For the fifth consecutive year, we’ve placed in the Top 4 for daily weight gains in the first stage of the prestigious EKKA RNA Paddock to Palate Class 40 Non HGP – that’s competing against a total of 909 steers over 5 years! No easy feat when competing against so many high performance herds that are mostly crossbreds with the added advantage of hybrid vigour!
Ben, along with Marcos, Declan and our visiting Austrian, Felix, headed to the 2025 Paddock to Palate Field Day earlier this week. We only entered two pens in the 100-Day HGP-Free Class 40, but unfortunately, one pen was knocked out at entry with two steers just over the weight limit. That left us with one pen in the running.
Our pen placed 3rd overall for average daily weight gain with an impressive 2.233 kg/day, just 0.054kgs/day shy of first place! We also took out 2nd place for highest individual weight gain, 2.82kgs/day, missing the top spot by a whisker-only 0.05 kgs/day behind, and to once again to a crossbred. It should be noted our high performing steer was bred by a Texas sire.
Big congratulations to Russell Holdings for a fantastic haul across Class 40 and 37A. And a special shout-out to Adam Armstrong for letting Ben accept his ribbons. Ben thoroughly enjoyed receiving them!
Well done to all exhibitors, sponsors, and a special thank you to JBSAussieBeef and the RNA Paddock to Palate Committee for putting on another excellent day!