St Mary’s College Gunnedah and Wallawong Murray Greys have cemented their reputations for consistent carcase performance by winning championships in both the hoof and hook sections of NSW’s largest open steer and carcase competition – Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza held recently in Scone.
Now in its eleventh year, the 2016 Beef Bonanza attracted 800 youth competitors and 330 prime cattle that were judged live and as carcases.
St Mary’s College exhibited a Murray Grey cross steer, selected and presented by Agriculture and Primary Industries students, under the guidance of Lachlan James in his role as Agriculture teacher.
The resulting carcase was first in heavyweight class 12, and was awarded the Heavyweight Champion Led Carcase. This exhibit then went on to produce the overall Supreme Champion Carcase (93.21points) and jackpot winner.
“The steer was very quiet and scored maximum points for fat depth and eye muscle area. Combining this with great marbling and meat colour allowed the carcase to accrue the points to become the Supreme exhibit,” Mr James said
In the live judging, Wallawong entries collected ribbons for winning the Heavyweight Champion Unled Steer, and then backed it up winning the Reserve Champion Unled Carcase with a total of 91.44 points. The carcase, a purebred Murray Grey was also awarded the highest purebred unled carcase award. The Wallawong Pen of Three steers, which included the Reserve Champion Unled carcase, also won the pen of three carcases by over 11points.
Wallawong and St Mary’s College entries provided four of the top ten highest scoring carcases of the whole Beef Bonanza competition.
“To provide consistent carcase quality of this standard in such a hotly contested competition is outstanding” noted Mr James.
“Whichever way you look at it Murray Grey genetics excel at meeting the top tier of industry requirements, and the student’s commitment to the quality care and exhibition of the steers is to be commended” He added.
The Beef Bonanza capped a great year for the St Mary’s College and Wallawong teams who also exhibited the Champion Trade Carcase and Gold Medal winner with a Murray Grey cross steer at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, with Wallawong exhibiting a Gold Medal Winner and Reserve Champion Middleweight Carcase at the same event.Murray Grey cross steer exhibited by St Marys College that was Supreme Champion Carcase 93.21 pts