NEW life has been breathed into a long-running Ekka cattle competition following its move to a regional location this year.

The Royal Queensland Show’s (Ekka) Prime and Feeder Cattle Competition was this year relocated to Dalby from Silverdale following a one-year hiatus, which was used by the RNA Beef Committee to redesign the competition to better align with commercial industry practices.

The positive response to the new arrangements was evident in the record number of entries received, with 907 head of cattle entered in the 2026 event – a 450 percent increase on the 161 head entered in 2024.

And that may be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of where the competition can go from here.

At the awards presentation dinner on Friday, Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Andrew Smith noted that 55 percent of all grainfed cattle produced in Australia come from feedlots within a 200km radius of the Dalby Regional Saleyards.

That underlined the potential for even greater growth in entries from accredited feedlots in coming years.

The introduction of feeder classes this year has also broadened the competition and made it more representative of the full beef supply chain, RNA Beef Committee chair Gary Noller said.

More than $30,000 in prize money was awarded across the competition.

Daryl and Sharon McNamara, Tara, pictured with RNA councillor Gary Noller.

The Grassfed or Pasturefed section was won by a pen of six 17-month old Angus Hereford steers off forage sorhum and winter clover exhibited by McNamara Farming, Sunset Downs, Tara. First-time Ekka prime cattle exhibitors Daryl and Sharon McNamara, and their son Matthew and daughter Ashleigh, run a mixed farming and grazing operation on Brigalow/Belah country producing cattle from a high quality Hereford breeding herd based on genetics from Bob and Ann Nixon and Toby and Jane Nixon’s Wallan Creek Herefords, Drillham with Angus bulls from Texas Angus bull and Raff Angus.

Ken and Jackie Knudsen who run a large cattle operation north of Chinchilla took the major prize in the newly introduced feeder cattle section with Santa cross entries.

Ken-Knudsen and RNA Councillor Jane Onley.

In the Grain or Grain-Assisted Fed section, two pens of cattle entered by Anne and Rob Bridle, Talbingo Pastoral Company, Dalby, won the champion and reserve champion broad ribbons.

The champion pen comprised steers by Charolais bulls out of Santa Hereford cross cows originally purchased for Talbingo’s backgrounding program through the Casino weaner sales, while the reserve champion was a pen of Clonlara Composite steers bred at Gus and Jen McCormack’s Clonlara, Glenmorgan, which were bought by Talbingo for direct feedlot entry.

Rob Bridle said they had not entered the Ekka Prime Cattle Competition for several years, but decided to re-enter this year at the urging of their GDL agent, Glen Waldron, and to support both the Ekka and the move to Dalby.

“It is great that they are holding this in Dalby, they were well supported cattle-wise and I think they will be people-wise too if they do a good job with it over coming years.

“There is potential for this to grow, especially now they’re putting feeder cattle in too because you’re covering the people who are actually backgrounding or breeding the younger cattle pre the feedlot and the ones at the other end, so it is covering all the bases.”

HGP-free success

Another notable result came in the export class, where a pen of HGP-free, straight Shorthorn steers entered by Spencer and Sophie Morgan, G Morgan and Co, The Grove, Condamine, won first place.

Spencer Morgan

Despite their long record of participation and success in other Ekka competitions, including the Paddock to Palate event, the Morgans had not previously entered the Ekka prime competition but, like the Bridles, were encouraged to enter by their local GDL agent Russell Jorgensen, and were also keen to support the competition’s move to the nearby Dalby saleyards

The Morgans have focused on producing genetics with yield, growth, eating quality and maternal traits that can perform without HGP supplementation ensuring accessibility to all markets.

Spencer said it was gratifying to see their HGP-free cattle (pictured above) do well in such a strongly contested prime competition.

“Bascially what it means for us is that without a HGP we still have enough potential yield and the right fat cover and suitability for industry specs. To have a purebred British breed up there at the pointy end without a pill, the judge said they hit the specs very, very well.

“Our point of difference in the British world is to have a bit more growth in them, trying to increase the muscle and growth with all the maternal traits staying in place, which is a hard balancing act to get.

“I guess what we have tried to achieve is to be able to market them at different times into all markets because you haven’t got them pilled.”

All three grand champion entries were sold through selling agent Grant Daniel Long.

The winners were celebrated at the Ekka’s inaugural Prime and Feeder Cattle Dinner in Dalby on Friday night, attended by 170 guests, including producers, feedlotters, processors, agents, exhibitors, sponsors and industry stakeholders.

RESULTS 

Grand Champions

Grand Champion – Grass or Pasture Fed Pen: Daryl McNamara (Angus X Hereford)

Grand Champion – Grain or Grain Assisted Fed Pen: Talbingo Pastoral Company (Charolais X Santa Hereford)

Grand Champion – Pen of 10: KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

Grass & Pasture Fed Pens of 3 Heifers presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries. 

 Class 2 Pen of 3 Heifers – 431kg to 480kg

2^nd: U8J Cattle Company (Angus)

1^st: The Robin Bruggeman Family Trust (Hereford)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 3 Heifers Grass or Pasture fed: U8J Cattle Company (Angus)

 Champion – Pen of 3 Heifers Grass or Pasture fed presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries: The Robin Bruggeman Family Trust (Hereford)

Grass & Pasture Fed Pens of 3 Steers presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries. 

Class 5 Pen of 3 Steers – 431kg to 480kg

2^nd: The Robin Bruggeman Family Trust (Hereford)

1^st: The Robin Bruggeman Family Trust (Hereford)

Class 6 Pen of 3 Steers – 481kg to 530kg

2^nd: KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

1^st: Daryl McNamara (Angus X Hereford)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 3 Steers Grass or Pasture fed: Daryl McNamara (Angus X Hereford)

Champion – Pen of 3 Steers Grass or Pasture fed presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries: The Robin Bruggeman Family Trust (Hereford)

Grass & Pasture Fed Pens of 6 Steers

Class 7 Pen of 6 Steers – 400kg to 530kg

1^st: U8J Cattle Company (Angus)

Class 8 Pen of 6 Steers – 531kg to 620kg

3^rd:  KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

2^nd: Mills Family (Black Simmental)

1^st: Daryl McNamara (Angus X Hereford)

Class 9 Pen of 6 Steers – 621kg to 740kg

3^rd:  KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

2^nd: KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

1^st:  KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 6 Steers Grass or Pasture fed: KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

Champion – Pen of 6 Steers Grass or Pasture fed: Daryl McNamara (Angus X Hereford)

Grain or Grain Assisted Fed Pens of 3 Heifers presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries

Class 10 Pen of 3 Heifers – 380kg to 430kg

3^rd:  Burke Group (Droughtmaster)

2^nd: Burke Group (Droughtmaster)

1^st: ANC Cattle Co (Charolais)

Class 11 Pen of 3 Heifers – 431kg to 480kg

3^rd:  Waluca Farming (Crossbred)

2^nd : Waluca Farming (Crosscred)

1^st: ANC Cattle Co (Charolais)

Class 12 Pen of 3 Heifers – 481kg to 530kg

3^rd:  TG & KR Apelt (Crossbred)

2^nd: Harvey Black Group (Santa cross)

1^st: JD & KL Wilkes (Limousin)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 3 Heifers Grain or Grain Assisted Fed: ANC Cattle Co (Charolais)

Champion – Pen of 3 Heifers Grain or Grain Assisted Fed: JD & KL Wilkes (Limousin)

Grain or Grain Assisted Fed Pens of 3 Steers presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries. 

Class 13 Pen of 3 Steers – 380kg to 430kg

3^rd:  G Morgan & Co (Shorthorn)

2^nd: Ashley & Kellie & Kipp Shay Remy Barron (Limousin cross)

1^st: Ben, Jess & Leo McMahon (Limousin)

Class 14 Pen of 3 Steers – 431kg to 480kg

3^rd:  Darren Gunther (Angus)

2^nd: ANC Cattle Co (Charolais)

1^st: Melanie Wellsteed (Crossbred)

Class 15 Pen of 3 Steers – 481kg to 530kg

3^rd:  Melanie Wellsteed (Crossbred)

2^nd: Harvey Black Group (Santa cross)

1^st: JD & KL Wilkes (Limousin)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 3 Steers Grain or Grain Assisted Fed: Ben, Jess & Leo McMahon

Champion – Pen of 3 Steers Grain or Grain Assisted Fed presented by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries: JD & KL Wilkes

Grain or Grain Assisted Fed Pens of 6 Steers

Class 17 Pen of 6 Steers – 531kg to 620kg

3^rd:  Harvey Black Group (Santa cross)

2^nd: Golden Pastoral Holdings (Santa cross)

1^st: G Morgan & Co (Shorthorn)

Class 18 Pen of 6 Steers – 621kg to 740kg

3^rd:  Condabri Beef (Charolais Cross)

2^nd: Talbingo Pastoral Company (Clonlara Composite)

1^st: Talbingo Pastoral Company (Charolais X Santa Heref0rd)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 6 Steers Grain or Grain Assisted Fed: Talbingo Pastoral Company (Clonlara Composite)

Champion – Pen of 6 Steers Grain or Grain Assisted Fed: Talbingo Pastoral Company (Charolais X Santa Heref0rd)

Feeder Pens of 10 Heifers

 Class 19 Pen of 10 Heifers – 320kg to 400kg

3^rd: Bidson Pastoral Company (Speckle Park X Angus)

2^nd: Redford station – ACC (Ultrablack cross)

1^st: C & J Varidel Trading (Angus)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 10 Heifers: Redford station – ACC (Ultrablack cross)

Champion – Pen of 10 Heifers: C & J Varidel Trading (Angus)

Feeder Pens of 10 Steers

Class 21 Pen of 10 Steers – 320kg to 400kg

3^rd: Barb and Phil Neilley (Angus)

2^nd: C & J Varidel Trading (Angus)

1^st: Barb and Phil Neilley (Angus)

Class 22 Pen of 10 Steers – 401kg to 500kg

3^rd:  Merv Slack (Charolais cross)

2^nd: RJ & FM Duff (Angus)

1^st: KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)

Reserve Champion – Pen of 10 Steers: Barb and Phil Neilley (Angus) 

Champion – Pen of 10 Steers: KH & JC Knudsen (Santa)