With the current cattle market booming, entries and interest in this year’s Royal Sydney Beef Challenge was at an all-time record. Last Friday night, the RAS Beef Challenge awards were announced at Tamworth NSW and Texas Angus came home with a swag of ribbons.
Following the success of last year when Texas Angus won Reserve Champion Export Pen, profitability, carcase, feedlot trial and the daily weight gain sections, the Mayne family decided to enter pens of Angus heifers and steers to try and back up last year’s success. Ben and Wendy Mayne were overwhelmed at the achievement of this year’s results.
One pen of Texas Angus heifers took out Grand Champion 70 Day Domestic Class followed by another pen of their Angus heifers taking the Reserve Champion 70 Day Domestic Pen. These heifers also placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd for individual daily weight gain (DWG) and of the 500 heifers and steers; all breed and crosses, the winning heifer pen were 0.5kg heavier than any other entry. Also 2 pens of Texas steers placed 1st and 3rd in this 100 day export class for DWG.
Grand Champion 70 Day Domestic Pen
Mr Mike McCue of Wilga Feedlot Bellata NSW said “For heifers to have such a significant weight gain without a growth promotant and beating steers was an incredible result.”
The best weight gain of the competition was a Texas Angus heifer that recorded 2.97kgs/day. The stud also had success in the export section taking out the Grand Champion 100 Day Export Individual. The Mayne’s were tickled pink to be told it was the first time for the competition that a competitor took out 3 broad ribbons.
What was so pleasing for the Mayne family, already known for its high performance Angus in weight gain, was winning the carcase grid, profitability and feedlot trial. Having the highest marbling steer in the competition in 2 consecutive years and being awarded Silver and Bronze Medals in the taste test was reinforcing their breeding program is tailor made for the right market specifications.
“Our breeding program is based on a balanced approach – our principles are simple, we always maintain weight for age with added carcase qualities” Ben stated. “This competition is commercially focused and to win a ribbon is tough going, so we were over the moon with our results especially since it’s only our second year in entering!”
“We entered RAS Beef Challenge to prove our cattle can perform in a commercially based competition against all breeds and crosses” Ben said. “These results are a great endorsement of our program and a valuable way to compare our cattle against other leading commercial and seedstock operations of Northern NSW and South Queensland.”
Judy, Ben & Wendy Mayne, Mike McCue Wilga Feedlot, Bill & Rosie Mayne and Ben Hiscox BJA
Texas Angus results were
*Grand Champion for 70 Day Domestic Pen
*Reserve Champion for 70 Day Domestic Pen
*Grand Champion for 100 Day Export Individual
*Silver Medal for Taste Test
*3 Bronze Medals for Taste Test
*1st & 3rd for feedlot Total for Domestic Pen
*1st Carcase Grid for Domestic Pen
*1st & 2nd for Profitability Domestic Pen
*1st, 2nd & 3rd DWG Domestic Individual
*2nd & 3rd Feedlot Total for Domestic Individual
*3rd Live Assessment for Domestic Pen
*1st Feedlot Trial Export Pen
*1st & 3rd DWG Export Individual
Like last year, we had the highest marble score of the competition.
See Angus Australia’s report Click Here