Wallawong’s Beef Bonanza Champions

Wallawong Murray Greys have cemented their reputation for consistent carcase performance by winning championships with clients in both the hoof and hook sections of NSW’s largest open steer and carcase competition – Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza held last week in Scone.

Now in its tenth year, the 2015 Beef Bonanza attracted 306 entries that were all judged live and then as carcases. The six Wallawong blood entries produced a bounty of ribbons including the Live Heavyweight Champion Unled Steer and Grand Champion Unled Steer and backing it up with Champion Heavyweight Unled Carcase and Reserve Champion Heavyweight Led Carcase among other class wins and places. From the 306 entries Wallawong and client entries provided the second and third highest scoring carcases of the whole competition.

In the Live judging, entries 702 (a 586kg Murray Grey cross), 704 (a 534kg Murray Grey Cross) and 701 (a 598kg Murray Grey purebred) by Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd came first, second and third in the Unled Heavyweight class from 20 entries.

Judge Matt Spry (Livestock buyer for major supermarket Woolworths) described on the microphon the Wallawong top three heavyweight unled steers as “A-1 quality, nationwide as good as you can find”.

Steer 702 went on to win the Heavyweight Champion Unled Steer and become the Grand Champion Unled Steer. However, in the carcase competition the order of the three was reversed and it was the 598kg purebred Murray Grey by Wallawong Unbelievable winning the carcase class with 92.68 points. With 57.1% dressing percentage, very good marbling and 11mm/8mm on the rib and rump fats respectively, 701 received full points for fat, EMA (107cm) and a very high MSA eating quality score. He became the Champion Unled Carcase and the Highest Scoring purebred Carcase of the show.

Another high performance result by Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd in the competition was a 626kg 7/8^th Murray Grey steer by Wallawong Unbelievable that placed third in the live Heavyweight Led Class 16. As a carcase the entry excelled, winning the class with thumping 92.30 points. With 56.4% dressing percentage, very good marbling, and 10mm/8mm fat measurements, the carcase received full points for fat, EMA (101cm) and became the Reserve Champion Heavyweight Led Carcase and Reserve Champion Led Carcase overall.

Another notable result in the Wallawong team was a 570kg purebred Murray Grey steer by Wallawong Target entered by Wallawong and Heath Birchall that came second in the Heavyweight Carcase Class 15 with 87.33 points. With 58.2% dressing percentage and 8mm/9mm fat measurements, the carcase received full points for fat and EMA (94cm).

In summary Wallawong with their clients Toqueeza Ltd and H.Birchall entered 3 classes, winning two and placing second in the other (as a carcase).

All the 6 steers for Beef Bonanza were fed for around 120 days on a home mixed ration prepared by Lachlan James at ‘Marriot Park’. These results back up the outstanding Grand Champion Carcase result at 2015 Sydney Royal Easter Show and Grand Champion Carcase at Wingham Beef Week that were all sired by Wallawong Murray Grey bulls.

Contact Lachlan James 0402 839373

Photos top to bottom: Unled Judging, Spot. Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd. Reserve Champion Heavyweight Led Carcase, Judge Matt Spry presents Champion Ribbon to Lachlan James, Entry 702 Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd Grand Champion Unled Steer, Entry 701 Wallawong and Toqueeza Ltd. Champion Heavyweight Unled Carcase.