SCOTS All Saints College (SASC) has taken top honours in the purebred steer section of the Sydney Royal Show today.
Winning heavyweight champion of the show before going all the way to the grand champion podium, the show-stopping steer weighed in at 620 kilograms with fat measurements of 10 millimetres and 9mm on the rump and rib.
Judge Kieran Te Velde of Bob Jamieson Stock and Station Agents, Inverell, couldn't go past the Limousin steer bred by Wilworril Limousins, Peak Hill, for its completeness from nose to toes.
"I loved the even fat distribution the animal displayed," Mr Te Velde said.
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He commented the top steer had tremendous carcase quality, was square throughout, full over the rump and had ample of spring of rib and confirmation.
At auction he sold for 1000c/kg at auction to Craig Cooks Prime Quality Meats.
Coming from the final class of the day, a class in which Mr Te Velde commented that the top four or five could go either way, the grand champion steer from SASC took his eye as soon as he entered the ring.
"The butt shape and thickness of this calf, combined with that even fat cover and distribution makes him a standout," he said.
"He is a top calf."
Bred by Wilworril Limousins he was sired by Wilworril Guardian G55 and out of a commercial Limousin cow.
SASC director of agricultural studies Libby Dawes said the school went into the show believing the grand champion steer would have been one of the school's top two that they hoped would lead them to success.
"He is a thick, soft even calf with a fantastic temperament which aids with eating quality," Mrs Dawes said.
"He has a massive top and EMA (eye muscle area) but is not extreme so should have the fat distribution."
Limousin Stan Hill team selectors chose him as one of the three Limousin steers to represent the breed.
The 850 kilometre trek from Willsons Downfall around 20km east of Stanthorpe was made worthwhile for Peter and Pauline Grant of Downfall Limousins who were slapped reserve champion heavyweight.
Bred by the Grant's 588kg Limousin steer had 10mm and 8mm of fat on the rump and rib and was around 18 months of age.
Peter Grant said he had been fed for 120 days on a custom mix with full fat soybean meal they got from Killarney Co-Op in Queensland.
The reserve heavyweight made 588c/kg and was bought by Makani Meats, Oyster Bay.
LIGHTWEIGHT STEERS
Exhibiting 25 purebred steers at this year's Sydney Royal Show, Scots All Saints College's reign started earlier in the day when they claimed both the champion and reserve champion lightweight sashes.
The champion was a 388 kilogram black Limousin steer bred by Wilworril Limousins that measured 10 millimetres and 7mm. He was sired by Wilworril 303.
At just nine months the steer was fed for a shorter period for 90 days, with Mrs Dawes of SASC commending Phil Kirk of Wilworril Limousins for producing cattle that are so well muscled at a young age but still have the ability to cover and display softness.
The lightweight champion sold for 2010c/kg to Mr D's Traditional Meats, Bossley Park.
An Angus steer exhibited by SASC and bred by the Mawhood family of Sunny Point Pastoral Company, Oberon, received reserve champion.
Tipping the scales at 377kg with 12mm and 8mm rump and rib fats, he was by Bongongo Reality K522 and out of a commercial Angus cow.
He made 127c/kg at auction, and was picked up by Mr D's Traditional Meats, Bossley Park.
MIDDLEWEIGHT STEERS
Angus steers broke the Limousin winning streak in the middleweight category with two purebred Angus steers from the Angus Stan Hill Trophy team receiving champion and reserve.
Blue Gene Cattle Company, Parkville exhibited the champion middleweight steer that went on to sell for 1340c/kg to Alexander Downs, Merriwa.
Bred by the George family of Willow Tree, the Angus steer was around 10 months of age and recorded a weight of 443kg with fats of 14mm and 9mm.
On feed since December, the Miller family of Blue Gene Cattle Company purchased the steer out of the Scone saleyards. He was of Main Camp bloodlines and was fed the Alexander Downs ration.
Tayla Miller of Blue Gene Cattle Company said he had been taken to Muswellbrook Show where he won reserve champion steer.
Reserve champion was presented to BW. and MM. Brooker of Main Camp Angus, Upper Rouchelle with their 499kg Angus steer.
Measuring 11mm and 7mm rump and rib fats he was by Main Camp F Purple F23 and sold for 800c/kg to Craig Cook's Prime Quality Meats.
Bryce Whale and his daughter Annika selected the Blue Gene Cattle Company and BW. and MM. Brooker steers to represent the Angus breed in the Stan Hill Trophy.
The third Angus exhibit also came from BW. and MM. Brooker, meaning they were all of Main Camp blood.
The Brookers bred six steers at this show, five placed and one collected a broad ribbon. Four were exhibited by the Brookers themselves, the other two shown by Scone High School.
"Dad (the late Brian Brooker) was involved in showing steers with the school for 30 odd years and didn't go without a ribbon over that time," Christine Brooker said.
Steers from the Main Camp stall were weaned at just six weeks of age, and fed dried distillers grain.
"In preparation for Sydney they were fed for 120 days on a home brew ration by Paul and Lyn Richards," they said.
SCHOOL STEERS
The champion school steer was presented to a heavyweight Limousin prepared by St Catherine's Catholic College, Singleton and bred by Toebelle Limousins, Maitland.
Led by Matilda-Jane Sternbeck, the steer weighed 666kg with a rump of 15mm and a rib of 9mm.
Mr Te Velde said he loved the length, head and hindquarters of the steer.
"In my opinion he had the right amount of fat and muscle across the body, I really think this steer will hang up well," Mr Te Velde said.
The steer was by Raven Man O Man M167, who miraculously survived a snake bite in early 2020, and was out of Shalom Kuddles K70.
The Limousin steer was not new to success, previously named champion trade steer at both Maitland and Newcastle shows.
St Catherine's Joanna Towers said the steer had initially been bought by Camden Haven High School, Kew but St Catherine's took over preparation in November with the Sydney Royal in their sights.
Ms Towers said the champion steer was fed on an Alexander Downs feedlot number three ration, but feed was backed off in the weeks leading up to the show.
The champion school steer made 1160c/kg and was knocked down to Craig Cook's Quality Meats.
Reserve champion school steer was awarded to another heavyweight Limousin steer, prepared by Scots All Saints College and bred by Wilworril Limousins, Peak Hill.
The steer tipped the scales at 590kg and was by Wilworril Signature and out of a commercial cow. He had a rump of 12mm and rip of 8mm.
Kingsley Steakhouse, Sydney picked up the reserve school steer for 1110c/kg.
There were only 19 entries in the school steer section, numbers back on previous years.
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