Lachie, Wendy, Ben, Rosie and Will Mayne at the 2025 RNA Paddock to Palate awards dinner last night.

Texas Angus triumphs in Paddock to Palate 100-day non-HGP export class

After five years of consistently strong performances since first entering the Paddock to Palate competition, the Mayne family’s Texas Angus broke through to join the list of major overall winners in 2025, claiming top honours in the 100 day non-HGP export class.

Based at Warialda in northern New South Wales, Ben Mayne said the family had originally entered the competition because they saw it as a great benchmarking opportunity, not just to assess where they sit within the Angus breed but across the entire beef industry.

LISTEN: Ben Mayne from Texas Angus and Ben Noller from Palgrove talk Paddock to Palate on The Week in Beef podcast – click here

The Paddock to Palate competition is judged across multiple performance indicators including weight gain, carcase traits, and eating quality, rewarding cattle that perform consistently across the supply chain.

“The biggest thing about competitions like this is that every sector of the beef industry has got to make money,” Ben said. “It is not just the cow calf producer, it is the backgrounder, it is the feedlotter and it is the processor.

“You have got to have a desirable eating product and balanced program, that is where profitability is driven.”

Ironically, the pen of steers the Maynes had originally pegged as their strongest contenders had to be withdrawn. “They were just too heavy,” Ben said. “They obviously performed really well and went over carcase weight, and got knocked out for that.”

Instead, it was their second-choice pen that went on to claim the title. “Very proud of that team,” he said.

“We’re absolutely over the moon with what happened tonight because we have been runner up for so many years.

“Since we entered we have come second, second, fourth, then last year our kids came second and we came third – they got the bragging rights last year – and then this year we got the big surprise of being first.

“So over the moon.”

Moongool finds success in objective and subjective competition

For decades, the Price family from Moongool Charolais at Yuleba have been winning ribbons in the show pen as stalwarts of the Brisbane Ekka since the early 1990s.

While showing cattle is still part of the company’s annual trip to Brisbane, it started entering the objective Paddock to Palate competition last year with some success. This year it has taken out the overall champion of the 70-day trade category.

Ivan Price from Moongool told Beef Central that company had entered most of the categories with some Chaorlais and Charolais X pens. He said the Paddock to Palate was a good chance to benchmark as a commercial producer.

“We are a larger commercial operation than we are as a seedstock operation, and with this competition you can benchmark your cattle against producers from several states,” Mr Price said.

“We have had great success down here at the Ekka since the early 1990s, we still have a team of cattle that we will show this weekend. It is still strong showing of Charolais cattle here and they still very dominant in this Paddock to Palate competition.”

Seventh win in eight years for Palgrove in 100 day export class

One of the competition’s most familiar names, the Palgrove Pastoral company this year won its seventh overall award in eight years – taking out the 100-day export category.

While Palgrove has enjoyed plenty of success, this year will see a significant change to the business, with general manager Ben Noller and Simon and Myriam Daley taking over the Charolais herd.

Simon and Myriam also enjoyed significant success once again in the Paddock to Palate competition this year, taking second and third place in the Overall 100 day export class behind Palgrove with their Charolais X Angus and Charolais exhibits.

Ben Noller from Palgrove accepting the Sturrock Trophy for overall winner in the 100 day HGP class of the Paddock to Palate competition

Mr Noller said Palgrove Charolais will be back in the competition next year, trading as a separate entity to the Palgrove Ultrablack herd.

“The competition highlights proof of profit, you can be good at one thing, but for us it is about breeding for balance and that is what this competition is all about,” he said.

“There definitely will be separate business putting cattle into this competition next year. I think that is a good thing, we put our first Ultrablack pen in this year but the Charolais and Charolais X have dominated over the years. This creates an exciting opportunity to compare both of those breeds next year.”

Harrises’ fullblood focus delivers big win in Wagyu Challenge

Jennifer and Paul Harris

Central Queensland Wagyu breeders Paul and Jennifer Harris of Sunland Cattle Co have taken top honours at the 2025 Royal Queensland Show’s Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge – a result that reflects nearly two decades of data-driven genetic refinement and one of the world’s largest Fullblood Wagyu breeding herds.

Sunland Cattle Co entries took third place in pen of six carcass, first and second place in the pen of six carcass value and third in the beef taste-off competition, and registering the highest points on aggregate to take the overall champion award.

The father-daughter team, who run more than 10,000 Fullblood Wagyu across two developed properties near the Isaac River and Marlborough, were thrilled with the result.

Paul, a chartered accountant who bred his first Wagyu calves in 2007, said the business pivoted early to Fullblood genetics and hasn’t looked back. “We’re now virtually 100pc Fullblood,” he said.

With Leucaena we double our carrying capacity, and with Wagyu we double our price

Jennifer credits much of their success to rigorous performance data analysis and continuous herd improvement. “We look at the carcase, if they’re not producing really good results they go to the meatworks, because we don’t have an endless supply of land we will sell them.

“We aim to replicate what we do well, analysing the data and always looking to see what works well and what doesn’t,” she said.

With a strong focus on high marbling, carcase weight and muscle area, the Harrises are working toward a herd where the bottom performers still rank among the best. “We want the whole herd at the top,” Paul said.

Their operation is backed by extensive Leucaena plantings and buffel pastures, with cattle turned off to feedlots at around 20 months and 400-450kg. “With Leucaena we double our carrying capacity, and with Wagyu we double our price,” Paul said. “I wouldn’t want to be in any other breed.”

2025 RNA Paddock to Palate overall results

 Class 37 – 100 day HGP export

37 – Overall winner, The Sturrock Trophy

1. Palgrove Pastoral, pen #63, 718 points, Charolais X
2. Simon and Myriam Daley, pen #56, 703 points, Charolais X Angus
3. Simon and Myriam Daley, pen #57, 699.6 points, Charolais
4. Devon Court Herefords, pen #42, 699 points, Hereford
5. Russell Pastoral Operations, pen # 51, 697 points, Angus X

37A – Best weight gain for pen of six grainfed steers

1. Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd, Pen Number 51, ADG: 2.79kg, Angus X
2. Hinz Grazing, Pen Number 49, ADG: 2.73kg, Shorthorn Santa X
3. Palgrove Pastoral Company, Pen Number 62, ADG: 2.695, Ultrablack

37A – Highest individual weight gain

1. Palgrove Pastoral Co, Animal Number 62E, ADG: 3.113kg, Ultrablack

37B – Pen of six carcass

1. Palgrove Pastoral Company, Pen #63, 514 points, Charolais X
2. Devon Court Herefords, Pen #42, 513 points, Hereford
3. Coobyanga Pastoral, Pen #70, 511 points, Droughtmaster

37B – Champion carcass

1. Russell Pastoral Operations, #51D, 95 points, Angus X

 37B – Reserve champion carcass

1. Condabri Beef, 46A, 94 pts, Charolais Angus X

 37C – MSA Eating Quality competition

1. Glenisa Cattle Company, #43, 346 points, Angus
2. Minnamurra Pastoral Company, #53, 345.5 points, Speckle Park X Angus
3. Devon Court Herefords, #42, 345 points, Hereford

37C – Highest individual index score

1. Palgrove Pastoral Company, #64F, 60 pts, Charolais X

 Class 38 – 70 day HGP export

38 – Overall winner, The Ken Crotty OAM Perpetual Trophy

1. Keddstock Pty Ltd, Pen #90, 688 pts, Charolais
2. Cameron Pastoral Enterprises, Pen #82, Charolais Ultrablack X, 677.0 pts
3. Gyranda Pastoral Company, Pen #87, 666.12 points, Santa Gertrudis
4. Keddstock Pty Ltd, Pen #91, 663 pts, Charolais
5. Mills Family, Pen #93, 662 points,

38A – Best weight gain for pen of six grainfed steers

1. Devon Court Herefords, Pen #85, ADG: 3.113, Hereford
2. Gyranda Pastoral Company, Pen #86, ADG: 2.792kg, Santa Gertrudis
3. Gyranda Pastoral Company, Pen #87, ADG: 2.774kg, Santa Gertrudis

38A – Highest individual weight gain

1. Keddstock Pty Ltd, Animal #91A, ADG: 3.431kg, Charolais

38B – Pen of six carcass

1. Keddstock Pty Ltd, Pen #90, 510 pts
2. Keddstock Pty Ltd, Pen #91, 490 pts
3. Rosedale Livestock Partnership, Pen #97, 490 pts, Charolais X Angus

 38B – Champion carcass

1. Campbell Family Trust #83E, 96 points, Angus

 38B – Reserve champion carcass

1. Keddstock Pty Ltd #90B, 92 points, Charolais

 38C – MSA Eating Quality competition

1. Mills family, #93, MSA score 344.54, Simmental
2. Minnamurra Pastoral Co, #94 MSA score 343.62, Speckle Park
3. McIntyre Agriculture Pty Ltd, #92, MSA score 343.61, Angus

38C – Highest individual index score

1. RJ & MJ Harvey, #96C, 60 pts, Droughtmaster

Class 40 – 100 day non-HGP export

 40 – Overall winner, A Bassingthwaighte Perpetual Trophy

1. Texas Angus, Pen #150, 675 pts, Angus
2. Glenisa Cattle Co, Pen #122, 672 pts, Angus
3. Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd, Pen #147, 659 pts, Angus X
4. Glynn Agriculture, Pen #125, 658 pts, Angus
5. Glenmore Livestock, Pen #125, 655 pts, Angus

40A – Best weight gain for Pen of six grainfed steers

1. Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd, Pen 148, ADG: 2.287kg, Angus X
2. Palgrove Pastoral Company, Pen #141, ADG: 2.247kg, Charolais X
3. Texas Angus, Pen #150, ADG: 2.233kg, Angus

40A – Highest Individual Weight Gain

1. Russell Pastoral Operations Pty Ltd, Animal #148B, ADG: 2.87kg, Angus X

40B – Pen of six carcass

1. Glenisa Cattle #122, 502 pts, Angus
2. G Morgan & Co, #120, 483 pts, Shorthorn
3. Athlyne Pastoral Co #103, 481 pts, Angus

40B – Champion carcass

1. PT & RM McLellan #143D, 92 pts, Shorthorn

40B – Reserve champion carcass

1. Glenisa Cattle Co, #122C, 91 pts, Angus

 40C – MSA Eating Quality competition

1. Jervois Pastoral Pty Ltd #132, 384 pts, Angus
2. Campbell Family Trust, #380 pts, Angus
3. Ingle Brae Farms, #130, 379 pts, Angus

40C – Highest individual index score

1.  Glenisa Cattle Company, #122A, 67 pts, Angus

Class 39 – Wagyu Challenge

39 – Overall winner

1. Sunland Cattle Co, Pen #28, 100%, 88.69 pts
2. Australian Country Choice Pen #1, 100%, 86.42 pts
3. Wener Rural Investments, Pen #31, 93%, 85.308 pts
4. Sunland Cattle Co, Pen #29, 100%, 85.077 pts
5. Poll Wagyu Pty, Pen #26, 96%, 84.4 pts

39A – Best weight gain for pen of six grainfed Wagyu steers

1. Thomas Burnett, ADG: 1.286, Wagyu X Angus, Dirranbandi QLD
2. JE Hayden Pty Ltd, ADG: 1.171, Wagyu, Glen Innes NSW
3. JE Hayden Pty Ltd, ADG: 1.157, Wagyu, Glen Innes NSW

39A – Highest individual weight gain

1. Hancock Agriculture, #18E, ADG: 1.613, Wagyu 100%, Bell QLD

39B –  Pen of six carcass

1. Australian Country Choice, Pen #1, 570 points, 100%
2. Poll Wagyu Pty Ltd, Pen #26, 562 points, 96%
3. Sunland Cattle Co Pty Ltd, Pen #28, 553 points, 100%

39B – Champion carcass

1. Poll Wagyu Pty Ltd, Animal #26G, 100pts, 96%

39B – Reserve champion carcass

1. Hamilton Park Pastoral Company, Pen #17B, 99.5 points, 100%

39C – Pen of six carcass value competition

1. Sunland Cattle Co Pty Ltd, Pen #28, 88 pts, 100%
2. Sunland Cattle Co Pty Ltd, Pen #29, 86 points, 100%
3. Werner Rural Investments, Pen #31, 85 pts, 93%

39C – Highest scoring carcase value animal

1. Bar H Grazing, $7025.25, #6G, 18 points, 99%

39 – Beef taste-off competition

1. Wentworth Cattle Company, Pen #36C, 92 points, 75%
2. Glenmora, Animal #12D, 75%
3. Sunland Cattle Co Pty Ltd, Animal #28D, 88 points, Fullblood