FIRST-TIME Canberra Royal entrants Coonamble High School have taken top honours in the hoof and hook competition, receiving overall grand champion carcase.
The school took 19 students and exhibited seven animals, including four head for the open hoof and hook competition, and three destined for the Royal Queensland Show at Brisbane in August.
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But it was their school bred Limousin cross steer, fed for around 90 days, which placed fifth on the hoof that made headways on the hook scoring 89 points and receiving the tri-coloured ribbon.
It had a live weight of 366 kilograms, carcase weight of 217.5kg, dressing percentage of 59.4 per cent, fats of 10mm and 5mm at the P8 and rib sites, a rib eye area of 92 sq cm and a B+ muscle score.
It was only half a point in front of the reserve champion carcase from St Johns College Dubbo, a Speckle Park/Limousin cross steer that was unplaced on the hoof.
Coonamble agriculture teacher, Adam Macrae, said it took them around six and a half hours to get to Canberra, but it suited their program as they will not be attending Sydney.
"We had a greener, younger team with the vast majority of students in year eight so it suited being a smaller more relaxed show to come to," he said.
"Canberra suited our program, being able prepare kill and non-kills to go with.
"And with the way Sydney was going with COVID and the uncertainties, going there was a bit up in the air so coming to Canberra was a late decision that paid off."
Mr Macrae said the school group had loved the hospitality and really enjoyed the Canberra competition.
On the hoof they won the medium domestic class with an Angus steer, 438kg, bred by Peter and Sharon Hanigan, Pasadena, Coonamble.
"We only got him around Christmas so he was on feed for around 60 days and was only 10 months," he said.
The school has around 25 cows, predominately Limousins of Greenacres bloodlines with a splash of Sherton genetics and the off Charolais, that they breed their own steers from.
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"All the animals except the Angus were bred by Coonamble," Mr Macrae said.
"There is an engine room that are involved in getting steers here; people and students involved in the breeding, feeding, mixing feed, growing hay.
"We try to take Coonamble to the world, using Coonamble produce (including hay the school makes, and locally bought barley), and preparing home bred cattle where possible."
Coonamble's next major show will be Brisbane in August, where they will take 14 steers and 25 students.
"We will feed 25 to get the 14 for selection... and they'll be scanned before the big shows so we know the weight and fats of the steers," he said.
"Before that we will do Coonamble and Gulargambone that are around May.
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