A COMMERCIAL cattle competition will stay in tune with other Northern Beef Producers Expo events in providing something different and informative to attendees.
This year's competition, which includes a sale, will feature a replacement heifer section.
The event will take place on Friday, June 7 at the HM Clarke Saleyards and Equestrian Centre as an official part of the Northern Beef Producers Expo.
The desire to see the return of a regular commercial cattle competition was well known, according to competition steward, Bill Holzwart.
"It's something that the Charters Towers community was asking for for a long time," he said.
There will be 12 classes on offer including the best pen of bullocks, weaner steers and heifers.
The replacement heifer section will see the cattle assessed with veterinarian scanning methods, and points given for temperament, conformation and other commercial traits.
Well known beef researcher, Dr Geoffry Fordyce will be part of the industry judging panel.
Assessment figures and reports will be handed back to producers who can opt to take the heifers home or put them through the sale.
Mr Holzwart said the idea for the section fitted well with the entire NBPE focus.
"It's what we've always tried to do, to run talks and presentations that might be a bit outside of the box," he said.
He said the key to the competition's success was keeping it as a standard, grass-fed prime and store competition. All Charters Towers livestock agents have backed this year's competition.
Last year the competition took place as a standalone sale apart from the NBPE and attracted about 400 head with three meatworks buyers in attendance.
He said the 2018 event was well received with most producers receiving sale prices higher than the going rates at the time.
He said although a lot was dependent on how the cattle market was travelling at the time, it was hoped the quality of the cattle on offer was enough to attract a premium.
While the competition will provide plenty of talking points, Mr Holzwart said there was a bigger purpose to it.
"If nothing else, they (producers) can come in and take their minds off what's been happening out west since all the flooding," he said.
He said the various events during the NBPE would provide an ideal escape and chance for north western graziers to reconnect.
Organisers of the competition are open to feedback and suggestions, Mr Holzwart said.
"Nothing is set in stone; we're not set in our ways and we take everything on board," he said.
- Visit: nbpe.com.au
