Lucy Ziesemer

True to style the 2016 Royal Queensland Show led steer competition was a fine exhibition of the very best there is to offer in Australian beef.

The stakes were set high from the get-go with 249 steers on show in what esteemed judges frequently referred to as the premier steer competition in the country. It wouldn’t have been quite the success story without an underdog of sorts taking home top honours.

Hunday Pastoral Company were awarded the grand champion led steer prize for their 426kg Limousin cross exhibit that also claimed first place in its medium weight 401kg to 430kg class.

In a somewhat unexpected move, judges Donna Robson, Adelong, New South Wales, and Jeff House, Jeff House Livestock, NSW, placed the Hunday steer above the eye catching winner of the heavy weight class- a 630kg Limousin steer exhibited by Travis Luscombe, Toowoomba.

Mrs Robson said the grand champion steer was the most balanced of the finalists making him the complete package in terms of muscle content and evenness of coverage.

“I like to spend time putting my hands on the animals to get a true indication of what’s underneath their hair and the champion steer is just an outstanding calf- he’s going to yield the house down when he hangs up on the rails,” she said.

Owner Chris Law of Hunday Hereford stud, Quirindi, New South Wales, also runs purebred Hereford breeders in his commercial herd and said the win was a huge shock.

“The steer has had barely any handling, I just don’t have the time,” he said.

“He spent some time connected to a donkey at home and was led by a human for the first time yesterday when he walked onto the scales.

“We led him to the wash bay this morning and polished him up and here he is looking like he has spent years in a ring.

“He’s the best of both worlds- lovely and quiet with market suitability to match.”

Mr Law said the steer was out of a Hereford cow by a Greenacres Limousin bull and had been fed for just 85 days.

Presiding over the heavy weight section, judge Jeff House said the category’s winning steer displayed tremendous structure and was “full of yield.”

“He shows good muscle down through the hindquarter and has a huge rib eye- he’s an absolute ball of meat but just lacks the superb evenness of the grand champion calf,” he said.

“It’s a very difficult decision and all of the steers entered would do very well in any competition elsewhere but the strength and depth in these classes is huge and we have to be very critical. I thank all exhibitors for their display of such outstanding quality cattle.”

Champion Junior Led Heifer was a Limousin exhibited by Coonamble High School, this heifer won the led heifer 401 to 460kg class and weighed 418kg. Reserve Champion Junior Led Heifer was bred by Peter and Pauline Grant, The Downfall Limousins and exhibited by Stanthorpe State High School, this heifer won the 325 to 400kg class and weighed 350kg.

Champion Junior Led Steer was a Limousin bred by Ray Zahnow, Fernvale Limousins, and exhibited by West Moreton Anglican College, winning the 446 to 490kg class and weighed 482kg.

Champion Lightweight Led Steer was a Limousin cross exhibited by PA & EJ Wieland, winning the 325 to 350kg class and weighing 336kg.

Reserve Champion Lightweight Led Steer was a Limousin cross exhibited by St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen winning the 376 to 400kg class and weighing 388kg.