The Santa Gertrudis breed has again proven to be the highest performing cattle breed in the first phase of the RNA's prestigious Paddock to Palate Competition.
The first phase of the competition is the best aggregate weight gain while on-feed and was presented by Mort & Co at Grassdale Feedlot near Dalby on Tuesday.
The Myer family, Yulgilbar Pastoral Company, Baryulgil, NSW was the standout entrant in the nation's richest beef competition of its kind.
The Yulgilbar-bred Santa Gertrudis entries claimed three wins including in the new 120-day Hormone Growth Promotant (HGP) free export class in Class 40.
Their pen of six cattle recorded an average daily weight gain of 2.226kg to win Class 40, while the company which is managed by Rob and Lorraine Sinnamon, also claimed the highest individual weight gain award for the same class at 2.559kg.
To secure a hat trick, Yulgilbar Pastoral Company took out the highest individual weight gain award for the 70-day trade class with one of their cows recording an ADG of 3.61kg.
Alastair and Andrew Bassingthwaighte, Yarrawonga, Wallumbilla, also excelled with their Santa Gertrudis cattle, placing in three of the four Paddock to Palate Competition classes.
The Bassingthwaighte family won the highest individual weight gain award for the export 100-day class Class 37 with an ADG of 3.614kg and placed second in Class 40 behind Yulgilbar Pastoral Company with an ADG of 2.172kg.
The Bassingthwaightes also picked up a third in Class 38, which was dominated by fellow Queensland producers, with their pen of six recording an ADG of 2.910kg.
Lee McNicholl and family, McNicholl Family Trust, Dulacca, won the class 38 with their Angus/Shorthorn entries tipped the scales with an ADG of 2.951kg, while Godfrey Morgan, The Grove, Condamine came a close second with his Shorthorn recording an ADG of 2.946kg.
David and Prue Bondfield, Palgrove Pastoral Company, Dalveen, were thrilled their Charolais entries which weighed in first with an ADG of 3.095kg in class 37.
Russell Pastoral Company, Moree, NSW came a close second with their Angus cross cattle recording an ADG of 3.003kg to claim second place.
Australian Wagyu Breeding Network's Jerome Hayden, Mayfield, Glen Innes, NSW was successful in the 2018/19 370 day Wagyu Challenge (Class 39), first and second place with ADGs of 1.213kg (F1 Angus) and 1.204kg (F1 Shorthorn) respectively.
Mr Hayden also won the highest individual weight gain for Class 39 with his F1 Angus, with an ADG of 1.422kg.
RNA Beef cattle committee chairman Gary Noller said it was pleasing to see 889 head of cattle entered in the competition this year, despite the drought.
"Our entry numbers are the highest they've been since 2015, which shows just how resilient and determined our beef cattle producers are and how valuable the data from this competition is for their breeding programs," Mr Noller said.
"We were thrilled to see more than 200 head of those cattle entered in our new HGP free export class, especially with consumer demand for HGP free beef rising.
"It was no surprise to see the Santa Gertrudis breed do well, as they often feature heavily in the top places in the weight gain phase - but they also have to perform well in the next phases in order to win overall."
Both the Paddock to Palate Competition and Wagyu Challenge will now move onto the second phase - a carcase competition.
Paddock to Palate is three-phased, comprising best aggregate weight gain; a carcase competition and an MSA eating quality competition, while the 2018/19 Wagyu Challenge is four-phased, finishing in a beef taste off judged by some of Queensland's top chefs.
The exhibitors who poll the highest aggregate scores across all phases of the four classes, will be awarded the overall prizes at an awards presentation dinner during the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka)'s Beef Week on Wednesday August 7.
RESULTS
Class 37 - Rabobank Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (100 Day)
1st - Palgrove Pastoral Company - Charolais - ADG 3.095kg - Dalveen, QLD
2nd - Russell Pastoral Company - Angus Cross - ADG 3.003kg - Moree, NSW
3rd - Jabinda Pastoral Company - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 2.958kg - Tambo, QLD
Class 37 - Zoetis Highest Individual Weight Gain
1st - D & AD Bassingthwaighte - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 3.614kg - Wallumbilla QLD
Class 38 - Elanco Animal Health Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (70 Day)
1st - McNicholl Family Trust - Angus Shorthorn Cross - ADG 2.951kg - Dulacca, QLD
2nd - Godfrey Morgan - Shorthorn - ADG 2.946kg - Condamine, QLD
3rd - A & AD Bassingthwaighte - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 2.910kg - Wallumbilla, QLD
Class 38 - Elanco Animal Health Highest Individual Weight Gain
1st - Yulgilbar Pastoral Company - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 3.610kg - Baryulgil, NSW
Class 39 (Wagyu Challenge) - Zoetis Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (370 Day)
1st - JE Hayden - F1 Angus - ADG 1.213kg - Glen Innes, NSW
2nd - JE Hayden - F1 Shorthorn - ADG 1.204kg - Glen Innes, NSW
3rd - Tom Kirkness - F1 Angus - ADG 1.111kg - Cudal, NSW
Class 39 (Wagyu Challenge) - Performance Feeds Highest Individual Weight Gain
1st - JE Hayden - F1 Angus - ADG 1.422kg - Glenn Innes, NSW
Class 40 - Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers (120 Day HGP Free)
1st - Yulgilbar Pastoral Company - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 2.226kg - Baryulgil NSW
2nd - A & AD Bassingthwaighte - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 2.172kg - Wallumbilla QLD
3rd - G Morgan & Co - Shorthorn - ADG 2.171kg - Condamine QLD
Class 40 - Highest Individual Weight Gain
1st - Yulgilbar Pastoral Company - Santa Gertrudis - ADG 2.559kg - Baryulgil NSW