Wallawong Steer and Carcase Champions at Beef Bonanza

Wallawong and clients cemented their reputation for consistent carcase performance by winning championships in both the hoof and hook sections of NSW’s largest open steer and carcase competition – the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza held last month in Scone. Now in its tenth year, the 2015 Beef Bonanza attracted 306 entries that were all judged live and as carcases.

702: Heavyweight and Grand Champion Unled Steer

The six Wallawong blood entries produced a bounty of ribbons including the Heavyweight Champion Unled Steer and Grand Champion Unled Steer and backed it up with Champion Unled Carcase and Reserve Champion Led Carcase among other class wins and places. From 306 entries the Wallawong team provided the second and third highest scoring carcases of the competition.

In the Live judging, unled entries 702 (a 586 kg Murray Grey cross), 704 (a 534 kg Murray Grey Cross) and 701 (a 598 kg Murray Grey purebred) by Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd came first, second and third in the Unled Heavyweight class from 20 entries. Judge Matt Spry (Livestock buyer for Woolworths) described on the microphone the Wallawong top three heavyweight unled steers as:
“A-1 quality, nationwide as good as you can find”.

Steer 702 went on to win the Heavyweight Champion Unled Steer and become the Grand Champion Unled Steer. However, in the carcase competition the order of the three was reversed and it was the 598kg purebred Murray Grey by Wallawong Unbelievable winning the carcase class with 92.68 points. With 57.1 per cent dressing percentage, very good marbling and 11 mm/8 mm on the rib and rump fats respectively, 701 received full points for fat, EMA (107cm²) and a very high MSA eating quality score. He became Champion Unled Carcase and Highest Scoring purebred Carcase.

Another high performance result by Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd in the competition was a 626kg 7/8th Murray Grey steer by Wallawong Unbelievable that placed third in the live Heavyweight Led Class 16. As a carcase the entry excelled, winning the class with a thumping 92.30 points. With 56.4 per cent dressing percentage, very good marbling, and 10 mm/8 mm fat measurements, the carcase received full points for fat, EMA (101cm²) and became Reserve Champion Heavyweight Led Carcase and Reserve Champion Led Carcase.

Another notable result in the Wallawong team was a 570 kg purebred Murray Grey steer by Wallawong Target, entered by Wallawong and Heath Birchall that came second in the Heavyweight Carcase Class 15 with 87.33 points. With 58.2 per cent dressing percentage and 8 mm/9 mm fat measurements, the carcase received full points for fat and EMA (94cm²).

For more information about our steer and carcase breeders programs, please contact Wallawong Murray Greys.