Wingham Beef Exports from Wingham forked out the top money to take home the grand champion steer during the Sydney Royal Show purebred steer auction.

The Limousin steer, shown by Wingham breeders Paul and Janelle Relf, returned $8250 after being sold in cents a kilogram for 1650c/kg (liveweight).

The steer, 12-month-old Warrigal Levi which was a middleweight, trumped last year’s auction top price by almost $2000.

Wingham Beef Exports was active right across the weight ranges, but particularly so on the heavier middleweights and the limited number of heavyweight steers put up for auction.

All up the beef processor took home 42 steers, while auction sparring partner Woolworths managed to buy 44 steers.

Second top price (in cents a kilogram) went to a 450kg Limousin steer shown by Brisbane Waters Secondary College, Umina, which was knocked down for 780c/kg ($3510) and bought by long time supporter of the steer auction Adam Stratton, Tender Valley Meats, Hornsby.

Also joining the “700c club” was another Limousin in the heavyweight category exhibited by Don and Sarah Riley, Oakvale Limousins, Tamworth, which sold for 700c/kg ($3850) to Wingham Beef Exports. This steer was the champion heavyweight and tipped the scales at 550kg.

Champion school steer, exhibited by Dubbo College Senior Campus and bred by Ben Toll, Sheraton Limousins, Dubbo, sold for 530c/kg ($3318) and was bought by Eastern Road Quality Meats, Turramurra.

The reserve champion heavyweight steer from The Scots School, Bathurst, sold for 620c/kg ($3435) to Kingsley Steakhouse, Sydney.

Other notable results included a Limousin steer from The Scots School, Bathurst, selling for 540c/kg ($2360) to Tender Gourmet Meats; and, one of the Limousin steers from Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth, making 530c/kg ($2475) also to Tender Gourmet Meats.

Landmark’s figures indicate the auction had a 100 per cent clearance with a gross of $288,396 and average of $1717 a head.

The sale was conducted by Landmark, but the auctioneering duties also included young auctioneers competing in the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association NSW and National Young Auctioneers Competition.