IT WAS another successful year for the 2017 Merial/The Rural Centre National Steer Competition, conducted by the Australian National Field Days beef cattle committee which kicked off in December last year.
Results have recently been released for the trial with Yulgibar Pastoral company winning the highest point scoring pen of steers.
The Sangus steers scored the highest number of points from the live weight gain, live judging, carcase and yield competitions, scoring 421.90 in total.
In the live judging, Milner Ag took out first place for their pen of Charolais cross Angus steers.
No Stones Murray Greys took out the carcase quality section of the competition for their purebred Murray Greys, with Glendower Angus taking out second place and Coomber Partnership’s Angus steers placing third.
The highest point scoring carcase was awarded to Glendower Angus, with their Angus steer recording 84.4 points.
Scoring 65 points,Violet Hills Charolais won the calculated yield of saleable meat section, followed by Yulgibar Pastoral Company for their Santa Gertrudis steers which scored 63.6 points.
In the live judging the best live steer was awarded to a Charolais Angus cross, exhibited by the Milner Family, Blayney, and the reserve champion live steer was taken out by Coota Park Blue E, Woodstock.
This year there was 17 teams entered in the trial, nine of which were pure bred cattle including Poll Herefords, Angus, Santa Gertrudis, Murray Grey and Charolais.
The rest of the teams were made up of crossbred steers, including Santa Gertrudis cross Angus, Charolais cross Poll Hereford and Charolais Cross Angus.
ANFD cattle chairman, Sam Connell, said more and more crossbred teams had been entering the competition since he started being apart of it four years ago.
“The crossbreds do seem to put the weight on quicker, as they have that hybrid vigour,” he said. “That’s exactly what the trial’s all about, how the cross bred cattle come out against the purebreds.”
The competition is a very useful tool for cattle producers, whether they be a stud business or commercial operators, he said.
“For commercial operators, benchmarking competitions can confirm producers are doing the right thing in their breeding and production and can also help identify issues,” Mr Connell said.
“For stud producers, benchmarking can help give clients more knowledge on the potential production of their cattle.”
Mr Connell said often studs feature their cattle’s success in the trials in their bull sale catalogues as it helps clients determine the potential of bulls.
