When Darryn Atkinson collected the Chas P Ward trophy for the champion grassfed pen at the Central Queensland Carcase Classic, he was following in the footsteps of his grandfather Peter Atkinson.
As Coorumburra Pastoral Co's David Atkinson recalled, they claimed the trophy twice, in 1984 and 1988, when it was presented as part of the Rockhampton Show's carcase competition.
"Dad used to fight it out with Couti-Outi," he recalled. "In those days it was a pen of 10, that's what would fit into a K-wagon."
Coorumburra's champion grassfed win came from the maximum four teeth, 300-420kg carcase weight class, a pen of Santa Gertrudis-cross steers that scored a total of 409.35 points.
Rib fat measurements were either 10mm or 11mm and P8 fat measurements were similarly even at either 12mm or 14mm.
MSA indexes ranged from 55.77 to 60.53 points.
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Mr Atkinson said it was always good to put their cattle up against entries from respected cattlemen and see how they stacked up.
"We bring them in straight out of the paddock - that's how we sell them," he said. "They've got to have good conformation and good fat coverage."
Ribbons were spread around in the grassfed classes, with the Tayglen Pastoral Co collecting the blue ribbon for the grassfed pen in the younger age group.
The Rosewood Cattle Co, Morinish, showed the winning entry in the single steer or heifer, 180-300kg weight range, with a Droughtmaster steer, while a Brahman-cross steer from David and Julie McCamley, Palmal, Dingo, won the heavier weight single entry class.
The McCamleys' lighter Brahman-cross grassfed heifer pen was judged the most even pen of the competition, with a 3.5kg weight variation.
A Droughtmaster heifer from Paul Connor's Rosewood Cattle Co registered the highest lean meat yield, 63.84 per cent, and the Fernie family's Boombah Cattle Co once again claimed the ribbon for the largest eye muscle, 112 square centimetres, with a Brangus steer.
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Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
