August 15, 2012
South Burnett competitors have cleaned up at the Brisbane Exhibition, especially in the hotly contested Prime Beef competition.
Midge Thompson, from Aussie Land & Livestock in Kingaroy, told southburnett.com.au he was very happy with his success, and the success of several of his clients.
Midge won the highly prized Champion carcase ribbon in the Coles Supermarkets Carcase Competition.
“This competition is very, very competitive and it’s very hard to win,” he said.
“A lot of the guys have been entering all their lives, while we’re relatively new to the game.”
Midge, who is the Chief Steward of the Prime Trade section at the Kingaroy Show, said he had learned a lot about cattle assessment and evaluation, both live and carcase, from Max Lucht and Terry Nolan during his six years at the Wide Bay Feedlot at Cinnabar.
“They were second to none,” he said.
Also in the Coles Supermarkets Carcase Competition, AL&L clients Kevin Temperton, from Coolabunia, came first in “Class 34 – Pen of three pasture-fed or grain-fed steers and/or heifers” with a pen of Angus cross, and Grahame and Ellen Kroll, of Nanango, picked up a third, also with a pen of Angus cross.
One of Kevin’s beasts then went on to win Class 34 Reserve Champion.
All these animals were finished on grain for 100 days at the KJAL Feedlot at Cushnie.
This is just the second time that Kevin has entered the Ekka competitions. Last year one of his live calves came second in Class 20 (Single Steer – 360kg to 480kg), and his hook entries secured a 10th in the Woolies’ competition and a sixth in the Coles’ contest, so he is very happy with his success this year.
Other South Burnett winners at the Ekka included the Crawford family, of Mannuem, who came first in “Class 35 – Pen of three grain-fed steers and/or heifers” with a pen of limousin cross, one of which then went on to be named Class 35 Reserve Champion in the Woolworths MSA-Value Based Marketing Competition.
The Thompson brothers, Midge and Reg, also picked up a second in the Jap Ox “Class 36 – Pen of six pasture-fed steers” with a pen of charbray bullocks.
In the IGA Pen of Three Competition, Murray and Bronwyn Lord, from ‘Rhodesleigh’ at Dangore Mountain, were placed second in “Class 23 – Pen of three steers or heifers 360kg-420kg” with a pen of charolais cross. These were purchased by Prime Time Meats, Eli Waters, Hervey Bay, for $2.48/kg live weight.
In the Led Steers Woolworths’ Premier Carcase Competition, Hillsborough Limousins, of Wondai, (Graeme Wicks) came second in “Class 3A – Led Steers (376kg-400kg)”. Hillsborough also scored a third in Led Steer carcase Class 4B (401kg-430kg).
[Photos: James Bredhauer]
