MANDURAMA’S Tait family have taken out the top honour at the 2019 Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial, claiming the grand champion pen of steers with their Angus cattle.
Stuart Tait and his parents, John and Joanna, were presented the accolade, along with reserve champion carcase and champion pen targeting the Riverine Premium Beef brand, at a celebratory dinner in Wagga Wagga tonight.
Their winning team were scored 834.5 points out of a possible 1000, just two points ahead of the reserve champion pen of Angus/Charolais steers from Lex and Sally Crosby, Cherry Tree Hill, Forbes.
The Tait’s winning pen scored full points for meeting the feedlot entry specifications, including live weight and P8 fat, and also had an average daily weight gain of 2.61 kilograms after requiring no health treatments during the 112 day feeding.
Their five Angus steers had a team profit of $539.34.
It was an impressive improvement on their 2018 successes when they secured reserve champion carcase and fourth overall.
The champion in feedlot performance, assessed on average daily weight gain and animal health, was shared by James and Jacinda Douglas, Waverley Run, Big Springs, with Angus/Hereford steers and Angus cattle from Dane and Alison Skinner, Lawn Hill, Big Springs.
The champion carcase was awarded to the Gray family, Granite Hill, Jinderra, with Charolais/Angus steers.
Reserve champion pen targeting the Riverine Premium Beef brand, behind overall winners, the Tait family, was Stephen and Sarah Palmer, Kyeamba Downs Partnership, Wagga Wagga.
Champion pen of steers for the Teys Certified Premium Black Angus brand were James and Georgie Knight, R.G Allen and Sons, Mortlake, Victoria, who had an individual steer with the highest daily weight gain of 3.16 kilograms.
Reserve champion in that brand was John Toohey, Murra Angus, Walwa, Vic.
The champion steers under the Riverine Classic Beef brand was Tom, Sophie and Thomas Holt, Coonong Station, Urana, and reserve Cheviot Hills Ag, Big Springs. Both pens were Hereford animals.
Overall top ten pen of five steers
1- Tait Pastoral Company – Angus steers – 834.5 points
2- Lex and Sally Crosby – Angus/Charolais steers – 832.5 points
3- Hicks Beef – Australian Beef Composite steers – 823.5 points
4- Waverley Run – Angus/Hereford steers – 821 points
5- Barfold Beef – Angus steers – 819.5 points
=5- Barfold Beef – Angus steers – 819.5 points
7- D and A Skinner – Angus steers – 810 points
8- Hicks Beef – Australian Beef Composite steers – 807.5 points
9- TJ Pierce and KM McConville – Angus steers – 792 points
10- Tait Pastoral Company – Angus steers – 791.5 points