Northern NSW Hereford breeders, the Hann family, are out to demonstrate the attributes of grain fed purebred steers in the 2016 Sydney Royal Beef Challenge.
Scott and Pip Hann, Truro Herefords, Bellata, won the champion average weight gain pen and the champion individual average daily weight gain in the 2015 event.
They used the feedback from last year’s challenge to fine tune entry weighs for this year.
The couple has entered three pens of six steers in the Beef Challenge, held at the Wilga Feedlot, Bellata.
The challenge has drawn 55 pens of steers in the domestic class and 35 in the export class, with entries from across the eastern states.
“We decided to put a pen in the export class as we had some good steers we took out in a regular delivery that were too heavy for purchase on an Australian Country Choice contract,’’ Mr Hann said.
The export steer entries were 420kg at entry in April for 100 days on feed.
“Our pen of purebred Hereford commercial steers came straight off grass on our high country,’’ Mr Hann said.
“We then put two pens into the domestic class in May for a 70 day feed.’’
Mr Hann said both pens were purebred Hereford steers from the family’s commercial high country property.
“It will be interesting to see the differences in the two pens entered as one pen had been weaned for a couple of months, whereas the second pen had just been weaned and came straight out of the yard,’’ he said.
“After last year’s pen ending up going over the desired weight, we decided to enter them lighter at 330kg rather than last year’s 350kg.
“There were many pens of crossbred cattle last year but our pen showed a straight bred Hereford is certainly more than capable of topping the results.
“However, they went too well last year with the final weights of two of the six steers going over the top finished weight.
“All cattle are yard weaned and the feedlot has reported our cattle adapting easily due to the yard weaning and their temperament.
“Hopefully, we can do well this year again but really the main reason for entering the competition is the terrific feedback we receive from the trials, especially as the steers are all sired by Truro bred bulls.’’