In 2014 Ben and Wendy wanted to benchmark the Texas herd against not only Angus cattle but against all breeds and crosses. They wanted to identify sire and dam lines that were profitable and efficient. In a nutshell, they wanted to pinpoint the cattle that had high performance in weight gains, excel in the carcase and achieve a consistently high-quality eating experience. They both believed at that time the herds estimated breeding values (EBVs) were not a true reflection of the performance and carcase values.
So they entered 3 pens of steers in the 2014 Royal Agricultural (RAS) Beef Challenge at Wilga Feedlot at Bellata NSW. With very little experience in this type of competition and not knowing entries came from very elite seed stock and commercial herds of NSW and QLD, Ben and Wendy basically wanted to gain a greater knowledge of how the Texas genetics performed and use this information to accelerate their genetic breeding decisions.
Photos below are a snap shoot of competing in 3 of Australia’s most prestigious and competitive feeder carcase trials from 2015 – 2025!
They also knew this was the only carcase competition in the country that undertook a taste test of every striploin by a panel of expert RAS judges. Never before had the stud ever entered any carcase competitions and what’s humbling for Ben and Wendy is for the last 4 years Texas Angus has dominated this competition by receiving a broad ribbon in every class with either heifers or steers and in both domestic and export fed categories. Every year they have taken out the highest daily weight, the highest or equal highest marble score of the competition and the most profitable.
In late 2017 with only 18 steers left, Ben and Wendy decided they wanted to enhance further their benchmarking program and enter Australia’s largest and most prestigious carcase competition, 2018 Beef Australia’s ANZ National Carcass Competition. All their steers placed in the top 50 of 492 entries across Australia and 3 steers won the fiercely contested 100-day fed Export Chiller Bullocks (300 – 420kgs) class.
It was the largest class of the competition by 330 heads, with 21 processing plants involved and entries from every state of Australia, it was quite a memorable achievement. Once again this valuable information has been analysed, and sires and dams have been identified and joined accordingly so our clients will be able to access these genetics for their herds to ultimately increased their herd’s profitability. It should be noted in all the RAS Beef Challenge competitions Texas steers/heifers had the highest marble score of the competition and placed 3rd in all the 1077 entries of Beef Australia’s ANZ National Carcase Competition.
Little did they invisage the success would achieved over the last 10 years! They have won broad ribbons every year and have entered the prestigious RNA Paddock to Palate Competition for the last 4 years and have placed runner up for the hotly contested 100 HGP Free Export class! We are not only increibly proud of the wchievements but believe our breeding program is performing exceptionally and our clients will be rewarded by our genetics.
