awarded for carcase, which included points for carcase weight, lean meat yield, marbling, MSA index score and a variety of other factors.
The event was sponsored by Teys Australia, Steel Supplies, Coopers, Boyd Metal Works, Shanahans Livestock Transport, Riverina Stockfeeds, Leader Products, Technifarm, Jeff House Livestock, Riverine Premium Beef, Riverine Classic Beef and Teys Certified Black Angus.
