AN impressive steer from local breeder Travis Worth, Parkville, has risen to the top of a record number of steer entries to claim the Stan Watson Memorial Trophy for the supreme exhibit of the 2019 Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza (UHBB) at Scone yesterday.
Despite coming up against a 400 plus strong field of competitors, the 416 kilogram Angus Limflex cross steer edged out stiff competition to win champion light middleweight before claiming champion led steer and then going all the way to win the supreme title.
Bred by Mr Worth, the nine-month-old steer had been on feed for the past 90 days and will receive $2500 cash from valued sponsors MacCallum Inglis, Scone.
Judge Jake Phillips from Teys Australia, South Australia, said he believed the steer would fit right into the specifications.
"He is hard to put a hole in," Mr Phillips said.
Mr Worth's steer defeated the champion unled steer, a 566kg purebred Silver Angus steer from St Mary's College, Gunnedah, Heath Birchall, Duri, and Wallawong Premium Beef, Curlewis, that also received champion purebred unled steer on the hoof.
Wallawong's Lachlan James said the steer had been fed on Alexander Downs Feed, and was by Wallawong Yearbook who also sired the 2018 Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza supreme exhibit winning steer.
Another year book son allowed Wallawong Premium Beef and Mr Birchall to also win the same title of heavyweight champion in the led section with their Silver Angus steer.
Fed for 120 days on a home ration, he weighed 558kg.
Reserve champion unled steer went to an Angus heifer from Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth, that weighed 473kg.
Calrossy continued their success back in the led section winning champion lightweight with their 13-month-old Charolais Angus cross steer bred by the Scrivener family at Yarrowitch.
On feed since June (120 days), the 366kg steer was fed on Westerns Cattlemax Fattener.
Reserve champion light middleweight also went to Calrossy with another Charolais Angus cross, bred by Margaret Rose, Blackfield.
Tipping the scales at 475kg, the 14-month-old steer was on feed for 200 days.
Champion heavy middleweight went to Rightime Farms' purebred Limousin exhibit that weighed 506kg.
Rightime Farms owners Annika Whale and Jai Wynberg said they came to the UHBB with high hopes for the standout young steer.
"We have had him since he was born. We purchased some cows from Richard and Heather Cole from Lachlandale Limousins because they needed to get rid of some cows in the drought," Ms Whale said.
"He has been on our own mix for 120 days."
He also won champion led purebred steer of the event.
Justin Richards, Pentire Angus, and Bower Livestock, won reserve champion heavy middleweight with their Angus steer.
At 13 months of age and after being fed for 120 days on Alexander Downs feed, he weighed 532kg. He was by a Pentire Angus bull.
Reserve champion lightweight went to new exhibitors The Henry Lawson High School, Grenfell, and Tom and Julie Morton, with their Murray Grey Limousin cross steer.
On Friars grain mix for 100 days, the nine-month-old weighed 370kg.
Chatham High School, Taree, let our a roar when they took home reserve champion heavy weight steer with their 618kg Limousin steer.
