Clockwise from top left: Myriam and Simon Daley; Adam Armstrong from Russell Pastoral Operations; Leonard and Darren Henschell from Lendalou, Dalby and Vicki and Shane Mayne from Kireina Wagyu near Chinchilla.

RESULTS are in for the weight gain section among the record entries involved in the 2026 Paddock to Palate Competition, with major winners including Simon and Myriam Daley, Russell Pastoral Operations, Vicki and Shane Mayne’s Kireina Wagyu and Leonard and Darren Henschell’s  Lendalou Wagyu near Dalby.

The annual competition offers almost $65,000 in prize money across five classes, and this year attracted an enormous 1358 head of cattle entries – 25 per cent above last year.

Results from the weight gain section were presented by JBS Australia at Beef City near Toowoomba today. The final sections of the commercially-focused competition involving carcase and eating quality performance will be announced at the Ekka in August.

Commercial breeders Simon and Myriam Daley took out Class 37 (120-day export), with their pen of Charolais cross cattle recording an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.03kg.

The Daleys also dominated Class 40 (HGP-free 120-day export), winning first place with an ADG of 2.4kg, and securing third place with an ADG of 2.24kg.

Russell Pastoral Operations was also a standout, taking out Class 38 (100-day trade) with their pen of Angus cross cattle recording an ADG of 2.69kg.

They also claimed the highest individual weight gain in Class 37 with an ADG of 3.43kg and placed second in the same class with an ADG of 2.98kg.

In the Wagyu classes, Vikki and Shane Mayne’s Kireina Wagyu claimed Class 41 (Crossbred Wagyu 380-day), with their Composite Wagyu x F1 Wagyu recording an ADG of 1.33kg.

They also secured the highest individual weight gain in the class, with an ADG of 1.50kg.

Meanwhile, Leonard and Darren Henschell took out Class 39 (Fullblood Purebred Wagyu 380-day), with their pen of fullblood cattle recording an ADG of 1.15kg, while also claiming the highest individual weight gain for the class with an ADG of 1.439kg.

RNA Beef Committee Chair Gary Noller said the competition provides producers with a competitive advantage in the market.

“For seedstock producers, it translates to higher averages at their bull sales, with standout exhibitors in the competition achieving results above breed averages,” he said.

“On the commercial side, producers are using the competition to prove their genetics and confirm they are making the right decisions in their selection of bulls and females at home.”

Mr Noller said new commercial and seedstock exhibitors were entering the competition each year, recognising the benefits it delivers.

“Every year we see new exhibitors take part in the competition, as they recognise that strong results in Paddock to Palate can give them a clear point of difference in the market,” he said.

Mr Noller said this was the first year all five classes of the weight gain phase had been held at Beef City.

“I would like to sincerely thank our competition presenting partner JBS Australia, who expanded their support to include the Wagyu classes at Beef City, with all classes now hosted at the feedlot.”

Competition Classes 37, 38 and 40 are three-phased, comprising best aggregate weight gain, carcase performance and MSA eating quality.

The Wagyu Challenge (Classes 39 and 41) is a four-phased competition, culminating in a beef taste-off judged by some of Queensland’s leading chefs.

The competition offers almost $65,000 in prize money across the five classes.

Exhibitors who achieve the highest aggregate scores across all phases will be awarded the major prizes at the Paddock to Palate Awards Dinner at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Thursday 6 August during Ekka Beef Week.

Sponsors of the Paddock to Palate Competition include JBS Australia, Zoetis, Coopers Animal Health, Australian Wagyu Association, Queensland Country Life, Zee Tags, Thompson Longhorn, Black Box Co, and Thynne and Macartney.

Major winners at today’s RNA Paddock to Palate Beef Competition at Beef City, Toowoomba, Simon and Myriam Daley and Ben Noller. Image: RNA

RESULTS

Class 37A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six, 120 Day Grain-Fed Steers

1st – Simon and Myriam Daley, ADG: 3.03kg, Charolais Cross, Beilba QLD

2nd – Russell Pastoral Operations, ADG: 2.98kg, Angus Cross, Blackall QLD

3rd – Hinz Grazing, ADG: 2.96kg, Shorthorn Santa X, Miles QLD

Class 37A Highest Individual Weight Gain 

Russell Pastoral Operations, ADG: 3.43kg, Angus Cross, Blackall QLD

Class 38A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six, 100 Day Grain-Fed Steers

1st – Russell Pastoral Operations, ADG: 2.69kg, Angus Cross, Blackall QLD

2nd – Gyranda Pastoral Company, ADG: 2.61kg, Santa Gertrudis, Theodore QLD

3rd – Aurelian Pastoral Co, ADG: 2.55kg, Angus/Ultrablack, St George QLD

Class 38A Highest Individual Weight Gain 

Juandah Grazing, ADG: 3.12kg, Charolais Cross, Guluguba QLD

Class 39A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six, 380 Day Grain-Fed Wagyu Steers

1st – LA & DL Henschell, ADG: 1.15kg, Fullblood, Moola QLD

2nd -Hamilton Park Pastoral Company, ADG: 1.12kg, Fullblood, Wallumbilla QLD

3rd -Hamilton Park Pastoral Company, ADG¨1.1kg, Fullblood, Wallumbilla QLD

Class 39A Highest Individual Weight Gain

LA & DL Henschell, ADG: 1.439kg, Fullblood, Moola QLD

Class 40A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six, 120 Day HGP Free Steers

1st – Simon and Myriam Daley, ADG: 2.4kg, Charolais Cross, Beilba QLD

2nd – Palgrove Charolais, ADG: 2.27kg, Charolais X, Bukkulla NSW

3rd – Simon and Myriam Daley, ADG: 2.24kg, Charolais Cross, Beilba QLD

Class 40A Highest Individual Weight Gain 

Palgrove Charolais, ADG: 2.76kg, Charolais X, Bukkulla NSW

Class 41A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six, 380 Day Grain-Fed Wagyu Steers

1st – Kireina Wagyu, ADG: 1.33kg, Composite Wagyu x F1 Wagyu, Burncluith QLD

2nd – Red Hill Lands, ADG: 1.2kg, Angus/Wagyu, Upper Manilla NSW

3rd – Leeton Grazing, ADG: 1.13kg, Wagyu/Angus, Halls Creek NSW

Class 41A Highest Individual Weight Gain 

Kireina Wagyu, ADG: 1.50kg, Composite Wagyu x F1 Wagyu, Burncluith QLD