Wallawong steers lead the way at Sydney

Murray Greys once again proved the consistency of the breed to produce quality carcase animals at the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show, with Murray Grey steers winning Champion Middleweight steer, Champion Middleweight carcase, four Virtual Taste Test class winners, three 1st place carcases, two silver medals, one bronze medal and 3rd place in the coveted Stan Hill Trophy.

2011 saw a boost in Murray Grey entries at the Sydney Royal Easter Show with Wallawong Murray Grey Stud in conjunction with many of their clients exhibiting sixteen steers. The outing proved to be highly successful with Wallawong genetics filling many of the high ribbon places in the carcase competition.

A steer bred by Lyn Louis ‘Merrilong’, Barraba, won Middleweight carcase Class 10 and was awarded the 2011 Champion Middleweight Carcase. On the hoof the steer placed fifth in his class of twenty steers and went on to score 89.5 points as a carcase winning his class and becoming the Champion Middleweight Carcase. With a dressing percent of 61.6%, EMA of 99sqcm and rib and rump fats of 9mm and 8mm, the steer scored maximum points for yield and carcase quality traits: eye muscle area, fat coverage, meat colour and fat colour.

A Silver Medal was also awarded by the Royal Agricultural Society for carcase quality and the steer was a member of the Murray Grey Stan Hill Memorial Trophy Team that came 3rd. The steer was purchased for $3.00/kg liveweight by Coles Supermarkets who actively supported the Sydney Royal Steer Auction and appreciated the quality cattle entered by North West cattle breeders.

The 476kg live weight Murray Grey steer was sired by Wallawong Quasimodo out of Wallawong Alma 26th.

Also scoring well in the middleweight carcase division was a steer entered by Warren and Judy Picton, Curlewis and sired by Wallawong Octane. The carcase won class 8 and scored maximum points for fat cover, pH, and meat and fat colour, combining this with a high marble score and eye muscle area to accumulate 88.0 points. This carcase was also awarded a Silver medal for carcase quality from the RAS.

Wallawong’s Lightweight division entries were not to be outdone, placing 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th in class 4. This included an entry from Stella Downs Pastoral Company, ‘Caradoc Park’, Mullaley, sired by Wallawong Quickstep, that was awarded 1st in the Virtual Taste Test section of the class.

This was mirrored by a steer bred by the Plummer family near Bathurst (Toqueeza Pty Ltd) and sired by Wallawong Real Deal. The entry placed 2nd in carcase class 5 with 84.5 points and was also awarded 1st in the Virtual Taste Test section of the class. The Plummer’s other entry in class 4 sired by Wallawong Rumble also achieved 2nd with a score of 86 points.

A Murray Grey steer also took out Champion Middleweight on the hoof. The Scots School, Bathurst NSW bred and exhibited the 479kg liveweight steer by Karawi Hill Altimate. In the carcase section this same steer won 1st place in his class in the Virtual Taste Test competition.

A steer bred by Cudgegong Murray Grey Stud and exhibited by the Chifley College received a 1st place in the Virtual Taste Test Competition. The 341kg steer was by The Glen Ringleader and placed 2nd in his carcase class.

A 375kg liveweight steer by Monterey Unit Holder and exhibited by Goondoola Murray Greys won 1st place in his carcase class, with a total of 86 points.

The Stan Hill Trophy for teams of three purebred steers saw the Murray Grey team place 3rd in this highly coveted event. The Murray grey breed was represented by the steer from Wallawong Murray Greys and Lyn Louis that won Champion Middleweight Carcase, the steer from the Scots School that won Champion Middleweight on the hoof and a steer exhibited by the Williams River Cattle Co and bred by Ondiong Murray Greys.