Ben Noller and Will Heath from Palgrove Pastoral Company with the champion pen of six in the class 40

Palgrove’s winning overall pen of six in Class 40 (100 days Hormone Growth Promotant free export)

Palgrove Pastoral Company based at Dalveen in Queensland’s Granite Belt and Russell Pastoral Company based at Champion Station near Blackall in the State’s Central West have once again had the commercial value of their genetics powerfully validated with dominant performances in one of the richest and most intensely contested cattle competitions in Australia.

Both were major winners in the weight gain phase of the RNA’s prestigious Paddock to Palate Competition presented by JBS Australia at an event hosted at Jondaryan Woolshed this morning, with the winning pens also on display at JBS’ Beef City feedlot near Toowoomba.

Palgrove Pastoral Company won the overall pen of six in Class 40 (100 days Hormone Growth Promotant free export), with their Charolais recording an average daily weight gain (ADG) of 2.245kg. They also claimed the highest individual weight gain for Class 40, with one of their cattle weighing in with an ADG of 2.550kg.

Palgrove also won Class 37 (100 day export), with their pen of six Charolais cross recording an ADG of 2.773kg.

Adam Armstrong with the winning pen of cattle from Champion Station at Blackall.

Russell Pastoral Operations which produces cattle on Champion Station at Blackall, Jimbour Station near Dalby and Cluny near Bingara in NSW also built on its success in the last two paddock to palate competitions to claim the highest individual weight gain for Class 37 with one of their Angus cross cattle (ADG 3.310kg) and Class 38 (70 day trade), with their pen of six recording an ADG of 2.843kg.

Class 38’s individual weight gain award was taken out by the Drynan family from Esk in South-East Queensland, after one of their Charolais and Red Angus cross recorded an ADG of 3.414kg.

Meanwhile the Hughes family’s Wentworth Cattle Company from Clermont in central Queensland almost took a clean sweep of the Wagyu Challenge (Class 39 – 400 day).

The pens of six 50 per cent Wagyu cross they entered in the competition took out first (ADG 1.159kg) and second (ADG 1.097kg), plus one of their cattle recorded the highest individual weight gain (ADG 1.289kg).

A total of 728 head of cattle were entered in the competition this year, slightly down on last year.

“This year we’ve seen the effects of the drought over the past two and a half years, with our commercial and long-term exhibitors unable to enter as many cattle,” RNA Beef Committee Chair Gary Noller said.

“We also saw new exhibitors enter, as they recognise the benefits in being able to use the results data to promote their seedstock enterprises if they do well.

“Despite the wet and cold conditions this year, cattle health was good and they gained well, especially in Class 38, with more beasts over the three kilograms per day gain.”

The Paddock to Palate Competition presented by JBS Australia has now moved into the second phase which is carcass judging. Competition classes 37, 38 and 40 are three phased comprising best aggregate weight gain, carcass and MSA eating quality, while the Wagyu Challenge is four phased finishing in a beef taste off judged by some of Queensland’s top chefs.

The exhibitors who poll the highest aggregate scores across all phases of the four classes will be awarded the overall prizes at the Paddock to Palate and Beef Industry Dinner presented by JBS Australia on Wednesday 4 August at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Proud sponsors of the Paddock to Palate Competition and Wagyu Challenge include JBS Australia; AuctionsPlus; Australian Wagyu Association; Complete Women’s Healthcare; Elanco; Mi-Feed; Performance Feeds; Queensland Country Life; Rabobank Australia; Smithfield Cattle Company; Thompson Longhorn; Virbac; Wagyu 3D Genetics; Zee Tags; and Zoetis.

The Ekka Paddock to Palate is the nation’s richest beef competition of its kind with a total prize pool of more than $54,000.

See Beef Central for more details on major winners tomorrow

RESULTS

Class 37 – Rabobank Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (100 Day)

1st – Palgrove Pastoral Company – Charolais X – ADG 2.773kg – Dalveen QLD

2nd –  Yulgilbar Pastoral Company – Santa Gertrudis – ADG 2.725kg – Baryulgil NSW

3rd – Womblebank Cattle Co – Womblebank Composite – ADG 2.683kg – Mitchell QLD

Class 37 – Rabobank Highest Individual Weight Gain

1st – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus X – ADG 3.310kg – Kenmore QLD

Class 38 – Elanco Animal Health Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Steers (70 Day)

1st – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus X – ADG 2.843kg – Kenmore QLD

2nd – Nebrean – Santa Gertrudis and Charolais X – ADG 2.807kg – Goondiwindi QLD

3rd – Russell Pastoral Operations – Angus X – ADG 2.802kg – Kenmore QLD

Class 38 – Elanco Animal Health Highest Individual Weight Gain

1st – Drynan Family – Charolais and Red Angus X – ADG 3.414kg – Esk QLD

Class 39 (Wagyu Challenge) – Smithfield Cattle Co Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain Fed Wagyu Steers (400 Day)

1st – Wentworth Cattle Co – 50% Wagyu – ADG 1.159kg – Clermont QLD

2nd – Wentworth Cattle Co – 50% Wagyu – ADG 1.097kg – Clermont QLD

3rd – McIntyre Agriculture – 50% Wagyu – ADG 1.058kg – St George QLD

Class 39 (Wagyu Challenge) – Smithfield Cattle Co Highest Individual Weight Gain

1st – Wentworth Cattle Co – 50% Wagyu – ADG 1.289kg – Clermont QLD

Class 40 – Best Weight Gain for Pen of Six Grain-Fed Steers (100 Day HGP Free)

1st – Palgrove Pastoral Company – Charolais – ADG 2.245kg – Dalveen QLD

2nd – Texas Angus – Angus – ADG 2.180kg – Warialda NSW

3rd – Yulgibar Pastoral Company – Santa Gertrudis – ADG 2.177kg – Baryulgil NSW

Class 40 – Highest Individual Weight Gain

1st – Palgrove Pastoral Company – Charolais – ADG 2.550kg – Dalveen QLD