Stan Hill Trophy win for Murray Greys

Murray Grey breeders did themselves proud in this years’ Sydney Royal Easter Show steer and carcase competition, where purebred Murray Greys not only won the Stan Hill Trophy, but also Champion Trade Carcase, Champion School Carcase, Reserve Champion Middleweight Carcase, Reserve Champion Lightweight Steer on the Hoof, Reserve Champion Middleweight Steer on the Hoof, three first places in live judging, four first places in carcase judging, three first places in the virtual taste test competition and two Silver Medals and fourteen Bronze Medals in the Sydney Fine Foods Competition.

An effort by NSW Murray Grey producers to boost the promotion of the breed through increased participation in carcase competitions has paid off, with Murray Greys steers and heifers dominating the hoof and hook competition in what is one of Australia’s premier carcase competitions.

The crowning jewel for the breed came on Friday when the results were announced and the Murray Grey breed was awarded first place in the prestigious Stan Hill Trophy. The Stan Hill Trophy is awarded to a team of three purebred steers, (chosen prior to slaughter), whose carcase scores are combined to come up with a total score. The Murray Grey team had a total of 264 points, overcoming second place by 10.5 points.

Making up the team were three quality Murray Grey Steers:

• A 358kg live weight steer bred and exhibited by the Williams River Cattle Co and sired by Glenliam Farm Drover D107, placed first in lightweight steer class 4 and won a Bronze Medal in the Sydney Fine Foods Competition, scored 85 carcase points with rib and rump fats of 6 and 7mm respectively and an EMA of 83cm2.
• A 494kg live weight steer bred by Bookoola Murray Greys and exhibited by St Josephs High School, Aberdeen, placed first in middleweight steer and carcase class 10, won Reserve Champion Middleweight Steer, won Reserve Champion Middleweight Carcase and received a Silver Medal in the Sydney Fine Foods Competition. The steer, sired by Baroona Park Centaur and out of Bookoola Linda C2, scored 89.5 carcase points with rib and rump fats of 6 and 9mm respectively and an EMA of 104cm2.
• A 456kg live weight steer bred and exhibited by Yanco Agricultural High School, placed second in the middleweight school steer class, won Champion Middleweight School Carcase, received a Silver Medal in the Sydney Fine Foods Competition and won a first place in the Virtual Taste Test Competition. Sired by a Glen bred bull, the carcase scored 89.5 points, with rib and rump fats of 7mm and an EMA of 92cm2.

Murray Grey success didn’t end there, with a steer bred by Rodger and June Lucas and exhibited by Wallawong Murray Greys, Emerald Hill, winning lightweight steer class 5 and being awarded the Reserve Champion Lightweight Steer.

The 366kg Murray Grey steer scanned 7mm fat over the rump and 7mm on the rib and was sired by Wallawong Quorum out of a commercial cow. The steer then sold for one of the top prices at the auction when purchased for $5.00/kg liveweight by Tender Gourmet.

The Trade Hoof and Hook Competition also proved fruitful for the Greys, with a purebred heifer bred and exhibited by the Williams River Cattle Co taking out Champion Trade Carcase and winning a Bronze Medal Sydney Fine Foods Competition. The carcase had rib and rump fats of 7 am 10mm respectively and an EMA of 87cm2.

A Murray Grey Cross steer exhibited by Calrossy Anglican School won Champion Trade exhibit on the hoof, Reserve Champion Trade Carcase and won a Silver Medal in the Sydney Fine Foods Competition. While Yanco Agricultural High School exhibited the Reserve Champion Trade exhibit on the hoof with a Limousin cross Murray Grey steer.