ARGUABLY Australia’s most consistent performer in branded beef competitions across the nation, Queensland grainfed beef supply chain Stockyard claimed its fifth Brisbane Show grand championship with a highly marbled Wagyu entry in the 2021 competition announced this afternoon.

A record 35 beef entries and 25 branded lamb entries were received for this year’s Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Awards, representing supply chains from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Results were announced this afternoon at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Click on image for a larger view

A highly marbled entry representing the company’s Stockyard Black Wagyu program claimed this year’s top award. Stockyard Black is restricted to marbling score 8+ product based on high-content Wagyu fed for +400 days at the company’s Kerwee feedlot on the Darling Downs.

Stockyard Black is directed into high-end restaurants across North and South Asia, and the Middle East, with the US a rapidly growing destination for the product over the past 12 months.

Stockyard’s David Clark and Amy Brookes with this year’s grand champion branded beef award

Stockyard picked up a second important class win with an entry representing the company’s Stockyard Gold Angus program, longfed 200-days plus at Kerwee, carrying a marbling score of 5.

More details and background on beef award winners in a story on Monday.

In other results, Midfield Meat International’s Union Station product from Warrnambool VIC was named grand champion lamb.

Chief judge of the branded beef and lamb competitions, Elaine Millar, said the overall quality of the entries this year was exceptional.

“Due to the extraordinary marbling in both the beef and lamb entries, the uncooked visual judging was overwhelmingly the best we have ever experienced,” she said.

“Moreso than earlier years, there was diversity in visual, flavour, texture and juiciness which provides a wonderful opportunity for retail, food service and ultimately the end diner to experience the multiplicity of taste sensations the seasons, regions and breeds bring to our plate.”

Midfield Meats Dean McKenna collects this year’s Brisbane Show champion branded lamb award from RNA chief executive Brendan Christou

Branded Beef results

Grand champion branded beef of show – Stockyard Black by Stockyard, Qld

Champion MSA-graded beef – Grandchester by Mort & Co

Grainfed Class:
Gold: Grandchester by Mort & Co
Silver: Ebony Black Angus by Kilcoy Global Foods
Bronze: Five Founders by North Australian Pastoral Co

Grassfed Class:
Gold: JOSDALE by Australian Meat Group
Silver: Southern Ranges by Australian Meat Group
Bronze: JBS Queenslander by JBS Australia

Wagyu Score 6 or less marbling class:
Gold: ICON XB Wagyu by Paradigm Foods
Silver: The Phoenix by Mort & Co
Bronze: Roam Australian Wagyu by Paradigm Foods

Wagyu marbling score 7+ class:
Gold: Stockyard Black by Stockyard
Silver: ICON XB Wagyu by Paradigm Foods
Bronze: Master Selection by Mort & Co

Open Class
Gold: Stockyard Gold by Stockyard
Silver: JBS Yardstick by JBS Australia
Bronze: Ebony Black Angus by Kilcoy Global Foods

Lamb results

Champion branded lamb of show – Union Station by Midfield Meat International

Branded Lamb – 20kg or Less
Gold: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
Silver: 246 by Midfield Meat International
Bronze: Union Station by Midfield Meat International

Branded Lamb – 20-24kg
Gold: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
Silver: Lamb of Tasmania by Tasmanian Lamb Company
Bronze: Australian Lamb by Woodward Foods Australia

Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb – More than 24kg
Gold: Union Station by Midfield Meat International
Silver: 246 by Midfield Meat International
Bronze: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats