A STYLISH and soft black coated Limousin/Angus steer donated by Paul and Janelle Relf from Warrigal Limousins, will feature as the charity steer of the 32nd annual Wingham Beef Week (WBW) held from May 13 to 17 at Wingham showgrounds.
Currently tipping the scales at 450 kilograms the steer goes by the name of Hughesy, a fitting title as this year's selected charity is the Mark Hughes Foundation, which is a not-for-profit health charity that raises funds and awareness for brain cancer research.
Hughsey is destined to reach a liveweight of 530kg or roughly a 300kg carcase by WBW, and is sired by the $17,000 top-priced bull at the 2017 Longyard Limousin Sale, Warrigal LeBron, purchased by Alexander Downs who are using him over their Angus cows to breed butcher calves for their operation.
Event sponsor The Manildra Group has also donated pellets to be fed to the steer in the lead up to the event.
Hughesy will compete in the led hoof and hook section before he is auctioned off on May 16 at 11am.
WBW vice president Denis McKinnon said essentially the successful purchasers are buying a meat package.
"This is terrific value for money, as people are only bidding at auction to purchase the live steer," Mr McKinnon said.
"All the processing costs of the steer have been donated by Wingham Beef Exports, while the costs associated with cutting up and packaging of the meat to be covered by Scott Kelly from Wingham Gourmet Meat and Kitchen.
"The buyer is essentially purchasing a complete butchered meat package."
Last year's charity steer kindly donated by Merv Presland of Bekadan Belted Galloway and Charolais stud, Mount George, Wingham, and purchased by Siji Inatomi of NH Foods Australia, raised $7000 for Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
- For more information on the Wingham Beef Week selected charity Mark Hughes Foundation.
- The 2019 schedule of events is available on our Wingham Beef Week website.