THERE was nothing but applause when Lawson and Linda Geddes, Couti-Outi, Marlborough, won the grand champion carcase award at the Central Queensland Carcase Classic awards night.
The family had a tough end to last year with the Defence Force’s proposed compulsory acquisition of agricultural land in the Marlborough region set to directly impact the family, but after the acquisitions were ruled out it was straight back to business.
It was a Brangus steer which took home the win for the family; one of a pen of three from class four (pen of grassfed four tooth steers/heifers, 300kg-420kg).
The steer boasted an EMA of 98sq cm, 406kg of read meat, and an impressive 20 MSA points for total points of 153.29.
But Mr Geddes said he couldn’t have picked the steer out before the competition if he tried.
“He was one of a mob that I probably was lucky to pick him out, because it's always a guess with which one to put in it,” he said.
With a predominantly-Brangus herd of about 800 breeders, Mr Geddes said his aim is simply to breed them, and fatten them – with wins in carcase competitions simply icing on the cake.
”I always think now we don't have any shows to compare ourselves in,” he said.
“The Rockhampton Show was our bit of sport, and now this is my bit of sport.
“It compares your cattle with other people's cattle.”
He said while the win was an honour, it could have gone to anyone.
“It’s great, but I’ve come last a lot of times too, don’t worry,” he said.
“That’s what makes it fun.”
He said while the family do have a small stud, he is “not a real stud man”.
“I lean more towards commercial cattle,” he said.
The herd has been EU accredited for a while now, but recently became PCAS accredited as well.
QUICK QUOTE:
The Rockhampton Show was our bit of sport, and now this is my bit of sport.
Mr Geddes said the decision was purely practical.
”I think where the seasons are a bit tough and you are forced to sell them a bit lighter, it puts them in the higher bracket,” he said.
The Geddes’ also won the champion grassfed carcase, champion grassfed pen, and a raft of class wins.