A producer day for this year’s RNA Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge has shown competition entries are progressing well.
Held at Mort & Co’s Grassdale Feedlot, the crowd of Wagyu breeders who entered in the prestigious Ekka cattle competition were impressed with how their cattle looked after 260-days in the feedlot. Competition cattle are currently just over the halfway point of a 400-day feeding regime with entries processed on June 21.
RNA beef committee chair Gary Noller said the halfway check-in is a good time to remind Wagyu producers the 2019 Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge entries close in six weeks on Friday April 20.
“It’s a unique competition because we induct next year’s Wagyu challenge cattle while the current competition entries are still on feed,” Mr Noller said.
“This is due to the long 400-day feeding regime for the competition’s Wagyu cattle.”
Mr Noller said all Wagyu producers appeared happy with their cattle’s performance so far in the competition’s feedlot phase.
“It’s going to be a very competitive 2018 Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge at Ekka this year,” he said.
Mort & Co’s private client manager Berry Reynolds said last year’s successful inaugural Wagyu challenge is set to be exceeded by the performance of the 2018 cattle entries.
“This year’s Wagyu cattle have performed well and we’re looking forward to the next 140-days on feed and seeing how these cattle perform after processing,” Mr Reynolds said.