Beef Australia results

GLENDALE Cattle Enterprises, from Western Australia, used a rare opportunity to compare their cattle against other Australian stock destined for domestic and export markets when they entered the Beef Australia 2009 ANZ/MSA National Beef Carcase Competition and were delighted when their Gelbvieh-cross cattle came out on top at last night's presentation awards.

They won the Champion Individual Carcase trophy and the ANZ Bank Award for Achievement with the highest pen score across all classes.

The Reserve Champion Carcase trophy went to Greenham Pastoral Company in Tasmania.

Ashton's Butchery, at Pittsworth, Queensland, won the Meat Standards Australia award for the best quality eating carcase and group of three carcases.

Twenty-one participating plants from around Australia processed entries up to March 31 with MSA graders assessing carcases against criteria developed from the Australian Beef Carcase Appraisal System.

The appraisal system was specifically designed to meet both export and domestic market requirements and uses the latest technology available to the beef industry.

Participating plants were Australian Country Choice, Bindaree Beef, G & K O'Connor , Gradrum Pty Ltd, Greenham Tasmania Pty Ltd, Greenmountain Food Processing, Harvey Industries Group, John Dee Warwick Pty Ltd, Kilcoy Pastoral Company, Nolan Meats, Pittsworth Food Processors, Primo Australia (Scone), Rockdale Beef Pty Ltd, T&R Pastoral, Swift Australia Rockhampton and Townsville plants and all Teys Brothers plants.

The three pasture-fed classes were: a pen of 3 medium trade chiller steers or heifers 180 - 260kg, 0-2 permanent teeth; a pen of 3 heavy trade chiller steers or heifers 260.1 - 340kg, 0-2 permanent teeth; and a pen of three export chiller bullocks 300 - 420kg, 0-6 permanent teeth.

The three grain-fed classes were: a pen of three medium trade chiller steers or heifers 180 - 260kg, 0-2 permanent teeth; a pen of three heavy trade chiller steers or heifers 260.1 - 340kg, 0-2 permanent teeth; and a pen of three export chiller bullocks 300-420kg, 0-4 permanent teeth.

Commercial winners

MOURA producer Roger Cooke won Australia's premier prime beef cattle competition, the Beef Australia Commonwealth Bank Agribusiness Beef Cattle Championships.

Mr Cooke entered 64 head in three of the 12 prime-cattle classes which were designed by the Beef Australia 2009 Commercial Cattle Committee to represent the dominant Australian beef markets and included various weight categories for crop or pasture-fed cattle, grain-assisted or lot-fed cattle, and cattle destined for the European Union markets.

His Simbrah cattle impressed judges Anthony Coates, Eidsvold Station, and Terry Nolan, Nolan Meats, who looked for evenness across the pen in terms of market suitability, confirmation, finish and optimum weight for age.

The cattle were sold yesterday at Gracemere Saleyards along with the other 2500 head entered.

The Wilson family, of Banana Station, Banana, was the Most Successful Exhibitor with their cross-bred, grass-fed entries.

Kate Todd, of Goondiwindi, won the Young Commercial Judge competition judged by Rob Sinnamon from Yulgilbar Station, NSW.