Production

Charolais, Santa crosses headline weightgain section of RNA Paddock to Palate competition

Beef Central, 20/06/2016

CHAROLAIS seedstock producers David and Prue Bondfield from Dalveen in southern Queensland and Santa Gertrudis breeders Yulgilbar Pastoral Co from Baryulgil in NSW have collected the major feedlot weightgain honours in the first phase of this year’s RNA Paddock to Palate Competition.

Hosted by Mort and Co’s Grassdale feedlot near Dalby, the competition, which is the richest of its kind in the nation with $45,000 in prize money on offer, attracted 770 head of cattle this year.

The Bondfields’ pen of six winning Charolais X Angus in the 100-day grainfed class produced an average daily gain of 2.95kg, just edging-out beating Yulgilbar Pastoral Co’s Santa Gertrudis X Charolais which delivered an ADG of 2.90kg.

Yulgilbar topped the gain performance in the 70-day grainfed domestic class for the second year in a row, with a pen of Santa Gertrudis X Angus producing an ADG of 3.27kg.

The highest individual weightgain steer in the 100-day class went to D and AD Bassingthwaighte and Co, Wallumbilla, Qld for a Santa Gertrudis X Charolais steer gaining at 3.30kg/day, while Yulgilbar topped individual animal statistics in the 70-day class with a Santa x Angus steer with an ADG of 3.74kg.

Yulgilbar's Rob Sinnamon

Yulgilbar’s Rob Sinnamon

Rob Sinnamon from Yulgilbar Pastoral Co, pictured, said he was over the moon with the results.

“We consider this to be the largest benchmarking competition of its kind in the country, so we’re thrilled to place so well,” he said. “The competition shows the commercial relevance of our genetics and to do well means a lot to us.”

RNA beef cattle committee chairman Gary Noller said the competition has been bringing the nation’s top cattle producers together for 19 years, with great results.

“The high quality of genetics entered into the competition this year presented average daily gains higher than normal feedlot conditions,” he said.

“This competition really gives producers the chance to benchmark their hard work against others in the industry.”

With the feedlot weightgain component of the competition now completed, the Paddock to Palate competition now moves to a carcase quality and yield assessment, followed by an MSA eating quality competition.

The exhibitor who polls the highest aggregate score across the three categories is then awarded the overall prize, to be announced during Ekka at a special Paddock to Palate Competition awards breakfast in early August.

All steers were forward-sold over the hooks to JBS Australia Dinmore on a price and grid negotiated in March. Major sponsors for the 2016 competition include Mort & Co, JBS Australia, Rabobank, Zoetis and Elanco.

 

RESULTS:

Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers (100 Day):

  • 1 – David & Prue Bondfield – Charolais X Angus – ADG 2.95 – Dalveen QLD
  • 2 – Yulgilbar Pastoral Co – Santa Gertrudis X Charolais – ADG 2.90 – Baryulgil NSW
  • 3 – David & Prue Bondfield – Charolais X Angus – ADG 2.89 – Dalveen QLD

Highest Individual Weight Gain (100 day)

  • 1 – D & AD Bassingthwaighte & Co – Santa Gertrudis X Charolais – ADG 3.30 – Wallumbilla QLD

 

Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers (70 Day)

  • 1 – Yulgilbar Pastoral Co – Santa Gertrudis X Angus – ADG 3.27 – Baryulgil NSW
  • 2 – Yulgilbar Pastoral Co – Santa Gertrudis – ADG 3.17 – Baryulgil NSW
  • 3 – Brodie & Ayesha Clifford – Charolais – ADG 3.09 – Ettrick NSW

Highest Individual Weight Gain (70 day)

  • 1 – Yulgilbar Pastoral Co – Santa Gertrudis X Angus – ADG 3.74 – Baryulgil NSW.

 

Source: RNA

 

HAVE YOUR SAY

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your comment will not appear until it has been moderated.
Contributions that contravene our Comments Policy will not be published.

Comments

  1. Keith Willcocks, 26/06/2016

    Congratulation to you

Get Beef Central's news headlines emailed to you -
FREE!