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Entries called for nation’s richest beef cattle comp

Beef Central, 03/12/2015

 

The RNA’s Paddock to Palate Competition, presented by Mort & Co, will tip the scales in 2016 with a record $46,000 in prize money, making it the nation’s richest competition of its kind.

The prestigious competition, now in its nineteenth year, has increased its prize money from $7,000 in 2014 to more than $46,000 in 2016.

Entries open today and for the first time ever the competition’s entry numbers will be capped, so competitors are encouraged to get in early.

Last year’s record entry numbers saw more than 1,000 head of cattle entered, despite the crippling drought devastating more than 80 percent of Queensland.

RNA Beef Cattle Committee Chairman Gary Noller said he hoped the Paddock to Palate Competition, could provide some of the nation’s top producers a chance to showcase their high quality stock.

“The RNA is dedicated to celebrating and championing agriculture and this competition really gives producers the opportunity to benchmark their hard work and get their beef out to the consumer,” Mr Noller said.

Paddock to Palate was previously a four phased competition, but to ensure a more streamline judging process it will now consist of three phases.

“Due to processing and judging limitations, the beef taste-off will no longer be included in the Paddock to Palate Competition,” Mr Noller said.

“With Australia’s beef processors moving toward a value based pricing mechanism, the MSA eating quality score will use the same technology.

“The RNA is embracing the forward thinking of future pricing mechanisms used by Australian processors  and will place it at forefront of the Australian beef industry.

“Our Class 37C will not only judge a pen of six, it will also award an individual winner based on MSA eating quality.

“The MSA eating quality judging is a more objective way to judge and benefits the consumer.”

Mr Noller said the popularity of the competition was confirmed last year with record entry numbers, so they have decided to cap the competition for Class 37 to 777 head of cattle and for Class 38, 518 head of cattle.

“This competition has been bringing the nation’s top cattle producers together for 19 years and it sets a benchmark for the industry, so we encourage all those interested to get their entries in early,” Mr Noller said.

The winners of last year’s competition were Riverglen Pastoral Company for Class 37 and Minnamurra Pastoral Company for Class 38.

Dennis Power from Minnamurra Pastoral Company said it was a real coup for his stock to be crowned the Paddock to Palate champions in Class 38.

“We were really excited; it’s such a prestigious title to win with such a great variation of cattle in the competition”, Mr Power said.

“The great part about the competition is that it gets your name out there to the consumer, while setting a benchmark in the industry.”

This year’s three phased competition will comprise the best aggregate weight gain over 100 days (70 days for trade); a carcass competition and will finish in the MSA eating quality competition.

The exhibitor who polls the highest aggregate score across these three categories is then awarded the overall prize which will be announced during the Royal Queensland Show at a special Paddock to Palate Competition Awards Presentation Breakfast.

All steers will be forward sold over the hooks to JBS Australia Dinmore on a price and grid to be negotiated so that all exhibitors have full transparency on pricing. Similarly ration pricing will be advised to all exhibitors by Mort & Co.

The feedlot phase of the competition will be conducted at Mort & Co’s Grassdale Feedlot at Dalby which is one of Australia’s largest and most modern feedlots.

Products have been generously donated by Elanco, Zoetis, Zee Tags and Virbac.

Exhibits in Classes 37 and 38 will spend 10 days in dedicated preconditioning paddocks to ensure shrink and curfew variability is minimised.

Commencement weight for the competition will follow preconditioning. 4 per cent will be deducted from this weight to allow for shrinkage, as applied in normal feedlot applications.

The final weigh in for Class 37A will be held from 16-18 June, 2016 while Class 38A’s weigh in will be held on  18 June, 2016.

Results will be compiled and the weight gain awards will be presented at a luncheon hosted by Mort & Co in Dalby onSunday 19 June, 2016 in conjunction with a tour of Grassdale Feedlot and inspection of the cattle.

The prize pool in 2016 will be split over the two classes with cash prizes and trophies allocated as per below:

Class 37 Export 100 Day Competitions

Sponsor/Section/Class Placing Prize
Mort & Co Class 37 Overall Winner 1st $5,000
2nd $2,500
3rd $1,500
Mort & Co Class 37A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers 1st $3,000
2nd $1,500
3rd $500
Black Truck Sales Class 37A Highest Individual  Weight Gain 1st $1,500
JBS Australia Class 37B Pen of 6 Carcass Competition 1st $3,000
2nd $1,500
3rd $500
JBS Australia Class 37B Champion Carcass Ch $1,000
JBS Australia Class 37B Reserve Champion Carcass Res Ch $500
Thompson Longhorn Class 37C MSA Eating Quality 1st $400
2nd $200
3rd $100
Super Butcher Class 37C Highest Individual Index Score 1st $500

 

Class 38 Trade 70 Day Competition

Sponsor/Section/Class Placing Prize
JBS Australia Class 38 Overall Winner 1st $5,000
2nd $2,500
3rd $1,500
Elanco Animal Health Class 38A Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers 1st $3,000
2nd $1,500
3rd $500
Elanco Animal Health Class 38A Highest Individual Weight Gain 1st $1,500
Grant Daniel & Long Class 38B Pen of 6 Carcass Competition 1st $3,000
2nd $1,500
3rd $500
Thompson Longhorn Class 38 Champion Carcass Ch $1,000
Thompson Longhorn Class 38 Reserve Champion Carcass Res Ch $500
Thompson Longhorn Class 38C MSA Eating Quality 1st $400
2nd $200
3rd $100
Rabobank Class 38C Highest Individual Index Score Class 38 1st $500

 

Source: RNA. Entries are now open. For more information visit www.ekka.com.au

 

 

 

 

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